Proper grips for an early M1905 HE? - trying to help a friend

[Old Corp]

A friend just picked up an old S&W workhorse .38 that I identified by S/N using the SCSW.
S/N is 62936 G. The 'G' has me puzzled, as SCSW has NO reference to that. Pics he's sent me show the 'G' marking to be size and font consistent with the actual S/N.

Without the 'G', the S/N shows it to be a M1905 of early production (SCSW shows beginning s/n's of 62459 to 73250, 10,800 manufactured in 1905-1906)
The backstrap had an interesting stamp on it - "S.H. AND P.W.C.". Sounded like perhaps a railroad gun? Nope, some more research shows that referred to our home state of NC and meant 'State Highway and Public Works Commission', which was the entity of NC State Highway Patrol fell under in its early days, being founded in 1929. The NCSHP stayed under that department until 1941.

This sorta begs the question of why such an early S&W was issued in 1929 or later, it being made in 1905-1906? And why the 'G' after the S/N?

Grips on the gun appear to be WWII Victory Model grips, very worn. No checkering at all.
My buddy is interested in getting OE type grips on it - and told him I'd check.
I'm guessing Walnut diamond-checkered without a grip medallion? Is that about right?
And, other than 'Bay, not sure where to send him to check.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Verify that serial number is from the bottom of the butt frame. It sounds suspiciously like an assembly number with inspector stamp taken from the yoke cut. Some pictures would help us help you.

 

[Old Corp]

Definitely from the butt of the revolver. He located the working/assembly numbers inside the crane and I informed him they'd be no help in ID-ing the gun.
All his pics were texted to me, haven't gone to the trouble to load them on my laptop yet.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

And you are sure it is an S&W gun, not a Spanish or Kyber Pass copy?

If the serial was actually 629366, that would put it in the 1930's and would be more compatible with your time frame.

 

[larryofcc]

Close serial number. Round butt, but you can tell what kind of stocks it had. Big Larry

 

[Old Corp]

OK, finally got around to loading pics, and now I'm questioning if that really is a 'G'.
Buddy lives many miles away, I have not seen this gun in-hand.
If it's NOT a 'G', suppose it could be a
6' or and '8', putting it as a different model variant.


Enlarging the pic of the butt really helped these old eyes. See what y'all think.......
Also a pic of the back strap.
Thanks!

 

[desi2358]

OK, finally got around to loading pics, and now I'm questioning if that really is a 'G'.
Buddy lives many miles away, I have not seen this gun in-hand.
If it's NOT a 'G', suppose it could be a
6' or and '8', putting it as a different model variant.


Enlarging the pic of the butt really helped these old eyes. See what y'all think.......
Also a pic of the back strap.
Thanks!

I would say that is a number, not a letter. Have him look under the barrel and at the back of the cylinder as older models should have the serial stamped there as well as on the butt. At a guess from the picture I think that last digit is a 6 but there is a lot of wear so check the other locations.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

It's a 6 digit serial. Last number could be a 6 or 9. It likely shipped in late 1930 or early 1931. The grips could be WWII Victories or 1920's service grips that have had the checkering sanded off. Original grips would have been walnut checkered diamond with round top and a silver medallion.