S&W somewhere in this timeframe

[SmokeyJoe]

When my father died 5 years ago, I acquired his pistol.
The only number I can find on it, including looking at both sides of the yoke, is on the bottom of the butt of the pistol.
That number is 340xxx.

On the barrel is the following:
38% S.c(some symbol I cant make out) W.SPECIAL CTG.

Any idea what this might be worth? I have someone interested in buying it, but I have no idea what to ask for it.

Thanks for any info you can provide.

 

[steelslaver]

Fixed sights or adjustable. Now long is the barrel. Is there a letter on the butt before the number.

Are you sure you want to sell something your father passed on to you?

 

[Frank121]

Add pictures and the folks on here will be more than willing to help you identify your gun.

 

[Absalom]

Five or six shots? In addition to what steelslaver asked, if you want a realistic value estimate besides an identification, we'd have to see some pictures. If that serial number (and you DID find the correct one) does not have a letter in front of it, the gun could be quite old and the condition would have a big impact on its worth.

 

[Ashlander]

Small, nitpicky comment -- a revolver is not a pistol. A pistol is a handgun whose chamber is integral to the barrel (e.g., semi-autos and old fashioned dueling pistols). A revolver's chambers are all set apart from the barrel. Just call it a revolver or handgun.

 

[shouldazagged]

Edited: Changed my mind. And it's just as well.

 

[cndrdk]

Welcome to the forum SmokeyJoe.
Why don't we make him feel like a part of the family and try to answer his question with out calling him out on trite items like grips/stocks, magazine/clip, pistol/revolver, typos or misspelled words. Gee whiz, this is his first post. This would not set well with me if I was called out on my first post.I don't blame him if he never frequented this site again.

 

[sandspur6]

Welcome to the forum This would not set well with me if I was called out on my first post.I don't blame him if he never frequented this site again.

Ain't it the truth. How dang petty can you get? Geez, some people.

 

[RevLoverJim]

Hey sandspur6!

 

[glenwolde]

Small, nitpicky comment -- a revolver is not a pistol. A pistol is a handgun whose chamber is integral to the barrel (e.g., semi-autos and old fashioned dueling pistols). A revolver's chambers are all set apart from the barrel. Just call it a revolver or handgun.

Now I'll get nitpicky. You're quoting archaic definitions. If you look up current definitions you will see that a revolver is a pistol. Language is dynamic, and definitions will change to reflect common usage. And yes, it can happen in one's lifetime. Just as we no longer use the Middle English "wepen" or the Old English "waepen".

In short, if everybody is using it "wrong" it becomes "right".

re·volv·er
rəˈvälvər/
noun
noun: revolver; plural noun: revolvers

a pistol with revolving chambers enabling several shots to be fired without reloading.

pis·tol
ˈpistl/
noun
noun: pistol; plural noun: pistols

1.
a small firearm designed to be held in one hand.
synonyms: revolver, gun, handgun, sidearm; More

 

[steelslaver]

The cavalry had horse pistols. Wonder where they got automatics during that time period. Lots of old time gun figters were pistolerros, not revolverleros. The word pistol was around way long time before semi autos.

Yes, to those technical minded a pistol now means semi auto.
grips/stocks thumb/piece cylinder/latch

The idea of manners and courtesy is acting and speaking in such a manner that those around you are comfortable. Eating your food correctly with the proper tool is polite for a formal dinner,, but not at a BBQ

 

[SmokeyJoe]

Sorry people,
I was in a hurry last night, and did take the time to go through all the questions, and I'm sorry I still have not had to time to get some pics.
However, I do have some answers...
It is a model 15, hand-ejector, S/N K340xxx, 38 special, 4"barrel, adjustable sight, 3-screw REVOLVER ;-), and the symbol I couldn't make out last night was an ampersand "&".

 

[Buford57]

We look forward to the pictures. Those were a popular upgrade for law enforcement in the 1960s and 70s. While not rare, many saw had use and a well-kept sample could bring more than you might expect.

I gave one to my son when he got married and made him promise to give it back if he ever got tired of it.

 

[Inusuit]

What you have is very nice revolver, my favorite of all the Smith and Wessons. Yours was shipped in 1958, the first year that the Model number was stamped on the gun. Prior to 1958, it was known as the Combat Masterpiece and some including me still refer to it by that name. .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG is the caliber, a popular and readily available cartridge.

As other posters have noted, it is impossible to give you an estimate of the value with knowing the condition and whether or not you have the original box, manual, papers, etc. Good pictures are essential to making a determination. Could range from a couple hundred dollars for a beater without original grips, pitted exterior, damaged bore etc. to perhaps $1000 for one in pristine unfired condition with original box and papers.

As others have implied, I would never sell a gun that belonged to my dad, but other people have different priorities.

 

[SmokeyJoe]

Model 15

This is my 1st attempt to provide pics, and I'm not a photographer, so even if I get these posted, I doubt they'll be enough to satisfy. However, I would describe the condition as pristine, and like new.

 

[SmokeyJoe]

model 15

Sorry again,
No original box nor paperwork.

Kevin

 

[DWalt]

Now I'll get nitpicky. You're quoting archaic definitions. If you look up current definitions you will see that a revolver is a pistol. Language is dynamic, and definitions will change to reflect common usage. And yes, it can happen in one's lifetime. Just as we no longer use the Middle English "wepen" or the Old English "waepen".

In short, if everybody is using it "wrong" it becomes "right".

re·volv·er
rəˈvälvər/
noun
noun: revolver; plural noun: revolvers

a pistol with revolving chambers enabling several shots to be fired without reloading.

pis·tol
ˈpistl/
noun
noun: pistol; plural noun: pistols

1.
a small firearm designed to be held in one hand.
synonyms: revolver, gun, handgun, sidearm; More

And Sam Colt referred to all of his revolvers as "Pistols" (sometimes "Revolving Pistols") in his advertising. Very logical at the time, as before Sam Colt, all guns which could be held in one hand were "Pistols" and I am sure Sam wouldn't want to confuse possible customers by using another term for a one-hand firearm. There are simply different types of pistols - automatics, revolvers, and single shot.

SN S/N K340xxx: K317,823 – K350,547...1958 (manufacture). Yours likely shipped in 1959. It looks to be in very good condition, a typical gun show price tag would probably be $600-$700.

 

[nevada duke]

Your dad left you a nice one, hope you keep it.

Nevada duke.

 

[JSR III]

Sorry for your loss. I lost my father 25 years ago and I still miss him every day. As others have stated, think long and hard about selling a family gun. You can own many S&W's but very few belonged to your father. Once sold you can never get them back.

I would say welcome to the forum but you have been a member for 5 years so I will say welcome to posting.

All that said, I would suggest that you look on sites like Gun Broker and Gun Auction to see what similar guns are selling for. A private sale will typically be somewhat less and if you sell to a dealer or LGS, you can expect somewhere between 50% to 75% of that figure to cover profit and carrying costs.

Good luck.

 

[Alk8944]

Small, nitpicky comment -- a revolver is not a pistol. A pistol is a handgun whose chamber is integral to the barrel (e.g., semi-autos and old fashioned dueling pistols). A revolver's chambers are all set apart from the barrel. Just call it a revolver or handgun.

Sorry, but you are wrong! If this were correct then explain why Sam Colt's revolver patent was for a REVOLVING PISTOL.

A revolver is always a pistol, but a pistol is not always a revolver. It could be a semi-automatic (self-loader) or a single shot.m Similar to the argument in Geometry where a "Square is a rectangle" but a "Rectangle is not a square".

Seems we have had this conversation before!