Identify my 4-screw?

[decete]

I have a blued 4-screw Hand-Ejector in .38 Cal. Special with a 6" barrel and fixed sights. The Serial number is 25XXX, and there's no letter in front of the 5 digit serial number.

Can anyone help ID the approx. age of this piece?

 

[murphydog]

Welcome! There are at least three possibilities depending on whether your gun has a fixed or adjustable rear sight and if there is a letter in front of the SN (from the bottom of the grip frame). Here is a post with information needed for an ID:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-antiques/326458-identify-your-gun.html

 

[linde]

Not enough information yet to come up with a positive ID. Being .38 Special with a six inch barrel I presume it has six chambers in the cylinder so it could be a very early Military & Police.

Is the "serial number" you provided from the butt or front strap of the grip frame? A picture would be a big help.

Russ

 

[DWalt]

You really do not provide nearly enough information for a definitive identification. Pictures are always good. Assuming it IS a Military & Police model, these are the possibilities:

25xxx - Model of 1902, from ca. 1902-1903. It would have a rounded butt, not square.
V25xxx - A WWII Victory Model which shipped in mid-1942. That's unlikely if it has a 6" barrel. Square butt.
C25xxx - An M&P which shipped ca. mid-1948. Square butt.
K25xxx - A K-38 Masterpiece target revolver from ca. mid-1948. If so, it would have an adjustable target rear sight.

The ONLY serial number that counts is the one on the bottom of the butt. I assume that by "4-screw" you mean the sideplate is held on with four screws.

 

[linde]

I have a blued 4-screw Hand-Ejector in .38 Cal. Special with a 6" barrel and fixed sights. The Serial number is 25XXX, and there's no letter in front of the 5 digit serial number.

Can anyone help ID the approx. age of this piece?

The pictures you've added help but they also highlight a discrepancy . . . it has a square butt only that 5-digit serial number should be a round butt.

If you could provide a close-up picture of the butt (bottom of grip frame) it might help us ID it for you.

Russ

 

[DWalt]

There is something very strange here. The revolver has the pre-1927 extractor rod knob style, therefore there would be no letter prefix to the SN. It also appears to me to have no "Made in USA" frame stamping, but I can't tell that for sure. If so, that would put at no newer than 1922. And the barrel patent date would put it after 1914. It has a square butt, which it should not have with the SN (25xxx) given. Additionally, the grips are of the post-WWII period, and cannot be original. Please post a picture of the butt clearly showing the serial number. Are you sure the SN is not 25xxxx (which would make it from about 1916)? I'd bet it is - it's the only SN that makes sense.

 

[JP@AK]

What DWalt said!
Plus, it is not a 4 screw. It has 5 frame screws, as it should.

 

[DWalt]

As I previously stated: " I assume that by "4-screw" you mean the sideplate is held on with four screws."

 

[JP@AK]

Yep. Missed that DWalt. Sorry.