An old S&W .38 revolver that I was told is rare

[Jaydeeeze]

I found this gun years ago in a collapsed house that was being torn down. I haven't been able to identify it on the net. It has a 5 digit serial number that is 55887. On the barrel it says smith and Wesson .38 ctg. I'm just curious how old it is. Thanks for any help.

 

[Jim Watson]

You will have to show the whole gun for us to identify it.
There are probably half a dozen S&W .38s numbered 55887.

 

[OptimusPrime]

I think it's a S&W Butt Gun Model ________.
Hard to tell if we're just looking at the butt.
Isn't there a joke about a butcher and the cut of meat?

 

[DPris]

The barrel marking is the caliber, not a model, and as Jim says your single image doesn't help.
Denis

 

[Certaindeaf]

Booyah good luck

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=372213

 

[WardenWolf]

We need pictures of the whole gun and the information under the crane.

 

[Jaydeeeze]

Thanks for all the fast replies. My pics aren't working for some reason here. I'll host them n post them. Thanks for all the help with this gun.

 

[Jaydeeeze]

Also what does the 55887 stand for?

 

[Carl N. Brown]

"what does the 55887 stand for"

That's the serial number. You were right in Post#1. My antique S&W has its serial number on the butt.

There are probably half a dozen S&W .38s numbered 55887.

That is why 4473 transaction form requires (a) Make (b) Model and (c) serial number. Serial numbers are unique within Model numbers, and usually start over with a new Model.

And you're supposed to post serial numbers of antique guns like "558xx" to (a) give enough info to collectors to establish date of manufacture and (b) avoid spurious claims from people saying "hey, that's my cousin's boyfriend's roommate's great-uncle's gun give back to me".

 

[Jim Watson]

Smith & Wesson .32 Hand Ejector, Model of 1903, Second Change.
Made only 1906-1909, yours probably early in that period, 1906 or 1907.

It is not exactly rare, they made over 44,000 of that exact model, and about half a million of the family of .32 Hand Ejectors from 1896 til 1942. And more of the same general type after WWII. The condition of your found gun is poor as well.

Hey, Carl, you ever hear of that Internet Serial Number Scam actually happening?

 

[DPris]

Better.
Where did you get Smith & Wesson .38 CTG?
Denis

 

[MikeJackmin]

That's a .32 long, not a .38.

There seems to be quite a bit of rust in the chambers. I don't think I'd fire that gun myself.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

An old S&W .38 revolver that I was told is rare

Just a note, "old" doesn't automatically translate into rare or valuable. Most time condition has everything to do with value in all but the most rare revolvers. The condition of that revolver is terrible!

Good luck finding the information you're looking for.

 

[Jaymo]

For that matter, rare doesn't automatically translate into valuable.

 

[jmr40]

Hey, Carl, you ever hear of that Internet Serial Number Scam actually happening?

Done right the guns owner will never know they have been scammed. The odds of getting caught are pretty slim. The guy who owns the gun isn't even involved. The scammer just uses the guns SN and description to file a police report and scam the insurance company. The only way the guns rightful owner would ever find out would be if they had the guns SN ran through a police stolen gun database. I've owned several hundred guns in my life, none have ever had the SN ran.

If gun registration were to ever become a reality we'd probably find an awful lot of guns that had been reported stolen that never were.

 

[rswartsell]

The last picture you posted seems to expose terribly corroded interiors of the chambers- where the cartridges rest when the gun is loaded. The imperfections of the gun's nickel finish are not nearly so important as this, and the picture suggests that the bore (the inside surface of the tube formed by the barrel-where the bullet will travel when fired) is likely just as bad.

This condition makes the revolver, rather than a still functional weapon, a curio, paperweight or "wall hanger". Devastating to any resale value the revolver may have otherwise held.

 

[WardenWolf]

It may not be that bad, rswartsell. It may be more of a patina than real damage. I don't see any actual pitting there.

 

[rswartsell]

Perhaps not, but I wouldn't count on too much better than "sewer pipe". Try to clean it up and see. I suggest a bath in "Ed's Red" for openers, an hours long soak perhaps under direct sunlight, then some work with a bore brush and toothbrush.

See here;

http://www.handloads.com/articles/?id=9

 

[WardenWolf]

If the bore is in acceptable shape, it may be a good candidate for refinishing. MissionSpec Camo does cheap Parkerizing, only $75 for a handgun. Chances are the bore is okay, because those older revolvers usually had very deep rifling. It'd take a lot to do any real damage that would affect accuracy.

 

[BCRider]

With the proper care it is certainly shootable. Look at the mess that was restored by that fella that posted a few months back that took gun like lumps of rust and with a series of eletrolytic rust removal treatments brought the lumps back to use. Who knows how accurately they shot but he did shoot them.

By contrast to the disgusting lumps he started with this gun qualifies as "lightly stained".

Still, a fair amount of attention and work is needed before it's in any condition to accept ammo.

 

[DPris]

Money spent in "restoration" will not be reflected in increasing value.
Short version: Not worth it.
Denis