Old 38 what do I have?

[dkonrai]

Smith Wesson 38.
Barrel top marked pat Sept. 14 09 as the last date stamp.
Barrel right side marked .38 S&W special OTG.
Shoots well except for now the flame cutting in the frame.
Is this made in 1909?
Serial is 281562.
Thank you in advance.

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[shouldazagged]

"CTG" (not "OTG") is Smmith & Wesson's abbreviation for "cartridge", and just says what ammo the gun uses.

More knowledgeable folks than I--and that's pretty much everyody--will give you the information you need.

From your pictures, which are kind of blurry, I don't see evidence of flame cutting; but I wouldn't expect to on a .38 Special revolver.

 

[handejector]

You have a pretty decent 38 M&P from around the WW I era- probably just after. Does it have a Logo on the left side?
Mechanically, it is a 1905-4th Change, which appeared around Ser #241-242,000.
The grips are much later than the gun.
The paint is not original.


That is not flame cutting. They put that big dimple there to give powder fouling and bullet lube a place to go without binding the cylinder.

 

[dkonrai]

"CTG" (not "OTG") is Smmith & Wesson's abbreviation for "cartridge", and just says what ammo the gun uses.

More knowledgeable folks than I--and that's pretty much everyody--will give you the information you need.

From your pictures, which are kind of blurry, I don't see evidence of flame cutting; but I wouldn't expect to on a .38 Special revolver.

Blurry photos due to crappy phone lol.
CTG. Old eyes. I in filled just so I cpuld read the writing. And yes I took off the nail polish.
As for flame cutting, when I bought the pistol there was none. After 6 coffee cans of lead heads, mild loads, there is some cutting. I think its from the tite group? And a bit of rapid firing.

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[dkonrai]

You have a pretty decent 38 M&P from around the WW I era- probably just after. Does it have a Logo on the left side?
Mechanically, it is a 1905-4th Change, which appeared around Ser #241-242,000.
The grips are much later than the gun.
The paint is not original.


That is not flame cutting. They put that big dimple there to give powder fouling and bullet lube a place to go without binding the cylinder.

No logo. Just smith & wesson mark on left side of barrel.
So? Probably 1920s?

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[hkcavalier]

Not 1920s. 1917-1918 timeframe. I have 275xxx and it's 1917.

Looks good. Easy enough to remove the paint. Finding period correct grips, much harder and of course will not match by serial number.

 

[Absalom]

No logo. Just smith & wesson mark on left side of barrel.
So? Probably 1920s?

A bit earlier. Mid- to late 1917.

The logo stamping was stopped in 1917 as a war economy and then not resumed until 1920, but then smaller and on the other side. Serials slightly higher than yours shipped Oct - Dec 1917.

 

[dkonrai]

A bit earlier. Mid- to late 1917.



The logo stamping was stopped in 1917 as a war economy and then not resumed until 1920, but then smaller and on the other side. Serials slightly higher than yours shipped Oct - Dec 1917.

Thank you! Kinda cool was hoping it was pre 1920. It matches my mauser red 9 [emoji2] about the same vintage.
Old guns are so cool.

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