Questions on older S&W .38 Special

[mrstang01]

Serial number is 2219xx, in .38 Special. I think the grips are not correct for this older model, but am trying to get an approximate age and value for it. Can anyone assist please?

Thank you,

Michael

 

[vytoland]

Serial number is 2219xx = manufactured 1914 - 1915.....

 

[NovaJoe]

Grips are from post-1968. It has some finish issues. The nickel finish appears original but needs better photos to be sure.

As for value, I'm not in that market, but I would think somewhere in the $150-$500 range.

 

[mrstang01]

Thanks to a mod for moving this to the correct forum, I had no idea this gun was that old.

 

[VaTom]

Like it. Nice.

 

[glowe]

You have a 38 Military & Police, 3rd Change. This model was made from 1909 to 1919, in serial number range 146,900 to 241,703. Records do not record manufacturing dates, but rather ship dates and yours would likely have been shipped in 1914.

Condition shows wear, with missing nickel and, as you thought, wrong stocks. I would guess that it functions just fine, like most early M&P models. Value would likely be somewhere around $250 to $300. Correct stocks would have been standard round top walnut service stocks with a gold medallion in the top like the ones below.

 

[mrstang01]

As high as the later model Smith revolvers are going, I'm surprised this one would be so low valued.

 

[glowe]

Common gun, lower condition, short barrel, wrong stocks. all affect value in the wrong direction. Remember that by WWII, S&W had manufactured over one million 38 M&Ps. It might clean up and add some to the revolver, but its condition . . . condition . . . condition that is most important in determining value.

Check this example out, asking $200 and closed without a bid???

Attention Required! | Cloudflare

 

[roaddog28]

Take the grips off the revolver and look for a number on the grip. If the number matches the bottom number on butt of the gun they would be the original

 

[bmcgilvray]

In this instance those stocks will not match the era of that particular revolver.

 

[hkcavalier]

Common gun, lower condition, short barrel, wrong stocks. all affect value in the wrong direction. Remember that by WWII, S&W had manufactured over one million 38 M&Ps. It might clean up and add some to the revolver, but its condition . . . condition . . . condition that is most important in determining value.

Check this example out, asking $200 and closed without a bid???

Attention Required! | Cloudflare

Pretty heavy refinish. I haven't been in this collecting game nearly as long as you and some of the others on here, but I see the winds shifting on vintage revolvers unless there's some real collector value. Not too many people under a certain age who are interested in 110 year old shooter grade .38s anymore.