Safety Hammerless 2 1/4" Barrel in 38 S&W

[Boulder350]

I just purchased this 38 SH third model barrel that is 2 1/4". The description says it was never finished. It should arrive the middle of this week.

The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson states under the 38 SH 3rd Model "It is reported that at least 10 or so 2-1/4-inch barreled guns were manufactured, and at least one is know to still exist." I wonder if this barrel was in that batch of guns and the barrel was rejected.

I have one 3rd model in my collection and compared the patent stamping on serial number 47,xxx and it is the same, just shorter. Found a complete revolver on GB with serial number 85,xxx and the patents are slightly different. That dates the barrel as an earlier 3rd model.

There was also a SH 1 3/4" barrel in 32 S&W listed for sale at the same time. It too was unfinished. That one sold shortly after mine. It had the patents stamped on the side of the barrel and they were incomplete at the end of the roll stamp.

 

[shown50]

Now that is neat! Any explanation for why they weren’t completed? Thanks for sharing!

 

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,


I saw that one on eBay. I was tempted to buy it. I assume it was
a "replacement" part kept in inventory until S&W sold off their
large inventory of obsolete parts back around 1980. IIRC, a
parts firm in Maine (called Liberty Gun Parts) bought a large
amount of these parts. I purchased a NOS hammer and trigger
for my .45 "Brazilian" contract 1917 from them back in the 1990's.


Cheers!
Webb

 

[Boulder350]

The barrel arrived today. The font looks a little shorter compared to the early 3rd model in the 47,xxx range

My guess is the powers that be did not like the roll mark, its a little faint at the radius, buts its anybody's guess at this point.

Trying to collect all the barrel lengths for the 38 SH. Have the 2", the 2 1/2", 3 1/4", 4" the 6" barrel guns along with this 2 1/4" barrel. Need the 1 1/2", 1 5/8, and the 5" still.