Need Model and approx age

[sub349]

I inherited a S&W revolver from early 1900's. A picture is attached(I hope) It belonged to a relative who became to be like a grandfather to me. He had been on the local Police Department from the 1880's until early 1900's when he started his own private detective agency. Was county sheriff during the teens and was one of Indiana's first State Police Officers when it was known as the Indiana Motor Police. In the 1920's resumed his detective agency which he operated until his death and this is the revolver I recall that he carried. At any rate the serial # is 349XX both on the butt and the cylinder. It carries eight patent dates but the last two are Oct 08, 01 and Dec 17, 0? (Nickel plating worn to point last digit unreadable). On other side of barrel markings are 38 S&W Special US Service CTG's. In that these are not the original grips, I would like to get authentic appearing replacement grips, grip screw, and ferrules but I don't know the exact model. Also approximate age would be interesting to know. That is as far as I would go with restoring as it has its own story to tell........Thanks in advance

 

[cgt4570]

It's a .38 Military & Police Model of 1902, First Change made around 1903-1904 timeframe. FYI: The grips are plastic reproductions, most likely made by 'Franzite' in the 1970s.

 

[P&R Fan]

Chris nailed the year of birth. I was looking it up in the Catalog but he beat me to it.
I'm glad you aren't going to get it refinished. That revolver has character. Each scratch and little ding has a story, and it looks just fine to me. Don't be afraid to shoot it, with standard pressure loads, of course.
Sure would be fun to hear the stories associated with it. I am also a Private Investigator, and I could tell some fun stories.
I could, but I ain't gonna.
Jim

 

[sub349]

Thanks

Thanks to both Chris and PR for identifying and approx birthdate of this S&W for me.
As a matter of interest PR, we have 3-4 large ledger books filled with newspaper clippings pasted in of cases with which he was either involved or had some interest in due to knowing law enforcement personnel who were involved with tracking down perps. These ledgers go back into the 19 teens through the 1930's. What I found interesting was how dangerous these days were. Taking a 30 mile car trip here in Indiana might find you held up by 'highwaymen'. The filling station I used to ride to on my bike to get nickel cokes in the 1940's was held up 3-4 times back in the late 1920's and early 1930's. Some of more interesting clippings we are digitizing. BTW, the detective agency was known as the Weinhardt Detective Agency and at one time Weinhardt Secret Service Bureau here in north central IN but at one time had offices in some other cities besides Lafayette.

Thanks again.......this S&W means a lot to me

 

[Hexer]

This is the kind of history behind some of the old guns that gives them very high "cool factors."