Need help identifying pistols

[RetiredPopo]

Hello, I’m a retired police officer, I bought several old Smith and Wesson revolvers from a family whose uncle had passed away, he was also a police officer. Totally forgot these, had been in a safe for the last 15+ years. Looking to see if you can help me ID them, year manufactured and how much they maybe worth.

The first is a snub nose .38 spl, I believe it’s a Model 36? Serial number starts with 587**.

The next is a 38 Special CTG. Maybe a model 10? Serial number starts with 506***. There is no other markings on the inside of the cylinder (ie: 10-5, 10-6 etc. The family told me that this was the gun the family member carried on duty. (?).

The third is a K-22 Masterpiece 6” barrel, Blue Finish, Target Hammer. .22 Long Rigle CTG. Serial number starts K 203***

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks a ton!

 

[greenwellg]

K22 mid 1950's $600
Model 10 is a Military &Police mid 1920's $350 pre model 10.
Mod 36 early production $450 or a little more

 

[RetiredPopo]

K22 mid 1950's $600
Model 10 is an Military &Police mid 1920's $350 pre model 10.
Mod 36 early production $450 or a little more

Thank you very much for this info. I really appreciate it.

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

Technically, there is no "pre" any model. What collector's call a pre Model 10 is a .38 special Military & Police revolver that has the same parts and action as the revolvers that were built from about 1958 onward that WERE stamped Model 10. These pre models were produced from 1948 into 1958. They had a newer short action that was introduced in 1948.

The revolver you bought, shown in the middle of the picture, is a .38 Military & Police that was built in the 1920s. It has the older long action and so is NOT a pre Model 10.

 

[JP@AK]

Gil is correct, as usual.

You correctly identified the K-22 Masterpiece. It probably left the factory in 1953. It has a five screw frame and plastic aftermarket stocks. Of the three revolvers, it is the most valuable and will also be a pleasure to shoot. The 5 screw K-22s that I have owned were extremely accurate revolvers.

The .38 Military & Police model probably left the factory in about 1925. The stocks are probably original.

The snubby is not a Model 36. It was produced before model numbers were assigned and was called simply a Chiefs Special. You wrote that the "Serial number starts with 587**." Assuming there are really only five digits, it probably dates to 1955, but Bob should be along to provide a more precise estimate (he's our Chiefs Special expert).

That's nice group of S&W revolvers. Congrats.

 

[RetiredPopo]

Gil is correct, as usual.

You correctly identified the K-22 Masterpiece. It probably left the factory in 1953. It has a five screw frame and plastic aftermarket stocks. Of the three revolvers, it is the most valuable and will also be a pleasure to shoot. The 5 screw K-22s that I have owned were extremely accurate revolvers.

The .38 Military & Police model probably left the factory in about 1925. The stocks are probably original.

The snubby is not a Model 36. It was produced before model numbers were assigned and was called simply a Chiefs Special. You wrote that the "Serial number starts with 587**." Assuming there are really only five digits, it probably dates to 1955, but Bob should be along to provide a more precise estimate (he's our Chiefs Special expert).

That's nice group of S&W revolvers. Congrats.

Thanks a lot!!!

 

[RetiredPopo]

Welcome to the Forum.

Technically, there is no "pre" any model. What collector's call a pre Model 10 is a .38 special Military & Police revolver that has the same parts and action as the revolvers that were built from about 1958 onward that WERE stamped Model 10. These pre models were produced from 1948 into 1958. They had a newer short action that was introduced in 1948.

The revolver you bought, shown in the middle of the picture, is a .38 Military & Police that was built in the 1920s. It has the older long action and so is NOT a pre Model 10.

Awesome! Thanks a lot!!!!

 

[RetiredPopo]

Thanks a lot!!!

Really appreciate the info!!!!!!

 

[smith17]

Several of y'all continue to preach the "there is no pre-model this or that" but I have several letters from Roy that state " The records indicate that your Pre-Model XXX was shipped......."

If it is good enough for him, I surely don't mind someone referring to a revolver in that way.

 

[45NUTT]

Wouldn't the 38 special be a Hand Ejector model 1905?

 

[DWalt]

Wouldn't the 38 special be a Hand Ejector model 1905?

Not entirely. The revolver is the same as a Model of 1905, but S&W ceased using the Model of 1902 and the Model of 1905 identification names in about 1915. After that, S&W cataloged and advertised them as just the Military and Police Model, either Round Butt or Square Butt respectively. A nomenclature change, but not a product change. Some collectors prefer to use the 1902 and 1905 terminology in reference to all M&Ps made until WWII. But S&W did not. Likewise, S&W did not use the “changes” as part of the product name, but some collectors do.
S&W never used the “pre-Model xx” term either. No way in, say, 1952, that they could have known that they would start using the “Model xx” as part of the product name five years later. Just another example of a collector naming convention being at odds with the factory name. And there are others, such as the dreaded “Transitional.”

 

[MelvinWalker]

Several of y'all continue to preach the "there is no pre-model this or that" but I have several letters from Roy that state " The records indicate that your Pre-Model XXX was shipped......."

If it is good enough for him, I surely don't mind someone referring to a revolver in that way.

Yeah, that terminology is becoming almost mainstream anymore, as it is an easy way to distinguish any pre-1957 or so era guns without model numbers stamped in the crane/yoke area.