Looking for early .38 K-frame serial numbers

[mikepriwer]

My 4-screw square-butt research project needs some additional information.

I'd like to know if anyone has a .38 K-frame in the serial number range of 62449 to
about 65000. If so, I'd like to know whether its a 4-screw or 5-screw frame, and
if its a round-butt or a square-butt. And, of course, the serial number.

If you are uncomfortable posting this information on this site, send it to me via
email at [email protected].

Thanks for your help, Mike Priwer

 

[rct269]

I realize this is (slightly) outside your specified serial number range, but perhaps it's close enough to be of some help. I have #62253. It was shipped December 21, 1906. It is square butt. It is 4 screw. I also realize you will rain down a curse and a pox upon my house----and upon all the inhabitants therein for mentioning this (much less attaching any credibility to it), but it is identified (by the letter) as a "Smith & Wesson .38 Military & Police Second Model of 1902 First Change Target, caliber .38 S&W Special & US Service Cartridge revolver." There----I said it-----again!!

Ralph Tremaine

 

[cgt4570]

I'll check my numbers. I have 2 early target sighted guns that fall in this range, only a few hundred apart. First one is is a round butt. Second is a square butt. Neither have the screw in front of the trigger guard. Even though the square butt has all the features of a 1902, second change, I guess it's still technically a 1905 no change.

 

[Sebago Son]

My earliest is a little younger than that...

 

[cgt4570]

OK here are the numbers:
61266 is square butt.
62195 is round butt.
These are a tad outside your range. I can see the 62499 you mention easily being of this same configuration since frames finished in batches and they tried not to waste anything.
The interesting thing about the round butt is that it is wearing some early aftermarket round-to-square conversion grips that look to be of commercial manufacture. They have an inscription inside and a date from late WW1 with the name and rank of a mid level officer. I highly doubt that it's fake because I researched him. He was a reservist assigned to a shore battery in Seattle through most of the war. He got called up to active duty but by the time his transport ship arrived in France, the Armistist was signed and the war was over. He never actually 'fought' in the war. The grips are roughly similar to early I-frame 22/32 round to square, but the screw and escutcheons aren't S&W. The checkering is less refined than factory, but still well above 'folk art' quality.
Hope this helps your research.

 

[cgt4570]

I have .32 Winchester SN 39 but it's a bit rough.

My earliest is a little younger than that...

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[mikepriwer]

Ralph

I already have that serial number and shipping date, in my list of 4-screw 1905's . That
gun is interesting because it was shipped a full year and a half after the recorded
first 5-screw frame: 62449 on May 2, 1905.

As to why it letters as a 1902, it probably because the Neal & Jinks definitions
delay recognizing a Model of 1905 until the 5th frame screw, which comes
at 62449. That thinking has changed, and 4-screw square-butt models are now
being lettered as a 4-screw 1905's.

Very recently, 63146 showed up as a 4-screw square-butt . That is 700 serial numbers
after the 62449 point, and it was shipped May 15 1905 .

As to raining down a curse and pox on your house, sorry but I am out of that business !

Regards, Mike Priwer

 

[mikepriwer]

Chris

Thanks for those serial numbers. I did not have 61266 - its a welcome addition to
my list of 4-screw 1905's . I have 61366, which was shipped in Sept of 1906. Almost
all the square-butt frames in my pre-62449 list shipped in late 1905 to late 1906 ,
a long time after the first 5-screw frame shipped. This was a very strange period
of time.

Regards, Mike Priwer

 

[mikepriwer]

Drew

Here is another very early .38 1899 :

Regards, Mike Priwer

 

[Sebago Son]

Nice Mike! You Win!

 

[mikepriwer]

Actually Dave Chicoine Jr does - he did the refinishing couple of years ago. When I got
the gun, it had almost no finish on it. No surface damage - just no finish.

Regards, Mike