RCMP S&W Model 10

[RNWMP]

Good day,

I recently acquired this Smith and Wesson Model 10 and would like to know more about it specifically a date of manufacture. I have put in a request to the Historical Society for a letter but understand that it will take some time.

5 Screws (one of the screws is concealed by the grip)
Barrel marked: 38 S&W Special CTG
Other side of the barrel is marked: Smith and Wesson

The lanyard is drilled through the serial number and only the last three digits are visible 431. There is a six digit number on the the cylinder 287431 as well as on the barrel above the ejector rod when in the closed position which appears to be the serial number which only consists of numbers and no letters. There is a four digit number on the yoke. But no model number.

There are three fused MP stamps (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) which are on the bottom of the grip as well as on the frame under the grip.

Any information would be great.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Check again on the cylinder and under the barrel for a 'C' in front of the numbers. On the cylinder, it is usually separated by one chamber from the numbers. Drilling through the butt serial is not legal in the US since 1968. But, I don't know how Canada treats that type of modification.

 

[Muley Gil]

Check again on the cylinder and under the barrel for a 'C' in front of the numbers. On the cylinder, it is usually separated by one chamber from the numbers. Drilling through the butt serial is not legal in the US since 1968. But, I don't know how Canada treats that type of modification.

Actually, the BATF regulations allowed gunsmiths to alter serial numbers IF the SN was re-stamped elsewhere before the factory applied number was removed or defaced. When I received my regulations book as a FFL gunsmith in 1977, this exemption was listed. However, several years later, it was no longer in the book. I wish I had kept those earlier books.

It appears the OP's .38 M&P (which is not a Model 10) had the lanyard loop added by someone other than the factory, possibly the RCMP. If the factory had installed the loop, it would be 1/10" forward of center and the SN would be stamped under the grips.

 

[Absalom]

The barrel, which is post-1952, does not match the font, size, and position of the serial number, which is pre-war. So this gun is a mixmaster of some sort.

The 287431 is likely the correct frame serial.

 

[824tsv]

Interesting revolver!
The frame markings are definitely RCMP. The barrel looks like it also has a different finish. It will be interesting to see where this one went originally. O.P., where did this one come from? Was it from a RCMP Member?

 

[RNWMP]

Thanks for the reply’s I will have another look and confirm there are no letters that form part of the serial number. I acquired the gun from a Long time collector along with a RCMP Marked S&W .455 Hand Ejector (I’ll post pictures in a different thread). The previous owner was not an RCMP member. He bought it at auction and remembers there being a tag on it from the RCMP that refereed to it as a long action. The tag was described as being an RCMP tag and not a sales tag from the auction house. Unfortunately when he took possession of the gun the tag had been removed.

 

[JustinL]

Hi

This probably belonged to a police department that was absorbed by the RCMP at some point.

I agree with the others that the barrel, stocks and lanyard ring were likely added by the RCMP after it was acquired.

Given the that there is no "Made in USA" stamp on the right side of the frame it was manufactured no later than the early 1920s.

 

[RNWMP]

I had another look at the gun. There are no letters near the serial number. The only letter I found was a small "B" on the grip frame beside the pin that holds the right grip in place. The letter is only visible when the grip is removed.

 

[RNWMP]

I recently received a letter from Smith and Wesson. The gun was shipped to:

Revillion Freres Trading Company Ltd Montreal Canada in 1918.