[speedn431]

We were out shooting today and my father pulled out a gun that he was given last year by someone in our church. I figured I would finally join after lurking so much and see if I could get some info on it. It seems to be a Blue gun with 4" barrel. The bottom of the handle reads D298139. It was fun to shoot today, but have had even more fun cleaning it up for him. Any information would be wonderful. Have a Happy New Year!

[Old Fuff]

Welcome to The High Road... ;)

Your description is a bit sparse, but I think you have a Smith & Wesson .38 Military & Police, which after 1957 was known as the Model 10. It is sometimes difficult to say exactly when a Smith & Wesson revolver was made because they numbered frames before they built them into guns. But the serial number D 298,1xx was probably made around 1970.

It was first introduced back in 1899, and several million have been made. It is a famous and well regarded revolver, and you can find many past as well as current threads running on The High Road about it. On a personal note: one like it belonged to my Father, who bought it around 1923. I still have and shoot it.

[CornCod]

Please send information on the church where they hand out free guns. That's the kind of fresh theological perspective that interests me! :D

[speedn431]

oldfluff-
Thanks for the information that you gave. As for the handed down guns, I know what you are talking about. I was given my grandfathers Hi Standard .22 9 round revolver that he purchased in new 1957. He was the only one of 4 brothers that could use it instead of a rifle while squirrel hunting. He is still on Earth, but his mind has been long gone for a while now.

CornCod-
I'm living in AL now, but my father pastors a chuch in SW MO. Good 'ol Ozark Mnts. Folks do a lot of things down here different than the rest of the country. Some are still trying to change that water into wine...or the hard stuff.

[talleyrand]

...is one of these.

My father has had it all my life, and he recently gave it to me.

The serial number is 439227, and the last patent date is Dec. 29, 1914.

Can someone with more lore than me date the gun with that information?

[Old Fuff]

A more complete description would help, but I think you have a .38 1905 Hand ejector, 4th Chg. - also known as the Military & Police model. It was probably made around the early-middle 1920's.

To get an exact date and more information, go to: www.smith-wesson.com and read the section on historical letters. You will need to send a check made out to Smith & Wesson, in the amount of $30.00, as snapshot of the revolver to aid identification, and a more complete description of the gun, including the serial number stamped on the butt. It may be 6 to 10 weeks before you get an answer.