I need some help

45er

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My cousin was flooded by Harvey and has asked me to store and sell as I can, a bunch of guns. One of them is a Smith and Wesson revolver. Inside the frame is stamped "5921-6" On the barrel is stamped "38 S&W Special CTG". I can't find anything about this gun - value? or even caliber (38 S&W or 38 SPL). Any help on this matter would be appreciated.
 
The number you gave us is an assembly number that only has meaning at the factory. The serial number will be on the bottom of the butt (you might have to remove the grips to find it). Then tell us whether the butt is square or round. You'll find a "sticky" at the top of each page that will guide you through a series of other details that would be helpful.

Measure the barrel from the front of the cylinder to the muzzle, too, and tell us that measurement.

If you could post photos that would be a big help.
 
It is likely a .38 Military & Police K or medium frame revolver if it has fixed sights and a 6-shot cylinder. If you can tell us the serial number from the flat bottom of the grip frame we can let you know it's age; this will be either (up to) six numbers, with a a letter C, V, S or K.

Also, having the right barrel stamped ".38 S & W Special CTG (cartridge)" makes it pretty clear on the chambering :). Hope this is helpful.
 
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I have no hope this picture comes through. I wish the admins would make it so you could just insert a picture like most websites and not have to use the URL route!

Anyway, there is no serial number anywhere on the frame inside the grips. I took them off and looked closely. The barrel is 4" long and the serial number is C 207784.
 
You can just attach a picture from any device. "Go advanced" and follow the very simple prompts. No URL needed.

With a serial of C 207784, Alan's suspicion would be correct and your gun would be a Military & Police model from the early 1950s, the most common S&W model around.
 
If it's an M&P then that name was later changed to model 10, which is the most common S&W model. Millions of them made. Used for over a century in Law Enforcement around the world.

In good condition price is around $350. Of course pictures would help determining the value

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk
 
One could call it a pre-Model 10 M&P, meaning the same gun as a Model 10, but made prior to the start of S&W's use of model numbering in the late 1950s. SN C 207784 was manufactured in 1952, and probably shipped in 1953.
 
That's what it is. Should be easily sold in the $300-$350 price range in a private sale, but not to a dealer, pawn shop, etc.
 
One slight correction. In 1958, when model numbered guns were being shipped for the first time, the designation was not "changed" from .38 Military & Police to Model 10. The model number was added to the name. So the gun was a Model 10 .38 Military & Police.
 
Thanks to you all!

Appreciate the help on this. I guess I'm kind of surprised that the military would adopt a revolver in 38 S&W caliber. I would have thought they would have chambered it in 38 Special
 
I guess I'm kind of surprised that the military would adopt a revolver in 38 S&W caliber. I would have thought they would have chambered it in 38 Special

Huh? In your original post, you indicated your gun was chambered for the .38 Special.

And you are correct. The U.S. military never adopted revolvers chambered for the .38 S&W. The UK did and the BSR sold to the UK by the hundreds of thousands during WWII were so chambered. Victory Models (mostly U.S. Navy) in WWII used by the U.S. were chambered for .38 Special, as were the Air Force guns in the 1950s through the 1970s.

.38 Military & Police is simply a S&W name for a particular model of firearm. It doesn't indicate adoption or use by the armed forces of the United States.
 
It is a .38 Special...try loading it with a .38 S & W round, it should not seat fully.

M & P is a model name; they were made at first for the military in small numbers, but many more were sold to law enforcement and the public.

Many of these were made for the US military in WW II but several hundred thousand were produced for the British during the war in .38 S & W, called Victory Models.
 
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