What do I have?

[tenn67]

I just purchased another old Smith & Wesson revolver. I have a few questions. The serial number is 405XXX 5 inch barrel. It is a 38 S&W special ctg. It has all matching numbers. The front sight is different than I have seen on any fixed sight S&W revolver with fixed sights. The front sight is like a adjustable sight model. Is this normal or has the front sight been altered? On the right grip the serial number is written in pencil. Are the grips correct? What would this revolver be worth it functions perfectly? When was this made I am guessing in the 30's?

 

[Trooperdan]

Can't offer much other than I suspect it is earlier than you think, likely in the 1920's. Experts will soon be along to give expert opinion.

 

[Modified]

Looks like the front sight was modified, and the gun was heavily refinished at some later time.

You can tell because the pivot pin right above the stocks is polished flat, and the fit of the side plate isn't quite correct.

Otherwise looks like a decent old Military and Police model of 1905 from before WW2. I'm not personally very good with dates on these, but someone will be along to fill that in most likely.

Does the serial number on the back of the grips match the gun? I think they are right, I have a new baby here and my memory for this era stocks is hazy at the moment.

Value is something in the sub $300 range due to the re-finish mostly.

 

[Muley Gil]

Your .38 Military & Police dates between early 1923 and about 1927. The grip design is correct and yes, the front sight has been modified. My value guess would be in the $200 range, depending on your location.

 

[Art Doc]

Half of the front sight has been hacksawed away. I see worse than this with $400+ tags at local shows. Don't know if they sell.

 

[Kenny D]

My Model of 1905 4th Change, Serial Number 5095XX left the factory on 6/2/1925 so yours left before that. Only a Factory Letter will tell exact date. I ordered letter as someone added letters and numbers to the serial number and I thought maybe letter would tell me who. Hoped a bank or mining company. Letter no help as went to Shapleigh Hdwd, St. Louis Missouri. They went out business in the 1950s, so the trail stopped there.

 

[DWalt]

SN 405xxx dates it as probably shipping during the later half of 1922. I list a number of nearby M&P SNs which were. Yours has the MADE IN U.S.A. frame stamp which began on those shipping about mid-1922, and yours was probably one of the very first to use that stamp. I say that with some certainty because I list another M&P, also SN 405xxx, which does not have the frame stamp, nor do any of the earlier M&P SNs on my list. I believe the front sight has (unfortunately) been modified from the original half-moon sight as that decreases its value significantly. It looks to have been reblued outside the factory, but I can't be 100% sure from your picture. Your grips are correct and serial numbers were penciled on the inside of the right grip panel at that time. From what I see, you have a $300 shooter grade M&P.

 

[Pondoro]

I'd grab that at $200 without a second thought, if the mechanicals were sound. $300 is where I would start to think harder.