Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

[Radagast]

griffin2004:
You probably have a British Service Revolver manufactured in 1941 or 1942 for the British govt.. This was a .38 S&W chambering of the .38 Special Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change.
The barrel length would have been 5 inches originally, post war it was sold as surplus, the barrel cut down (hence no caliber markings) and the chambers bored out to accept .38 Special.
The base of the .38 S&W case is wider than the .38 special. Fired brass will deform to fit the oversize chamber and may split. Because of this use of jacketed, semi jacketed, Plus P & +P+ ammo is probably unwise. If the locking lug under the barrel is missing, then definitely only use lead standard pressure ammo. I sprang the crane on a gun without the crane. It only took 5 rounds of PlusP.
The gun also lacks a positive hammer block safety. If dropped it could fire, so leave the chamber under the hammer empty.

There is a slight possibility that the gun is a .38 Military & Police as these were made in the same serial range, but it is unlikely. All of the chopped barrel guns that I am aware of from that era were BSRs.

Value is probably no more than $150.

[Griffin2004]

Pretty interesting and thanks. Really quick response.

[Gladius]

Very interesting!!! Thanks again!

[ryanrichmond]

I just picked this up today from a local guy on a whim. Any help telling how old it is would be very much appreciated

A. .38spl
B. 1-7/8" bbl
C. Round grips
D. 5 shot
E. Fixed sights
F. AYA59xx
G. Model 60 no dash

[Radagast]

ryanrichmond:
Your Model 60 Chiefs Special Stainless was manufactured in 1987.

[ryanrichmond]

Thanks for the info!

[YumaKid]

In "The Great Hunt" for the 4" K-Frame .357 my daughter spec'd as her desires; my son-in-law and I found at a gun show in Atalntic, Iowa:

Model 66-2
Stainless (duh)
4" bbl
typical orange ramp front and adjustable rear sights
wide smooth-faced trigger and target hammer
2-piece semi-hard rubber grips with finger grooves; unmarked, grooves not pronounced enough to be hogue (NEVER MIND! Just pulled them off, they're Uncle Mike's)
having pulled the grips, I can now call a square butt and grooved backstrap

s/n AVD5253

That was as close as we could get to what she wanted, "A four-inch K-frame .357 like Mom's". "Mom's gun" is a 4" Model 13-3 with a service trigger and hammer and Magna Grips in a box in the closet - it now wears a Hogue Monogrip in Goncalo Alves. It's pedigree has been already asked and answered 1030 posts back in this thread. (Yes, I counted!)
This one only cost a little over TWICE what I paid for my wife's 13 some 20 years ago. But, "They don't make 'em any more", so I guess I can't complain, just 'grab your wallet'.

[Radagast]

YumaKid:
1987 for your daughters Model 66-2 Combat Magnum Stainless. The 66-3 was supposed to replace the 66-2 in 1986.My guess is they had some parts to use up and made up a few more 66-2s.

[YumaKid]

Thank you sir!

[1/7GRUNT]

Model 31-1
32 S&W Long
3 inch barrel
6 rounds
fixed sights
square butt
H26571
Thanks!!

[Radagast]

1/7GRUNT:
Your Model 31-1 .32 Regulation Police was manufactured in 1969 or 1970. Serial range for those years was H00001 to H30001, so 1970 seems likely. The -1 indicates your gun has a J frame. Earlier guns were built on the smaller I frame & Improved I frame.

[Tortuga12]

Number 1:
5 screw, square butt K-frame, 5" barrel, fixed sights, .38 spl., matte blue (I think) C134449

Number 2:
3 screw, square butt model 15-3, 4" barrel, polished blue, K978308

Thanks!

[rlf]

4'' barrel
square butt
six shot
serial number S214457
adjustable sights
blue finish
MOD-28

[sgtstryker]

Your Model 28 was built 1960-1961.

[sgtstryker]

Your C134449 was built between 1948-1951. The K978308 is from 1970.

[rlf]

sgtstryker, thanks very much, really get info.

[K-Rod]

I have another Masterpiece for you to look up if you would please.
K-22 Masterpiece
Ribbed barrel
4 line address
6"
6 shot
.22lr
K1146xx (not sure if it matters but the first two numbers are larger then the rest )

Any information will be appreciated.

[Radagast]

K-Rod: 1951 for your K22 Masterpiece. The ribbed barrel is post war, ditto the 4 line address. Lack of a model number makes it pre-1957. I'd say the serial number is correct. If it has been altered then it would have been serial number K11, with the 46xx added afterwards. I doubt that happened.

[K-Rod]

Thank you Radagast.

[jmcgaz]

.38 Top Break
6 inch barrel
square grip
5 shot
Adjustable rear sight????
serial #386817
Model = ???

This was handed down to me from my grandmother 30 years ago. Story is that it my grandfather bought it new and it has never been fired.

Is there a way to verify that it has never been fired? DOB and any other info -- ie value for insurance purposes -- would be greatly appreciated.

Jim M.

[Radagast]

jmcgaz:
You have a .38 Double Action 4th Model manufactured around 1898-1899. Pre-1898 guns, before serial number 3820022 are considered antiques and not subject to Federal regulation.
There is no way to prove it is unfired. If it has the original box, etc, then value could be around $700 or so. Any sign of wear will halve that price. The six inch barrel is rare and may add to the price. The Standard catalog of S&W noted that in 2006 a .38 DA 4th Model with six inch barrel, factory pearl grips and box in 90% condition was listed at $1000. Whether it sold at that price is another question.

[sgtstryker]

Jim, welcome aboard. As far as I can tell, this is a New Model Number Three. Is it double action? There is a photo of a very similar gun in the Standard Catalog Of S&W, only your trigger is different. Once the correct model is determined, a value can be placed on it. Sure is a nice example, tho. Hard to say about it being fired, I would think yes, since you have a good mark on the cylinder from it rotating. But, who knows. I'll defer to the guys on here that have more knowledge in what you are after. Good luck , it's a great revolver. Thanks for sharing it. See? I missed it..

[Donr66]

I acquired aS&W model 19 3,6 inch barrel,serial # 2k88386 and I would like the date of manufacture.It is in excellent shape with box and papers.I am curious what the estimated value.Received it from my father in law.Thanks
357 magnum
6"
Wood-original
6 shot
rear sight
2k88386
19-3 combat

[theresa0801]

I just inherited a smith and wesson from my dad and would like to find out some info about it. This is what I know:

38 ctg
bbl- 5 inch
grip- round?
6 shot
serial # 224438 with a C way over to the left of it not sure if that's part of it, on the registration papers they did not put it as part of the serial #.
model #10 or 30598 (# on barrel under crane)
not sure how to post pics from my computer into this message ,I do not have a url

[jmcgaz]

Originally Posted by sgtstryker

Jim, welcome aboard. As far as I can tell, this is a New Model Number Three. Is it double action?

Yes, it is double action.

Thanks for sharing it. See? I missed it..

Thanks for the quick reply, sgtstryker. I'm not sure what your last words here mean ...

Jim