My New S&W 38sp

[jenv1990]

Hi all! I just bought a S&W 38sp ctg and would like some more info on it. Can anyone out there tell me some more about this pistol??

What I know is it is a 38 sp, 4"barrel, 6 shot, 3 screws, possibly a K frame?, serial number on cylinder/barrel 355237 on the inside T. 34597 7 , marcas registradas, after market grips,

Can anyone tell me more about this gun??



Thanks for your help.

 

[opoefc]

Welcome to the Forum! If that number is the serial number, then it's also on the butt of the grip frame. What number is there? Count those screws again, it can't be a 3 screw with that serial number. Don't forget to count the screw in front of the frame under the barrel. Ed.

 

[jenv1990]

reply

Ok there is one under the frame so that makes 4. serial number on the butt C 355237

the grips are franzite plastic ? horn grips but I have been told they are after market.

 

[HKSmith]

You'll need to give us a better description or picture because there's some contradictory information here. The 3 screw guns did not have serial numbered barrels and cylinders - only the frame was serialized and that number is on the butt of the gun. Also, the serial number you give would be for a 5 screw gun from the 1930's. Does the serial number include a letter preceding the number? Possibilities would be C, D, K, or V.

Can you tell us what the finish and front sight looks like (semicircle or ramp) and is the rear sight adjustable or fixed? Also, what are you counting as the 3 screws? One other point - your post should not be in the antique section as the .38 Special cartridge and the guns for it were introduced in 1899.

I see this is your first post, so welcome to the Forum. There's lots of great expertise available here, so don't be put off by the above questions. An invaluable reference source and place to learn about 3, 4, and 5 screw models and other S&W arcana is "The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson" by Jim Supica and Rick Nahas - I highly recommend you get a copy.

 

[DCWilson]

Yes, welcome. Pictures would really help in this case. Check out the info here:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-forum-office/78728-posting-photos-forum-new-format.html

The four-line address block including the Marcas Registradas phrase definitely puts this after WWII. The C-prefix serial number looks to be from the mid-1950s.

 

[jenv1990]

reply

Hi thanks for the info,

I think it is a semi circular with a fixed nose site. It does have 4 screws though.
What is considered antique? It has a C on the butt before the 355237 I was thinking 50+ yrs

how do I get the photo up

DCWILSON Thank you. It has a T but no mod. I do think it is a semi circle though. I will look at to uploading a photo now.

 

[DCWilson]

What is considered antique? It has a C on the butt before the 355237 I was thinking 50+ yrs

As a precise term, "antique" means more than a century old. The term for guns more than 50 years old is "curio and relic." It looks like yours is a revolver from the mid 1950s, so it would have C&R status.

Going a little further, your gun sounds like it is what we would call a "Pre-Model 10." That is, it is the model of S&W that was identified by the company as a model 10 when they introduced the model number system in 1957.

When I mentioned a model 14 or model 15 in a paragraph that I later edited out of an earlier post, I was heading up a blind alley. At that time I thought your gun might have target sights.

Hope the picture instructions work for you.

 

[HKSmith]

Your gun is from the mid-1950's, right about the time of the change from 4 to 5 screw frames. You might want to check and see if there's a fifth frame screw under the right grip. The model name for your gun is the .38 Military and Police. As noted above, it's referred to by collectors as a Pre-Model 10 if it has no model number stamped on the frame under the yoke.

Federal law defines an antique firearm as being produced in or before 1898 - these guns may be transferred without background checks and may be mailed.

 

[jenv1990]

Photo added

Thanks DC the photo is up. Ok so a pre model 10 . Someone said it was also M&P but I am not sure. I will see about posting in C&R thanks.

 

[jenv1990]

Thank you

Thanks HK this is helpful. There is a screw under the grip but that is 4 screws.

 

[HKSmith]

Thanks for the picture. I think the final answer to your question is that this is a .38 Military and Police, 4-screw, pre-model 10. Since the fifth screw was dropped about 1955 and the model numbers were stamped starting in 1957, your gun was produced in that era.

The .38 Military and Police is S&W's longest standing model, with production running from 1899 to the present. I don't know the total production numbers, but it must be about 5 million. Also, it is a K-frame. Enjoy your new find and I hope it's the start of a nice collection.

 

[jenv1990]

Reply

Thanks, I think it will be only the start. How much do they usually go for???

 

[opoefc]

Your gun is a .38 Military & Police Model, 4th change. It was shipped in approx. Feb. 1956, and collectors also call it a pre-Model 10, as these guns were made just before 1958 when S&W changed the names of it's guns to Models with numbers, Model 10 was the 1st, and the Model number was stamped on the frame under the yoke. Your gun is somewhat uncommon as it is one of the first of the 4 screw frames for this model. S&W changed from the 5 screw frames to the 4 screw in 1955-56 period. It was a phased in change, so there is an overlap of serial numbers with both 4 & 5 screws in that time. The number with the T symbol is the assembly/work number, not the serial number. That number was used to keep the parts together during assembly, before the serial number was assigned. The letter C is part of the serial number, however, and is on the butt with the digits. The C is not repeated on the barrel & cylinder, just the digits there. Throw away those crude plastic stocks and get a pair of genuine walnut checkered S&W magna grips, with the diamond patern around the escutcheon, which would be correct for this model. It will upgrade the gun considerably! This is not a rare gun, as the Model 10 is the most common revolver made by S&W, however Model 10 collectors will seek a low number 4 screw frame variation for their collections as they are much less common. Good luck, Ed.

 

[s&wchad]

It appears your back two sideplate screws have been switched. The flat head screw goes under the right grip. The screw behind the triggerguard should have a rounded head.

 

[Glock 'em down]

Throw away those crude plastic stocks and get a pair of genuine walnut checkered S&W magna grips, with the diamond patern around the escutcheon, which would be correct for this model. It will upgrade the gun considerably!

I agree. Those are some of the ugliest stocks I have ever seen!

My dad's Victory (which is MINE now! ) wears a set similar to yours, butt in the Magna size. I found a set of walnuts and slapped 'em on there...but I took them off and put the heinous plastic faux stags back on it.

Don't get me wrong...the walnut Magnas looked a gozillion times better on it. But strangley and oddly enough, it was transformed into MY revolver and it was no longer my DAD'S revolver, if you know what I mean.