Looking for info, .38spl 1910-1920

[Toyotamike]

I've asked on my local board but was referred here to get a bit of info about my family heirloom S&W. I know by the grips that it is between 1910 and 1920 production. The Serial number (252,0xx) matches on the frame, cylinder and inside the grips. No serial number on the barrel and the front sight isn't a half moon but I think started life as one. Barrel does say Smith and Wesson on the left and .38 special CTG on the right. Bluing is in excellent shape with some wear on the front of the cylinder. Hammer and trigger are case hardened. Cylinder locks up tight but seems to be a bit worn at the end as once fired the brass is hard to extract.

Hoping to add to that info as well as get a value just for piece of mind.

 

[JP@AK]

Welcome to the S&W Forum!

Your revolver seems to date from the mid-teens, and it probably shipped before the government took over the factory during the Great War, maybe a couple years before that.

The front sight does look a bit suspicious, but the rest of the revolver appears to be in good shape. Love those stocks!

This is a keeper because it belongs in the family. It would be a keeper in my home in any case, because I just like these old revolvers. I suppose at a gun show I would gladly pay $400 for it and would probably pass at $500.

I hope that helps.
Jack

 

[Toyotamike]

Thanks for the info. If the front sight was indeed altered it was done professionally as it is finely serrated on the angle, not just done with a grinder at home for sure lol.

 

[dinghysailer]

For reference #2428xx shipped on August 16, 1915.

Keep in mind that S&W did not ship in numerical order, so its only a rough guide to date.

It looks just like yours except for front sight and barrel length.

 

[DWalt]

Those earlier M&Ps were made before S&W performed heat treatment of cylinders and frames, so it is a good idea to use milder loads only if you plan to shoot it.

 

[mikepriwer]

Does the barrel have the serial number on the flat area of the underside of the barrel ?
Or is there no serial number ?

Mike Priwer

 

[Tom Doniphon]

For reference #2428xx shipped on August 16, 1915.

Keep in mind that S&W did not ship in numerical order, so its only a rough guide to date.

They certainly didn't ship in numerical order. #229154 shipped on April 4, 1916.

 

[Toyotamike]

There is no serial number on the barrel. Here is details of the barrel.

 

[Alk8944]

The barrel is a mid-1950s or later that has had the clearance cut for the large hear extractor knob cut, probably by hand, definitely after finishing, and the sight blade tapered to better mate with the early narrow rear sight of the frame. Probably a 1960s-1970s barrel, which explains the lack of a serial number.

 

[Toyotamike]

Would this of been sent to the factory for this work or could any gunsmith done this? I thank you for the info and now I don't have to worry about shooting +p out of the barrel.

 

[Skeetr57]

Any good gunsmith could have done the barrel swap. The later barrel does not mean that you should shoot +P ammunition in the gun. The peak pressure in pistol ammo occurs in the chamber, not the barrel, and S&W didn't start heat treating cylinders until around 1920. Standard pressure .38 special should be OK, though.

 

[murphydog]

Some signs that it might have gone back to the factory for the barrel swap would be a star stamped next to the SN on the bottom of the grip frame (this one is too new for that), or a four-digit code on the left lower grip frame indicating a month/year factory rework date. Do you see any numbers there?

 

[Toyotamike]

This is on the bottom left

And this is the other side