S & W 4th Model, date of manufacture and use with smokeless powder.

[ETMJR]

At the last gun show I bought a Smith and Wesson 4th Model (tagged as such). Nickel finish and 3 1/4" barrel. Hammerless. Has a grip safety. Quite a handsome gun. The gun locks up tight, no cylinder play. Black grips (gutta percha?). Serial number (bottom of butt) is: 1276xx. When the gun is "open," the inside part of the frame below the cylinder and above the trigger has the number 236 with the letter: "T" below the number. The numbers and letter are (crudely)hand-engraved.

On top of the barrel:
SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD MASS. USA. PAT'D MAY 11.80
OCT. 2.83. 2.AUG.85.OCT. 11.87. FEB.14.88. APR. 9.89. JUN. 3.90
My questions, that I hope can be answered are:
1) Is it a 4th Model?
2) Can I safely fire today's smokeless rounds?
3) What is the date of manufacture?

Thank you for your help.

 

[H Richard]

additional information needed. It is assumingly a Safety Hammerless, but a .32 S&W or a .38 S&W? There are only three issues of the 32 Safety Hammerless, but if it is a 32 it is a 2nd Model. It could be a 38 S&W as the 4th Model would include your S/N range. The 4th Model was mfg between 1898 and 1907.

Whether or not you can fire smokeless rounds depends on the condition of the individual gun. If it is good condition, you should be able to fire current mfg. 38 S&W, but not any Buffalo Bore, which are loaded much hotter.

 

[steelslaver]

Just in case your not familiar, 38 S&W is not 38 S&W special.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! Sounds like a .38 S&W with the 3-1/4" barrel. The caliber may not be stamped on the barrel. As H Richard says, it is a 4th model and fairly early in the production years, either 1898 or 1899. You'll need an historian's letter to determine the exact date of shipping and to establish if it is an antique or not (it's not. SN 19900 and below are antiques). By the way, if you can post a picture of the gun, either right or left side, we can tell you the caliber.

1907: Smokeless powder guarantee was issued by Smith & Wesson stating that factory loaded smokeless powder was safe for use in their guns.

(SCS&W, 4th Ed., Page 493).

 

[ETMJR]

To all of you guys, thanks for your help. I have been shooting since I was 12 (69 now) and I should have thought (been smart enough) to mention the caliber. It is a .38 S&W. THe gun is sound, nothing rattles or moves unless I move it. Definitely no Buffalo Bore or those Fiocchi rounds. It's diet will be Remington or Winchester 146gr round nose lead. And no reloads - please! It is a hammerless gun. I know how to take pictures but don't know how to get them into the forum. I'm not opposed to being spoon fed. IN case any of you know him (Ed Cornette does) my father-in-law was Henry A. Curtis, Member 177. Again, thanks a lot. I have other guns I will need your help with.