What can you tell me about this gun?

[Devilock]

Hey there! I need help identifying this pistol. I only own semi-auto's. I know litttle to nothing about revolvers. The gun is my mother-in-laws. She doesn't know anything about it...other than that it belonged to her husband. What is it?! The serial number 122XXX and "C" are stamped on the frame and the wheel. The inside parts are stamped "28091" and there's a "G" and a smaller "O". There is no model number that I can find. The barrel is marked .38 Special. S&W logo's are on the barrel and side plate. The box was with the gun. Aside from the S&W logo it is unmarked. Someone has written what looks like "Holyfield - 11 of 34" with crayon on the top of the box…which may or may not be relevant. When was this gun made? Where are there what appear to be two different serials of differing length? What might it be worth?

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

Welcome to the forum!

Looks like a M&P (pre-model 10, they didn't start model marking guns until 1957) 2" nickel snubbie. Serial puts it at about '49-'50 for year of manufacture. Very nice old gun!

 

[bamabiker]

Welcome to the forum.
Looks like a 5 screw M&P which became the model 10 in 1957. Your serial number puts the gun around 1949 - 1950. Looks to be in good shape and with the box should be worth $400 to $500 in MHO.

 

[BrianMajors]

I would say a pre model 10 Military and Police, but I can't really help otherwise. Surely somebody with a more extensive knowledge can add to that.

**Other guys beat me to it! **

 

[Devilock]

Can you tell me why the numbers are different on the various parts? Also would this have been a police issue gun, or commercial?

 

[Bear-1]

Nice looking Revolver you have there, George.

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

Most of the numbers are assembly numbers. The serial should be located on the butt, as yours is, and directly under the barrel shank in the crane recess. Yous is what is known as a "C" prefix. Other letters were used at various times for the prefix however.

Most likely a commercial gun, but no doubt lots of cops carried one.

 

[Devilock]

It really is pretty! And, let me tell you the action is as smoothe as silk. It's pure class! I found it in a file cabinet that had been locked for over a decade while doing a bit of cleaning in her basement.

 

[jpwhel]

Nice looking snub pre Mod 10, the nickel looks to be in very good condition. The majority of the Military and Police guns were blue but the nickel on yours has held up extremely well for a 60 year old gun.

 

[Devilock]

Does the nickel look to be original to you guys?

 

[Camster]

In my opinion,YES.

 

[Masterpiece]

Devilock,
I also agree with the others that it is a Pre-Model 10 probably made approx. 1949-1950. The Finish does look to be original as far as I can see from the photos,but some close-ups of some of the sharp edges,barrel pin,etc. & S&W Trademark on the sideplate may prove me wrong. It's really hard to tell without having the revolver in-hand. I do want to mention though that the box your revolver is now in "Is Not" the correct box for your revolver. Your photos show it to be a Mid-60's or so Bangor-Punta Box which is much to late for your revolver to be correct.

Masterpiece

 

[29aholic]

Welcome to the forum

Does the nickel look to be original to you guys?

Check the bottom of the barrel in the serial number area and see if there is an "N" stamped there. Also there should be an "N" stamped on the lower left hand side of the frame under the grips. If you post pics of the left side of the frame with the grips off, I can tell you more.

I do not believe that is the correct box for your gun.

 

[Devilock]

I'll take a look tonight. I'm at work now, and the gun is at my mother-in-law's.

 

[Devilock]

She has another S&W...the box must be for that pistol.

 

[Devilock]

Checked and there was a small N stamped on the underside of the barrel.

 

[29aholic]

Looking good

Checked and there was a small N stamped on the underside of the barrel.

That tells me it shipped as nickel...now take pics when you can of the left grip frame and we can go from there

 

[Alk8944]

Devilock etal,

There are several things that indicate a probable trip to the factory for this gun. The obvious, but not definitive is the finish condition. The second, and also not definitive is the box.

First, remove the stocks and look on the left (as you would hold the gun) side of the grip frame. Likely you will find two stamps. The first will be a R-N by itself, in a box or possibly in a diamond. This indicates a factory refinish and means Refinish-Nickel, an indicator to finishing that they are to Nickle plate this gun. There will probably be another stamp something like 9-76 which is a date code, in this case September 1976.

When guns come into the factory for repair they are placed in a box which will stay with the gun until finished and then the gun will be shipped in that box. The box is marked with the name of the owner, and if more guns that one were returned at the same time the box will also be marked with the total number of guns in the batch and where this gun fell in the intake process. In this case someone named Holyfield (or?) sent a batch of 34 guns for some service of which the gun in this box was number 11. Hence Holyfield 11/34. Actually, if you sent only one gun the box would probably be marked as 1/1. The most likely reason one person would be sending 34 guns to S&W at one time would be for re-finishing. The number is seen both with a slash and the word "of" as this box has. The lack of labels further indicates this was a service box.

Really the only thing you can take to the bank is this box was a service box during the Bangor-Punta years that once held a gun returned to the factory by someone named Holyfield (That's what it looks to me too!) who sent a batch of 34 guns for service at one time.

"Checked and there was a small N stamped on the underside of the barrel." This is most likely another indication that the gun has been re-finished rather than that it was originally Nickel.

 

[29aholic]

Devilock etal,

"Checked and there was a small N stamped on the underside of the barrel." This is most likely another indication that the gun has been re-finished rather than that it was originally Nickel.

I disagree. The "N" stamped there on early post war guns until sometime in the late 50's to early 60's indicates that it did in fact ship as a factory nickel gun. That does not mean it did not go back at some time in it's life to be renickeled as the other markings (if present) would indicate.

 

[Devilock]

Here area few more pics. You can see there is a different serial number on the grip panel. The leter N is present on the left side grip fram, and there is what appears to be avery faint H on the other side. (not shown).

What doest is all mean?! Hmmmm????