Hello everyone, today my dad just purchased a smith and Wesson at a gun show, and I am having some difficulty identifying what model and an age range for it. on the barrel it says 38 S&W Special, U.S. Service CTG'S. The other side of the barrel shows patent, which are kinda hard to read but the last one I believe is July 7 03. It has the fifth screw in the trigger guard. Serial number is 902xx. Any ideas on what model it is? I was thinking 1902, but also 1905, but honestly I have absolutely no clue so any help is appreciated! Thanks guys
Identifying model of S&W revolver
- Thread starter scud553
- Start date
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Alk8944
US Veteran
It is Model 1905 .38 Hand Ejector (Military & Police) 1st change made ca. 1907. The SN range for this model was 73251-146899 from 1906-1909.
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.38 Military and Police Model of 1905 1st Change made from 1906-1909 serial number range 73,251-146,899
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
The finish seems to have largely turned into patina, but everything looks original. The stocks are the correct concave-top style for the decade. And it still has the “& US SERVICE CTG” on the barrel (a reference to the compatible .38 Colt) which was discontinued shortly afterwards.
And I'd venture a guess that those stocks have been with that gun since it left the factory. At least, they're the correct style for an early 1905.
Mark
You are welcome, it is not likely to have been issued or used in either of the wars. At $189.00 your dad did ok, not a steal but not a bad price either. The finish, or what is left of it is likely original if it were mine I would carefully remove the grips an give it a soak submerged in a mixture of one part acetone to one part automatic transmission fluid for a few days the using compressed air blow it out then put a good quality gun oil in all the openings working the action as you go wipe the exterior with the same the wipe excess off. Then clean the bore as you would normally. Modern 38 special can be shot in these no +P and cast lead bullets of the 158 grain weight will shoot best. You can get a letter that will tell you where and when it shipped.
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Welcome to the Forum.
DWalt
Member
Based on my SN list 902xx likely shipped sometime in late 1906. The dual-caliber barrel stamping ended in the 1907-08 period, so the marking on your barrel is correct. The "U. S. Service Cartridge" is the .38 Long Colt, and indeed at that time it was the official revolver cartridge of the U. S. military. It is slightly shorter and less powerful than the later .38 S&W Special cartridge, so both .38 Special and .38 Long Colt can be used in any .38 Special revolver. You are not likely to see any boxes of .38 Long Colt ammunition on any dealers' shelves as it is essentially obsolete. Almost certainly, your revolver was not in official use or issued by the U. S. military. At that time they used Colt revolvers.
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Welcome to the forum. That is a neat old S&W and should be fun to shoot. Not a collectors item but a real working gun. To me any time you can buy a S&W for the price of an Air Soft gun you are doing OK. Be careful though, once you are bitten by the bug you will find yourself cruising pawn shops, gun shops and gun shows looking for more. 
Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass!
