New pick up Mod 38 airweight need help with ID

[Pitdog02]

Walked into the shop today and seen this, It just looked to cool to leave sittin there.

*Model 38 stamped on crane
*Airweight 38 spl ctg stamped on barrel
*Stainless steel cyl (guy said its a mich state police issue)
*Shrouded exposed hammer target trigger
*No numbers on grips
*Serial 421513
I really dont know what I bought,anything you guys can tell me I would appreciate.

 

[29aholic]

M-38 also known as the "Airweight Bodyguard" IIRC the stainless cylinder is correct for some of these. I think they also put them in some 37's mostly for law enforcement guns to shoot hotter +P ammo.

I would hazard a guess somewhere between 65-67 around the same time the M-60 came out.

 

[john4970]

SCSW says the Michigan State Police versions with the SS cylinder began in 1969. That year also began the 'J' serial number prefix. Serial #s are: 1962 295000 thru 1969 785544, so your gun may be mid-60s. Your gun also has the modern cyl. latch which began in 1966 and the diamond stocks which went away in 1967. I have seen better fitting stocks on 38's and without the serial number stamped on them, they may be replacements. I don't think I answered anything, just threw out a bunch of info. Hope it helps. If you cannot figure out what the gun is, as I live in SE Michigan also, you can just leave it on my front porch, and I will store it for you. Good luck, John

 

[Pitdog02]

Great responses, thank you both. I'm in Rockwood, Where you located John? What ranges do you go to if any. Nice to bump into a neighbor anyway.

 

[Glock 'em down]

Ahhh! Another GORGEOUS Bodyguard!

If you want your money back for that little guy, let me know!

 

[john4970]

Pitdog: I am in Waterford. I usually shoot at William's Gun Sight in Davison. It's a bit of a trek, but I enjoy their showroom and for $7/day, they pretty much let you shoot on your own. They offer rifle and handgun ranges and the folks there are top notch. John

 

[Maxadur]

I can tell you that the stainless steel cylinder was for more than extra stength. It was to make the piece, which was intended for back-up carry, more corrosion proof when carried against a sweaty body all day everyday by a hard -working State Trooper. Carried a lot, shot only a little.

Regards, Gerry

 

[Pitdog02]

Like John said S&W 3rd edition says 1969 started J serial prefix and sales to Michigan police supply with ss cylinders. So now Im wondering if this is a pre 69 gun with a ss cyl added? I cant find a date for the serial # yet. I love it regardless, what would you guys have paid for this? It was on consignment and they would not budge below $300. I dont care if I overpaid its like my 340pd is reunited with his granpaw.

 

[mesabi]

I owned one of these (Model 38 with the stainless cylinder) that carried serial number 422197. I ordered it around 1993 from an ad in Gun List that stated they were Michigan State Police trade-ins. It certainly looked like it had been carried by a sweaty State Trooper! There was also an awful lot of lint in the hammer channel.

 

[john4970]

$300 is probably about right. You have a gun with some history, SS cylinder makes it interesting, model 38s aren't growing on trees, it's blued, it's pinned, you like it, and new ones with locks are $475. What's not to like?

 

[DC7]

Originally posted by Pitdog02:
Like John said S&W 3rd edition says 1969 started J serial prefix and sales to Michigan police supply with ss cylinders. So now Im wondering if this is a pre 69 gun with a ss cyl added?

When S&W was using the low-400,000 s/n range for J-frames (around 1965-1966), they had just barely begun building the very first stainless revolver, the Model 60. There is virtually no possibility that the factory would have put a stainless cylinder on any other model at that point, so the gun almost certainly had the stainless cylinder added at some point later in its life.

 

[Farmer17]

I remember Shotgun news had them advertised for sale for quite a long time so there must have been quite a few in inventory. The stainless cylinder was a pretty good idea on a backup gun and I wish I would have bought one when they were available.

 

[ACP230]

I bought one out of a Kentucky Imports ad in Shotgun News some years ago.
I had seen them advertised for quite a while and then didn't see them for an ad or two.
Some panic ensued.
The next time they came up I bought one.
It's a good carry gun and I'm using it quite a bit these days.
Unfortunately, it doesn't shoot as well as my
M649s.

 

[ACP230]

BTT

 

[Pitdog02]

Either way I like it. I will however need to have more concrete data before I conceed its an altered piece. I do thank and value all responses thus far.