Identify this gun

[Kevinpowers]

I have inherited my father's Smith and Wesson 38 Special hand ejector. The serial number is C310897. It has a 4" barrel and fixed sights. The gun appears to be a 5 screw but screw #1 is covered by the grip. The gun has a butt swivel but it may not be original.He came on to the NYC Police force in 1954 or 55 and this was his gun. He went on to Motorcycle in about 1961 and then needed a lanyard on the gun. The grip may have been changed since it does not have a diamond around the grip screw.

I would like to track down as much information about this gun as I can. I appreciate any comments

 

[DCWilson]

Welcome to the forum. You have actually described the gun pretty well by summarizing what you know. That gun is a .38 Military and Police, which was S&W's bread-and-butter gun through the decades, with several million of them produced from 1899 until their successor models today. There were many engineering and production changes through the years, of course, but the M&P line of revolvers is pretty much regarded as a unified production block by S&W collectors.

The serial number you cite indicates that the gun was shipped in 1954. The stocks do sound like replacements, and it is entirely possible that it was fitted with a lanyard when your father went to work in motors several years after he was first hired.

In 1957 that particular model became known as the Model 10. The preceding specimens in that particular engineering specification became known in shorthand as Pre-10s. Those guns were introduced in 1948, and they are primarily distinguished from their immediate predecessors in having what is called the "short action." After WWII S&W set about reengineering their revolvers to produce a shorter hammer fall and consequently a faster lock time. The prewar and wartime revolvers (and some postwar) are called "long action" guns. The various models of short-action K-frame revolvers were phased in between 1947 and 1949. The larger N-frame revolvers went to the short-action in 1950.

Feel free to post photos of your father's gun. There is an abiding interest here in LE sidearms and duty handguns.

 

[murphydog]

Glad you found the right section and posted . You have a .38 Military & Police, from right about the time your father joined the NYPD. It would have had the small uncheckered diamond around the stock screw originally, but stocks got pretty banged up from contact with car doors, buildings and the occasional noggin (just kidding on that last one!)

A factory letter may give more information; it will give the exact ship date and may show the gun was delivered to the NYPD or a distributor authorized to sell to officers. There are several current and former members who probably can tell you more about this aspect. Here is the information to request a letter:

Firearm History Request - Smith & Wesson

 

[DWalt]

These revolvers later became the Model 10 starting in 1957, at a serial number in the low C410000 range. It's possible it may have been equipped with a lanyard loop when it left the factory, as S&W did supply those on special order for police use. A close-up picture of the butt showing the SN and the loop might answer that question if it's important to know that.

 

[Hondo44]

Welcome to the forum.

If the lanyard ring was installed after shipment from the factory and not by the factory make sure it's not defacing the butt serial #. If it is, check if the # has been re-stamped under the grip.

 

[824tsv]

Hello Kevin,
Would love to see pic's of that one.