Smith & Wesson 38 S&W CTG

[dkbutler1958]

I have inherited a Smith & Wesson 38 Special that has 38 S & W Special CTG on one side of the barrel and on top of the barrel is listed 3 patent dates of Feb 1906, Sep. 1909 & Dec. 1914. The serial number on the butt end of the gun is 65068 and the cyclinder shows 450C8. It has a fixed notched sight. I know it was manufactured after the Dec. 1914 patent date, but the serial number is not one I have seen relative to this type of pistol and the searches I have made. Anyone have any clarity as to what year of mfg. and worth? I was told it originally belonged to an Illinois State Trooper that sold it to my Grandfather.

 

[mikepriwer]

DK

Well, without a picture you have me guessing.

The 450C8 is not a factory number of any kind. They never used letters.

The real question is - what have you got here, and by that I mean, is it a K frame
or an N-frame ? Or, is it something else .

If its a K-frame, the serial number of 65068 is not compatible with the patent dates
on the barrel. 65068 would be about 1906 . If its a K frame, with a 1914 patent
date, then the serial number should be 6 digits, not 5.

If its an N-frame, then 65068 is a post-WW2 serial number, and should have an "S"
prefix somewhere to the left of the serial number. This would be about a 1946 date.

A couple of question: how old was your grandfather when he got the gun - roughly ?
And, does the extractor rod hang free below the barrel, and is captured at its end by
the extractor lug, OR does the extractor rod reside in a housing that extends below
the barrel ?

Later, Mike Priwer

 

[opoefc]

Sounds like it might be a Spanish copy of a K frame, perhaps? Describe the grips. Any logo? Wood? Checkered, Numbers? etc?

 

[dinghysailer]

Mike

Would a Postwar N frame have those patent dates? For that matter would a Spanish clone of any vintage have them?

DK

Does the gun have Smith and Wesson stampings on it , or only the ammunition stamp? Does it have MADE IN USA stamped on it?

Pictures would deifinately help.

 

[mikepriwer]

DS

Thats a good question. If the gun were one of the very early transition guns,
with a barrel that had no rib, then I guess, and its just a guess, that it would.
Like a heavy duty, or something like that. But - without some pictures, I
don't know what this is. The description is not adequate, so far.

Later, Mike Priwer

 

[dkbutler1958]

I have some photos I can send for you to look at. The gun is marked Smith & Wesson on one side of the barrel and made in the USA on the other side of the gun's body. How do I attach photos to this post?

Thanks,

DKButler

 

[JayCeeNC]

DK, here's some info on posting pictures:

How To Post Pictures

 

[handejector]

450C8 and 65068 COULD be the same number, misread because of dirt, rust, or error.

 

[mikepriwer]

dk

If you have trouble posting the pictures, email them to me, and I will do it.

Later, Mike Priwer [email protected]