what do I have here?

[Tracker1111]

I am looking for some information on a revolver I purchased at a small gun shop in southern Tennessee about 20 years ago.

It is a blue Steel, 38 Special four inch barrel. It has a round butt, and black S&W (Plastic /rubber???) grips.
It appears to be a pre model 10 slim barrel.
The Serial number is 71954 ( on butt and under barrel)

The finish is 60%

What do I have here?
What year was it shipped?
Any information appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[murphydog]

This is a .38 Military & Police from about 1906. If the hard rubber stocks are original to the gun you may see the SN scratched on the inside of one of the panels. They look to be much nicer than the gun finish- and wear-wise and may be replacements.

 

[DWalt]

You have a .38 Hand Ejector, Model of 1902, Military Revolver dating from about 1906. That line of .38 revolvers started in 1899. About 50 years later, after numerous modifications made during the intervening period, it became the Model 10.

 

[Tracker1111]

First thank you both Murph and Dwalt for the information.

I like the history of guns and wonder where they been and what they have seen.. The story from the dealer was that it was carried by a local cop and sold. I have had this pistol sitting on my desk at home for a few weeks before I posted. If it could talk ……

It's tight, and smooth. I will probably put some wad cutter range loads through it the next time I'm out shooting. I pulled the grips and the serial number is lightly stamped into the right side grip. Would this be correct? i agree the grips do look better than the finish

Again thanks for the information.

 

[Muley Gil]

"I pulled the grips and the serial number is lightly stamped into the right side grip. Would this be correct?"

Yep.

 

[DWalt]

If you do plan to shoot it, target wadcutter loads are highly recommended. S&W did not perform heat treatment for these early K-frame revolvers until just after WWI, so it's best to use only lower-pressure ammunition in them - no +P loads, in other words. Otherwise, they are perfectly safe to use, probably as good as any revolver made today..