Hello. First time poster. Can anyone help identify my revolver? No model number, Serial # S 684XX. 38 S & W Special, Hand Ejector, Fixed sights, Strain screw in front grip strap, 4 screws RH side, 1 screw front of trigger guard, pinned 5" barrel. I was under the assumption that this was a Model 10, but no so sure anymore. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Let me know if you need photos.
Need help Identifying
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gunnails
Member
Of course we want photos. "
Post war, pre model 10 Military and Police?
Post war, pre model 10 Military and Police?
DWalt
Member
S 684XX would suggest an N-frame revolver from late 1946. It's a little huskier than a Model 10 (K-frame), and was designed to use the .38-44 cartridge, essentially a heavily loaded .38 Special cartridge with a muzzle velocity approaching that of the the .357 Magnum. It can also use any .38 Special ammunition. With fixed sights, it was called the .38/44 Heavy Duty. These are desirable revolvers. A few pictures would be nice to establish this identification with certainty.
Based on your excellent description you undoubtedly have a 38/44 Heavy Duty . . . and there is a 50-50 chance it was among the 284 that shipped to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. If you'll send me a PM or email with the full serial number I will check the s/n list and let you know.
We would love to see pictures and I'd be particularly interested in seeing a close-up of the hammer stud . . . just under the cylinder release latch.
Russ
Pictures came through fine . . . very nice.
Russ
Russ
Added another photo. Linde, is this the shot you were talking about?
john_russell8's Library | Photobucket
john_russell8's Library | Photobucket
Big Cholla
Member
Wow! That is a very very nice 38/44 HD. Even the diamond magna grips look pristine. There is barely a discernible turn line. Where did you find such a great collectible handgun? ............ Big Cholla
Yes, yours has the pre-war style hammer stud that was threaded into the frame. Many in this s/n range were retrofitted to the newer style stud that was pressed into the frame and polished flat.
PM sent with additional information.
Thanks for sharing,
Russ
A great uncle of mine, WWII vet, passed away recently. He had no wife or children - just nephews. The 3 of us were fortunate enough to be able to pick through his collection of handguns and rifles from various countries. Mostly bolt action from that era and some more modern ones. Same with the handguns - semi autos and revolvers.
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DWalt
Member
Note that the hammer appearance is considerably different from the later hammer profile, consistent with its pre-1948 manufacture. I also don't understand retrofitting a threaded stud with a press-fitted one - never heard of that being done.
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Pardon my ignorance, but what is a turn line?
DWalt
Member
A wear line on the cylinder finish caused by a dragging cylinder stop. It can result from negligence or an out-of-time mechanical condition. However, it is common on revolvers which have seen significant use. It doesn't hurt anything, except it is detrimental to value in the view of most collectors.
First, welcome to the forum.
In that condition range, and with original stocks, I wouldn't be surprised to see it sell for $1000 on one of the popular auction sites such as Gunbroker.com.
38/44's are very desirable guns among those of us who hang out in this section of the forum, and especially the revolvers with what many of us refer to as "transitional" features - namely, the pre-war style hammer. By around 1950 all N frames had the more modern hammer design that's essentially still in use today....
Mark
DWalt
Member
The early postwar S&W revolvers, until about 1948, have a special interest to collectors, and will demand a value premium over those made later, when various significant engineering changes were made. You could think of them as the last of the breed of excellent revolvers which were made by S&W between the wars. Some call them "transitionals," but I do not particularly like that term. I would also say that $1000 would not be a stretch in a private sale, and possibly even a little more to the right buyer.
gkitch
Member
John, this forum is the coolest on the internet. Full of helpful people who engage in enthusiastic conversations. Visit some of the other collector type sites and one notices the difference pretty quick.
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