Need help identifying late grandfather's revolver

[HillbillyJesus]

This was my late grand father's pistol, I thought it was a model 10 but none of the serials match those guns.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

The Serial is 285602, it's a 5 screw and has the tension screw in .38 s&w special ctg.

 

[Drm50]

Mentioning the caliber would be nice for ID.

 

[glowe]

Welcome to the Forum. You have a nice 38 Hand Ejector, Military & Police, 4th Model that would have most likely shipped in 1917. You have got a great 4" example that should shoot very well. Nice gun to have as a family heirloom, both for sentimental reasons and to shoot.

The Model 10 was not introduced until 1957, or 40 years after that gun was shipped.

 

[HillbillyJesus]

.38 s&w special ctg

 

[HillbillyJesus]

Welcome to the Forum. You have a nice 38 Hand Ejector, Military & Police, 4th Model that would have most likely shipped in 1917. You have got a great 4" example that should shoot great. Nice gun to have as a family heirloom, both for sentimental reasons and to shoot.

Thank you! That's most everything I needed to know.

One last question - will this only handle .38 spl or will it handle +p rounds too?

 

[glowe]

Do not shoot 38 +P in that gun. Would it survive, most likely but why not get some boxes of lightly loaded HBWC? It is not something to break or ruin being your grandfather's originally.

 

[larry21556]

You pistol appears to be a ".38 Hand Ejector Military & Police Model 1905 Fourth Change" Made about circa 1915/1916.

I am happy to see that at least I agreed with those who actually know what I thought.

 

[HillbillyJesus]

Absolutely, it was more just a question than anything else. Thanks I'll have to take it to the range after this whole plague thing is over....

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

Some collectors will refer to your revolver as a Model of 1902, due to it having a round butt.

Model numbers weren't assigned by S&W until 1957 and generally, didn't show up stamped on the firearm until 1958.

 

[glowe]

The company dropped those names like Model 1902, Model 1905 in the mid-teens. By WWI they were simply called Military & Police (round butt or square butt) revolvers. The square butt sold for around a dollar more than the round butt, costing just under $30.

 

[NavySCPO]

Welcome to the forum from Georgia!

Congratulations on a beautiful revolver and family heirloom, cherish it, these items simply cannot be replaced, enjoy.

 

[Qc Pistolero]

Looks like what we now call a pre-model 10.
But shoot only moderate pressure .38spl in it.Stay away from +P.It will probably damage the gun.
Fine specimen you got there!Take good care of it.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! Your gun was designed to shoot modern +P ammo. That's because SAAMI reduced the pressure of ammo across the board in the 1970's. Before that, all ammo was regular pressure and +P didn't exist. Today's +P is lower pressure than the original .38 S&W Special made in 1899. In the 1930's, S&W stated that their K frame gun could even shoot .38 High Velocity which was originally designed for the .38/44 Heavy Duty at around 1100 fps. Your gun is robust enough to shoot any commercial ammo made for it today. So, don't fret what you can purchase and shoot.

 

[Muley Gil]

Looks like what we now call a pre-model 10.


But shoot only moderate pressure .38spl in it.Stay away from +P.It will probably damage the gun.


Fine specimen you got there!Take good care of it.

No, what collectors consider to be a "pre Model 10" would be the revolvers built with the new short action beginning in 1948.

Today's +P rounds aren't that powerful, due to lawyers & liability. They can stress an older revolver a little more than the standard loadings. Lead bullets are easier on the bore than jacketed rounds.

 

[merl67]

Contrary to common belief that these early 38spl Smiths will be damaged in some way. As long as timing and lock up is good it won't blow up. The only thing that might happen is a little more wear. That being said for the price difference it ain't worth it. A standard 38spl load will do most anything a plus p will do without the extra cost or muzzle blast.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

I agree, Randy, that shooting today's reduced pressure ammo is gentle on the handgun and the hand holding it. It was common in the black powder era to reduce the cartridge loading to achieve better target scores. But, what really sticks in my craw is when folks say "you can't shoot +P ammo or you'll destroy your gun." This is patently false because the metallurgy was adequate and cartridge loading was significantly higher in the early years after this model was introduced.

 

[Waveski]

Nice revolver - great condition. What you have there is an example of the most successful revolver of all time.
Sure , that old iron can handle +P , but why bother? Nothing to be gained.
Great pictures , nice debut , Welcome Aboard.

 

[LEO918]

Where would one obtain +P ammo these days?

 

[Truckman]

Where would one obtain +P ammo these days?

I know where six rounds are right now...No make that 12......Ben

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Leo, I believe Buffalo Bore makes it.

Guy