Looking for info on a revolver I inhereted from my Dad

[toad32r]

Hello everyone...
Let me start by thanking anyone on here that can give me a little info. I just recieved 2 guns that were my Dad's. He has passed away, and I just was curious what they were. They are both REAL OLD, but look brand new. One is an old bolt action rifle, which ill look around on these forums on where to correctly post, but the other is a Smith and Wesson revolver, 6 shot, says Smith and Wesson 38 special ctg. down one side of barrel. It has a 5+ inch barrel.The serial number is a six digit number followed by a star. Furst four digits of serial# are 2692**. This number is on the end of the grip, written inside grip, on end of the cylinder... And has the number 1926 stamped inside the open area where the cylinder rests when closed as well as near the hinge of the cylinder.IT has wooden handleswith S&W medallions in it. Chrome finish...not sure what else would be important to look for.

 

[cyclopsshooter]

Are you sure about it being a 5" 5 shot? (measure from the front of the cylinder to the muzzle)

 

[toad32r]

Actually i just measured it. 6 inchs from cylinder to muzzle...6 shot

 

[cyclopsshooter]

wow, strange, i do not know of a 6" small frame 5 shot S&W revolver... I also have no knowledge of S&W ever using a star in a serial number. this is just bizarre... is it a top break revolver or does the cylinder swing out? Are you sure it is a .38 Special or does the barrel say .38 S&W? A picture would be reeaaallly helpful

 

[toad32r]

Firstly, I apologize for the ignorance...lol. I am posting info on a few different handguns, and i did mis-post the # of shots. (holding it right now to ensure correct info. I know very little about guns.) Ill post pux here in a minute. 6 shots...not 5...sorry about that. 6 inches from cylinder to muzzle... Serial # is 2692** with a star symbol after it. It isnt a top break, just a normal flip side down to open. It has a # inside near the "hinge" of the cylinder... it says 1926 there in 2 places.Taking pix now, then ill post them here. I really appreciate your help... Especially with my mis-information...lol

 

[cyclopsshooter]

No problem sir.. this is just as fun to me as puzzles are to others sounds like you have a pre wwII Smith and Wesson Hand Ejector or later known as a Military and Police. It was a very common revolver among police departments. The 6" guns were phased out in favor of 4" guns as the police began to use patrol cars more often. Depending on the condition and vintage it could be worth anywhere from $200 to $600. The gun is still made today and is known as the K frame Model 10. Yours being much older it was built by skilled craftsmen and is a pure joy of mechanical perfection. Its long history helps with its desirability. It is a fine shooter and I hope you enjoy it! Would still like to see pics Oh, just noticed you said it was chromed.. Would definitely need pictures to tell if it is factory nickle or not.. makes a big difference on value to a collector.

 

[toad32r]

pix

A few pix

 

[toad32r]

Other gun( rifle)

Would you know anything about an old rifle i recieved from my Dad? It has the original belt that it shipped with full of bullets. I have been told that it has never been fired. The bullet belt that originally shipped with the rifle has a manufacture date of Jan. 2,1906. It is in PERFECT condition. It says its a model... Springfield 1898 . Really neat gun. Its a bolt action rifle with all the little sight screws... Looks brand new!! Barrell says U.S. Model 1898...Springfield armory...4228**...30-40 krag

 

[cyclopsshooter]

Well, I can't say for sure if it the original finish or a re-do but it certainly looks to be a good nickle job. (do NOT use copper solvent gun cleaners like Hoppes) By the shape of the ejector rod and the hammer it is most definately a pre-war piece.. someone will be along to give you the date from the serial number. The grips look post-war and not original to the gun. I really can't help much more than that.. My area of S&W experience is post-war. But the "long action" pre-war guns are prized by many. *paging OldFuff

 

[cyclopsshooter]

Please show a pic of the rifle too!

 

[toad32r]

I edited my last post about the rifle with exact info.Ill get some pix up of it here in a minute. Thanks again for your time... Its nice to have some info on these pcs.

 

[toad32r]

rifle pix

Pix

 

[toad32r]

Few more

 

[firesky101]

Rifle is certainly some type of krag Jorgensen. It is a bit out of my expertise to tell you any more specifics.

 

[StrawHat]

Your revolver is a nickeled version of the Militsry & Police (M&P) 38 Special that was the mainstay of the S&W line for generations. It is hard to tell from the photos but if the hammer and trigger are case hardened (not nickled) it would be a factory nickel job. I can see the extractor star is not nickeled but the hammer and trgiiger are tough to make out. The * at the end of the serial number indicates that at some point the revolver was returned to the factory for some work. If you are really interested you can pay S&W historian Roy Jenks to hand search the records and see what he can find.

 

[bannockburn]

toad32r

Your rifle looks to be a customized Springfield U.S. Model 1898 Krag Jorgensen. From your pics it looks like it was reblued, the barrel shortened, the stock cut down into more useful configuration for hunting, and a rear peep sight added. All in all a fairly decent looking sporterized rifle.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

I concur, the star indicates the revolver was sent back to the factory at some point for some sort of work. The serial number puts it into a large block of serial numbers that extends from 1915 to 1942. However the style of cylinder rod cap and the fact that the SN is early in that block leads me to suspect that it was probably made between 1915 and 1920.

 

[cyclopsshooter]

Yup, the rifle is a sporterized Krag. If left in original military configuration it would probably have been a 1K gun but is probably worth about 3-400 now if the bore is good. The Krag is known to have one of the smoothest bolt throws, which is due in part to the single locking lug... this though, is also its biggest problem.. just an FYI- DO NOT shoot someones reloaded ammo in this rifle and inspect the bolt lug for cracks.

 

[toad32r]

I REALLY thank you all for the info!! Unfortunatly, I cannot ask my Dad about these guns anymore. In the last few hours, you have given me more info. than I have been able to find out in 6 months...lol. These two guns have been put away for over... 30 years. I always wondered if the Krag was reworked or not. As I was saying in the earlier part of my post, there is a bullet belt FULL of 30-40 shells with all kinds of print on it. Basically says:

60 ball cartridge Cal. 30 1898
Something like...A:88 ft.
Jan 2 1906 Springfield model 1898 Arsenal
1988 feet (?)
(unreadable), NY


Oh, and an unopened shaving kit in a cloth pouch, even all the razor blades are wrapped in wax paper. Thats still in the cardboard box it was mailed in with a huge mailing stamp on it from a pharmacy. Kind of neat. Kit has shaver in seperate compartments so you have to assemble the razor each time. Even has an old whisker brush inside. Im guessing its a field kit.

 

[natman]

I'd suggest you count again how many chambers that "5 shot" revolver has.

 

[toad32r]

Yeah, I already reposted yesterday that i was mistaken about that. (see post #5)

 

[hboy35]

beautiful

I am drooling over that Krag...

I too got several of my Dad's guns after he passed away and they are really interesting pieces and fun to shoot--but I would chuck 'em all away for a few more moments with Dad.

Enjoy them and pass them down. take care.

 

[HKGuns]

I would chuck 'em all away for a few more moments with Dad.

As would I.......RIP

Nice pistol and rifle, take good care of them in memory of your Father.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

One thing I recommend with Krags, take the bolt out, soak it in penetrating oil, let dry one paper towels and then put it in an oven heated to around 200 degrees for several minutes. If there is a crack at the bolt lug, it will show up with a small leak of penetrating oil.

 

[toad32r]

Yeah,
Missin Dad everytime I look at the guns. Makes me mad that I didnt take the time to listen /to ask more about them. I just want to take care of these to keep them in great shape so that some day, my kids get thier grandpa's guns.