Newbie needs help identifying S&W Revolver

[reubengeg]

Hello, please help me identify an older 38 special revolver with 6" barrel that I am trying to purchase online. Sellers online pictures are not very good. Seller could only provide this information. Serial number is S 982138 and 7-4546 is stamped on the cylinder yoke.
Thanks in advance for any information.

 

[daddio202]

Welcome to the forum. Chances are the gun in question is a .38 M&P from early 50's. Really tough to give a value without pictures. They range from an old beat up or refinished shooter from $400 all the way up to a pristine version with original box and paperwork $1500.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome from the Wiregrass! I agree with daddio that it's a .38 Military & Police hand ejector from 1947/8 based on the serial number S982138. Also agree that because these guns are not rare, it has to be in really top condition to bring more than $400 or so as a shooter. Our friend Jack in Alaska (JP@AK) may be along shortly to provide more specific information.

 

[Alk8944]

With an "S" prefix the SN could be from either a K-frame or N-frame gun, there were models in both frame sizes made in .38 Special.

The second number means nothing after the gun left the factory, it is, apparently the "assembly number, a number stamped on the frame, yoke and sideplate to allow properly matching them up if they become separated during manufacturing. Those major parts require individual fitting that can be time and labor intensive, read expensive.

With no more information provided walk away and look for a gun that can be identified properly by the seller. As already said the value could vary from only $50 to as high as $2,000, depending on the model, condition and popularity!

It probably is a K-frame, but can the number seller claims to be the SN be trusted?

 

[22hipower]

With the SN of S 982138 it has to be an early postwar K frame 38 Special, probably 1947/48 as noted previously. The N frame guns would have had SNs in the S 60,000 to S 75,000 or so range.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Gun Relics]

With the SN of S 982138 it has to be an early postwar K frame 38 Special, probably 1947/48 as noted previously. The N frame guns would have had SNs in the S 60,000 to S 75,000 or so range.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

I didn't realize that the "S" serial numbers overlapped. I had made up this cheat sheet a while back to quickly date guns while in the field. I'll have to work on it some more.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

I didn't realize that the "S" serial numbers overlapped.

The post-war K and N frame, S-serials, did not "overlap." The K frame revolver serial numbers continued in the sequence from the WWII V serials, but at the end of the war added an S to the V to show the guns had the new hammer block safety. When the war ended, the V was dropped but the number sequence continued up to S999999.


Post-war N frame serials started at S62489 and continued up to S333454. So, they didn't overlap with the K frames.

 

[JP@AK]

an older 38 special revolver with 6" barrel

Serial number is S 982138

It likely shipped in March or April, 1948. All three barrel lengths (4, 5 and 6) were assembled in that serial range, but most of them had either 4" or 5" barrels. The 6" barrel is the least common across all of the S prefix M&Ps, but they are not even close to being rare.

2" units are more common than 6", but if you break the 2" units down between round and square butt, 2" round butts are the least common.

 

[reubengeg]

Thank you to everyone for your comments. I did make an offer on the revolver. If seller accepts my offer I will gladly post pictures for you to see and evaluate. (probably next month due to planned travel.) Thanks again!
Reubengeg

 

[reubengeg]

[U]It likely shipped in March or April, 1948.[/U] All three barrel lengths (4, 5 and 6) were assembled in that serial range, but most of them had either 4" or 5" barrels. The 6" barrel is the least common across all of the S prefix M&Ps, but they are not even close to being rare.

2" units are more common than 6", but if you break the 2" units down between round and square butt, 2" round butts are the least common.

I was shipped in May 1948 and I still work and look good. Seller say the gun shows little wear and functions as designed so maybe it will look and work even better than me!

 

[Green Frog]

I was shipped in May 1948 and I still work and look good. Seller say the gun shows little wear and functions as designed so maybe it will look and work even better than me!

I was “shipped” in June of 1949, and although I still have most of my original parts, some of them have started to show serious wear. Just ask my cardiologist and osteopathic surgeon. Be sure to have a good doctor (gunsmith) to give it a thorough physical then treat it with the respect our seniority deserves. You and that revolver have made 76 trips around the sun… that’s a lot of mileage!
Froggie

 

[Green Frog]

PS To add a serious note to my last; I have a 1948 vintage K38 and of course being a target model it has a K prefix serial number, but is mechanically pretty much the same as your S prefix M&P. It still works with the reliability of a steam locomotive (remember those?) but is only fed low pressure target ammo so I don’t stress its “boiler”.
Froggie

 

[reubengeg]

I love you guys. I should have collected guns instead of pocket watches!
Thanks for all the color commentary! My cardiologist, orthopedic and vascular surgeons would all approve!!!
Thanks guys