New to me Model 1905 38 nickel

[tx50]

I recently came across a nickel plated, 5 inch barreled, MOP stocked, 38 Special Model 1905 at a local pawn shop. The price was such that I could not pass it up. The serial number is 535131 which my limited research shows to be late 1920s manufacture?

It shows little evidence of having been fired and is in perfect mechanical condition. Unfortunately, the spring loaded retaining pin for the extractor rod was seized up due to old oil having turned to tar which made it difficult to open the cylinder. This resulted in someone previously using a sharp object to push the cylinder release forward and resulted in some scratches on the release and side plate which thankfully did not penetrate through the nickel plating.

I love the look of the MOP stocks but they are too thin in profile for my size large hands. I had a set of much later Magna stocks laying around and they dramatically improved the handling characteristics but I would like to obtain a more period correct set as I do intend to shoot it periodically. Can someone verify which type of stocks I should be looking for? No medallions, silver, gold? And if anyone has a spare set laying around I would be interested in buying them to put this beauty back into correct form. If not, where is a good soyrce for stocks at a fair price? I have looked on Ebay and a few other places but prices are all over the map and I'm not exactly sure what stocks I truly need.

I have several other post war Smith's but this is my first prewar and I was excited to get it.

 

[Elroy]

That's appears to be in excellent condition for being a 100 years old. Photos below depict correct stocks for that era

 

[tx50]

Thanks, Elroy. No medallions is what I suspected but wanted to be certain. And I agree it is in really good shape for being approx. 100 years old. I suspect it was someones sock drawer gun.

 

[DARE]

For N frame guns there is a thread that says non-medallion grips from about 1919-1930. Large silver medallions 1929-1938. I think K frame guns like yours were about the same time frame for the changes.
So if you are correct about late 20's I think there is a possibility that your gun could have had either style depending on exactly when it shipped.

 

[JP@AK]

The serial number is 535131 which my limited research shows to be late 1920s manufacture?

Not late 1920s. 531541 shipped in February, 1926. I'm aware also of a 535xxx revolver that shipped in May, 1926.

If you look at the extractor rod, you will see that the knob is shaped like a mushroom. That shape went away in about 1927.

Hence, the stocks shown by Elroy are correct. Here is a picture of the aforementioned 531541 wearing correct stocks.

 

[tx50]

Thanks, DARE. Truth is, either style would be more correct than what its currently sporting.

 

[DARE]

Jack is pretty good about dates. If he says 1926 I would say that is good information. 1926 would definitely have the non-medallion grips. Here is my N frame that shipped in 1926.

 

[Truckman]

I would have felt compelled to rescue that one also......Ben

 

[SS336]

I like it.don't think I would change a thing. It's pimpalicious.

 

[raljr1]

Try some Flitz on that scratch....be a little aggressive, and it may minimize if it doesnt eliminate it. I did that to one of mine to lessen a scratch.

Robert