Need help identifying this revolver .

[ffeng31]

Good day all. I need a bit of help identifying this revolver . A friend of mine has it and tells me it was his Grandfathers ( a police officer) during the prohibition era. It is in very nice condition. I suspect it is a model 10 but need confirmation. It is chambered in .38 Special , has a 6 inch barrel, and has a serial number of 223000. I snapped a few pics.. Many thanks in advance.

 

[jmace57]

It's quite a bit older than a model 10, but a predecessor model. Looks like a M&P model of 1905. I am away from my book, but based on serial number from the late "teens" I think. Looks like it has been refinished . Looks like hammer and trigger have been blues and looks polished. I'm lookin on a smart phone though.

 

[opoefc]

It's a Model of 1905, 3rd change, made about 1914-15. Close serial numbers shipped at that time. It has been refinished and the pearl stocks are not original to the gun. The refinish was poorly done and includes the hammer and triggers which originally were case hardened. Value is only as a shooter, not as a collectable due to the unoriginal condition, but as a family heirloom the gun could be priceless. Tell your friend to get as much info. as he can from the Police Historian of the dep't were his grandfather served, to go with the gun , and then order a S&W factory historical letter to show where the gun was shipped, to whom and the original configuration of the gun. The gun and the info. & letter will make a nice package for future members of the family. There's a link on this Forum to the application form for the factory historical letter. Good luck, ED.

 

[ffeng31]

Thank you !!

 

[glowe]

Ed has said it all. If I had that revolver, I would disassemble it and use Naval Jelly on the hammer and trigger. It will quickly strip off the bluing. Wash the parts, oil them and put the gun back together again. It will improve the appearance and will have the proper look of a 38 HE.

I would be happy to have it as a shooter, since these are great fun at the range. Any standard 38 Special ammo will work fine.

 

[DWalt]

It most likely shipped in early 1914 from my records. S&W did not heat treat their steel that early, so standard velocity lead bullet ammunition is recommended.

 

[bullboo1]

Send S&W a certificate request and see who bought her.

 

[DWalt]

Send S&W a certificate request and see who bought her.

Nearly 100% of the time, that will be some distributor/wholesaler/retailer, not the first retail purchaser.

 

[bullboo1]

M&P 38

.I foundf this onlineon a S&W forum

According to one of my S&W letters from Roy Jinks:
" .38 Hand Ejector, Military & Police Model of 1905, Third change. This modification occurred in 1909 and was produced until 1915 with a total productionof 94,804 revolvers. These revolvers were produced between serial numbers 146900 and 241703 of the Hand Ejector series. ...

so its like you say
Ken