Pre Mdl. 10

[demkofour]

A fellow officer on my department just brought in his grandfather's NYPD service revolver. From the little I know about early Smiths, it's a Pre Model 10, SN# S836362. It's a five screw, pinned four inch, square butt, blue. The serial number is stamped on the underside of the barrel, as well as the rear of the cylinder. The diamond grips appear to be original and are numbered to the gun, the trigger is serrated and I believe the hammer is Humpback style. The top of the barrel is stamped Smith and Wesson, Springfield MA USA Patented Feb 6.06 Sept 14.09 Dec 29.14 and the backstrap is stamped 7573.
The officer was thinking of having the gun re-finished, as it has a decent amount of surface rust and some light pitting, having been stored in its NYPD JayPee service holster.
As we are at work, no pictures at this time, but any information that anyone can supply would be great. Thanks!

 

[Oyeboteb]

Late 1940s...

Please do not refinish...even a poor original finish 'Honest' S&W is always many steps "up" in so many ways, from a re-finished one...especially one where 'pits' have to be ground and buffed out...the reults will always be really ugly and or very expensive, with not much in between.

 

[Art Doc]

Military & Police Model made 1946-48 (the S prefix was used these years).

Refinishing will not help pitting. Pitting is forever. I would clean it up with a light polishing of oil soaked very fine steel wool (might start with burlap) and do no more.

 

[demkofour]

Thanks for the quick responses! I told the officer not to have the gun refinished, that it was surely a piece on NYPD history as is.
Any clue as to the 7573 stamped on the lower backstrap? Could that possibly be a badge number? It does not appear to match any of the other stampings on the revolver.

 

[Goony]

I can narrow down its age a bit for you - it probably shipped around September of 1946.

 

[linde]

. . . it's a Pre Model 10, SN# S836362 . . . and I believe the hammer is Humpback style.

With that serial number it is a long hammer throw and the hammer is likely the pre-war style . . . which are often mistaken for humpback. Once you see a comparison photo (which I hope someone will post), the difference is unmistakeable.

Lots of good answers already provided, and I agree with others to preserve the finish in its present condition.

Russ