How Do you identify a gun with no Model Number?

[smitty65]

Definitely a noob here, so please be kind.

This SW .38 Special revolver was inherited and the back story is this belonged to a chief of police in a small town circa 1900.

The gun has no model identification - the only marking is a 4 digit number (serial number?), on the bottom of the pistol frame below the grip. It is packed and not easily accessible at this moment or I would provide.

It looks just like a model 10, however this is believed to predate the Model 10.

Does anyone have any ideas?

 

[Muley Gil]

It sounds like a .38 Military & Police 1st Model. It is also known as the Model of 1899 Army-Navy revolver. It should have a round butt. It has a long action, which was superseded by a short action in 1948.

Model numbers were introduced by S&W in 1957 and started showing up in 1958.

 

[Hondo44]

You have a Model .38 Military and Police. All models have a model name and these persisted after model #s were issued.

A 4 digit # puts your M&P more specifically in the range of the 1st Model of 1899, made from 1899 thru 1902.

PS I see my friend beat me to the submit button when I got a ph call! And his answer is better anyway!

 

[DWalt]

If reasonably good cosmetically and in original and functional condition, a Model of 1899 (AKA First Model) can be desirable to collectors. There were not very many of them made before it was replaced in S&W's model line by the improved Model of 1902, and it is likely that most of them have not survived to the present. And indeed it is several generations removed from the Model 10 which did not exist prior to the late 1950s. A Model of 1899 can be easily identified by its lack of a barrel lug in front of the extractor rod. They were available chambered in both .38 Special and .32-20 calibers. See this posting a few down from yours for pictures: 1899 Mr Jinks Advised To Letter

 

[Art Doc]

How many holes in the cylinder? Five might be a Chiefs Special.

 

[smitty65]

Thanks for the replys.

I will do some digging tomorrow and get a picture. Some details sound correct, but from memory, not all.

 

[gwpercle]

How about getting several pictures , clear , up close on the details and in focus ... pictures are a great help in ID , shows condition which is also very important .
Gary

 

[tlawler]

How many holes in the cylinder? Five might be a Chiefs Special.

Not likely if the OP's dates are accurate. The Chiefs Special wasn't introduced until 1950. He also stated that it looked just like a Model 10, so I'm guessing a .38 M&P also.

 

[delcrossv]

Does it look like this?

Easy identification of a Model of 1899 is round butt and no retainer at the front end of the ejector rod.

 

[smitty65]

Pictures of gun

First Thanks to all who responded, we find it incredible!

We were able to locate some identification numbers,

1
7111 (under the cylinder hasp)
8

C76944 (under grip)

38S&W special CTG (right side of barrel)

 

[Jim Watson]

Revolver is a Military & Police.
C76944 is the serial number.
Made in 1948, maybe 1949.
They did not assign model numbers until 1957, the M&P became the Model 10.

 

[smitty65]

5 more pics

The Barrel is 4" - 6 shot cylinder. Right side is pristine, left side has some barrel wear and you can see the end that was put in and out of the holster.

 

[smitty65]

Jim, Thanks for clearing the mystery. Since this is not the 100 year old model, what approximate value do you think this has?

 

[JP@AK]

At that serial number, it almost certainly shipped in 1949. I find no evidence of serial numbers above C42000 leaving the factory in 1948. Most were quite a ways below that.

The stocks on this one are nice. The rest of the gun is shooter grade only. Likely market price is around $350. Tons of these out there for sale.

 

[DWalt]

I'd agree with shipment likely to have been sometime in 1949. as those I have listed for 1949 shipment are in the C4xxxx to C9xxxx SN range. Most collectors would call this one a "pre-Model 10" M&P, but S&W just called it the M&P model. It was made long after 1900. Such are the tales about old guns - they are frequently incorrect. I'd also agree with the previous value given. Nothing rare or unusual about them to attract any serious collector interest, unless they are in very high condition with the original box. Or unless there was reliable evidence of its association with some notorious event or famous person.