Need some help with this one!

[RainDodger]

I need some help with this one, guys. I don't know a lot about old stuff. This revolver kicked around my dad's workshop for years until I inherited it. I'm sure it was pretty beat up even when I was a kid, 40 years ago. My dad likely inherited it from his family. Although he was gun nut too, this one was probably viewed as old junk. I pulled it out of a box the other day, not even knowing it was a S&W (it was with an old H&R .32 and a "US Pistol Co." .22).

Someone has been at it with definite "non-gunsmith" tools in decades past. It's scratched, pitted and barely functional at all. The hand doesn't work reliably and there's gunk in the action - the trigger moves, but not very well and doesn't return well. The cylinder fails to lock in place but all the parts are there. Bore is rifled. There is NO caliber marking anywhere on the pistol - I went over it with a jeweler's loupe and could only find the serial number on the butt. It is 384784 and there is a matching number (faint) on the chamber side of the cylinder. There are no assembly numbers. It appears to be something about .38 caliber. A .38 special case will slide part way into the chamber. It's bigger than a .32 however. The barrel is 3.25" long (cylinder to muzzle).

What have I got here?!

Thanks guys

Roger
NRA Lifer, 20 years in the USN

Here are 3 pictures I've posted on my web site:

 

[RainDodger]

.. oh, I forgot to say that the latest patent date on the sight rib is April 9th, 1889. (the earliest one is May 11th, 1880)

 

[Jim Watson]

.38 Double Action Fourth Model, made 1895-1909, probably early in that period.

Caliber is .38 Smith & Wesson, not related to or interchangeable with .38 Special or .38 Short or Long Colt.

 

[RainDodger]

Thank you, Jim! I'm sure this one isn't worth much, but are they a very common revolver? Someone may be able to use this for parts or something, I don't know.

I originally joined this forum to get some feedback on a nearly flawless 1953 Combat Masterpiece I have. Since spending time here, I've gotten back into revolvers... dang it, see what you guys have done? Now I've moved all the auto-loaders over in the safe and I'm back to fondling my Smiths. <sigh> I'm also realizing that revolvers are still popular with the people that really know.

I carried a M66 and a M60 for years on duty and I'm glad I still have them.

Thanks everyone.

Roger

 

[twaits]

Actually I don't think that old revolver looks half bad! You should carefully remove the sideplate and spay some action blaster in there and clean out 100 years worth of grit and oil and relubricate it. It may do wonders for it. I think you should definitely try to bring it back to life. Hell, I'll give you a hundred bucks for it!

 

[Hangerbanger]

Definatly worth cleaning up. I'll go a hundered and half.
Barry

 

[RayGT3]

Clean and lube it up, would make a fun shooter. Ya might even start to like it. These are very fun to have and shoot. It's always interesting when someone drags an old timer out at the range. And we're talking guns here.

 

[singleshot1891]

When you take that sideplate off, be sure to use some good gunsmithing screwdrivers !
Don't further depreciate any condition issues by buggering up the screws.

 

[RainDodger]

If I were to pull the sideplate off myself, I'd use the correct screwdrivers, but someone in the past didn't... and they pried at the edges of the sideplate. I don't know that I even want to open it up... as I mentioned, the older revolvers like this don't interest me that much.

Thanks for all the tips though. I would likely sell this one before messing with it. The revolver is not in that great a shape and I don't know that I'd feel very comfortable with live rounds in it. I have to balance the hassle of driving out to my local FFL holder and sending it off, with selling it, etc.

 

[twaits]

If I were to pull the sideplate off myself, I'd use the correct screwdrivers, but someone in the past didn't... and they pried at the edges of the sideplate. I don't know that I even want to open it up... as I mentioned, the older revolvers like this don't interest me that much.

Thanks for all the tips though. I would likely sell this one before messing with it. The revolver is not in that great a shape and I don't know that I'd feel very comfortable with live rounds in it. I have to balance the hassle of driving out to my local FFL holder and sending it off, with selling it, etc.

Well it is a great old gun and whoever you sell it to will be lucky to have it.
I believe the high offer right now is $150

Seriously, if you do want to remove the sideplate and try cleaning it out its not too hard.
Just use a good hollow ground screwdriver of the right size to remove the screw and gently tap the frame with a wooden or plastic mallet. Eventually the sideplate will work loose and drop right off. These are really easy guns to work on.