What do we have here?

[hp-hobo]

Looking for a little help with identification. My ex-wife's stepfather recently passed and in the process of going through his stuff she found this (see pics below). As I'm the only person she knows who isn't a hoplophobe, she asked for me to identify the gun from 1500 miles away.

Here is what I know for sure after playing question and answer over the phone. There is no model number under the cylinder yoke, however there is the number 27302. There are also two serial numbers, one on the butt and one apparently on the bottom of the barrel. It is 79531X. The barrel is marked ".38 S&W Special CTG" and of course "Springfield, Mass". It appears to be a 5" barrel, square butt, K-frame with aftermarket stocks.

What I came up with using my meager resources is a Military and Police model of 1905, 4th change. And if that's correct, the serial number leads me to believe the manufacture date was sometime in the late 1930's.

Any help someone could give me would be greatly appreciated. I'll never get my hands on this gun but I'm trying to convince her to give it to our adult son, and to do that I have to be nice to her.

Thanks in advance for your help. Sorry for the crappy pictures.

 

[scha]

I agree - 1905 Model 4th Change Military and Police revolver from the 1930s. I think the photo shows a 6 inch barrel.

Hope this helps.

Steve

 

[cgt4570]

I agree - 1905 Model 4th Change Military and Police revolver from the 1930s. I think the photo shows a 6 inch barrel.

Hope this helps.

Steve

I agree with Steve. 6" barrel. FYI: There is no model number in the yoke because that gun pre-dates the use of model numbers by about 20 years.

 

[hp-hobo]

You guys are fast! Thanks for the correction on the barrel length, your eyes are better than mine. The closest I have is my wife's 4" barrel model 64.

The reason I mentioned no model number in the original post is that one of the local "experts" told me that it didn't have a model number because it's a model 11. Didn't make sense to me either.

Am I correct in assuming this would be considered a K-frame or would it be some other size? Also, short of spending $50 for a birth certificate, what is the best resource for determining date (year) of manufacture?

Thanks again.

 

[handejector]

Yes- K frame.
That gun is from the early WW II period. Prob 1940.

 

[Sgt 127]

Am I correct in assuming this would be considered a K-frame or would it be some other size? Also, short of spending $50 for a birth certificate, what is the best resource for determining date (year) of manufacture?

Thanks again.

It is a K frame.

Unless you have some reason to believe there is something cool about its history, or, who it was originally shipped to, I think the letter would be a waste of money. Its a nice old Smith revolver, like a couple million others.

Not to insult the gun in any way, I have quite a few just like that, but, they simply are what they are. The difference in the letter between a ship date of December 1939 and February 1940 is kind of a moot point in the grand scheme of things.

 

[JSR III]

On the other hand, if it letters to J.Edgar Hoover, then the $50 will be money well spent. Is the X thinking of selling it as opposed to giving it to your son?

 

[hp-hobo]

If it means money in her pocket, she's all about it. Keeping something in the family is secondary to her.

I don't want to spend the $50 on the certificate but thought it'd make a cool Xmas present for the kid if I can get the gun into his possesion. Right now I think there's enough info to satisfy her curiosity.

For my own curiosity I'd really like to find out the year of manufacture.

Thanks all!

 

[digi-shots]

Nice looking S&W! I think the ship date is going to be close to mid to late 1941.

I like these pre WWII guns and if it was mine, I'd get it lettered. There were some US Army 6" revolvers in that serial number range that went to the New River Ordnance Dept. in Virginia (in addition to some others that went to other ordnance plants around the country). I've never seen one and I'm not sure how they're marked or whether they have "US Property" on them or not.

 

[hp-hobo]

Wow! Now my curiosity is really piqued. Although it's probably not J Edger Hoover's gun or one time US property, I think the letter is a good thing to have. The ex decided to gift it to our son for Christmas. Hopefully I can get the birth certificate by then. Thanks all.

 

[DBWesson]

HoBo:
Am I looking at a lanyard ring in the second picture?
D.B.

 

[Buford57]

HoBo:
Am I looking at a lanyard ring in the second picture?
D.B.

Sure looks like it, now that you mention it.

 

[Muley Gil]

"There were some US Army 6" revolvers in that serial number range that went to the New River Ordnance Dept. in Virginia"

I presume that became the Radford Arsenal in Radford, Virginia, west of Christiansburg/Blacksburg?

 

[digi-shots]

"There were some US Army 6" revolvers in that serial number range that went to the New River Ordnance Dept. in Virginia"

I presume that became the Radford Arsenal in Radford, Virginia, west of Christiansburg/Blacksburg?

hmm... not sure. I'll have to do some more checking and maybe get out a map. The s/n's were:

794,000-796,000... US Army 6"; a total of 155 shipped in two orders: 6-30-1941 and 7-9-1941 to US Constructing QM (Quartermaster) New River, VA Ord Dept.

There was also 2 more shipments: 06-30-1941 and 07-09-1941 of 155 guns; 6" to Ravenna Ord, Ohio. (ref: C.Pate page 138).

I totally missed the lanyard ring in the 2nd pic !

 

[JSR III]

Well then there you go. She gives him the gun and you can present him with the letter for Christmas. I can't think of a better way to spend $50 for a son and if it happens to identify the gun as something special, the letter will be worth way more than the cost.

If you order it soon, you may have it in time for 12/25. I would make sure that you let Mr. Jinks know that it is needed by Christmas.