OK, I promised you all an update, so here it is. This has been a day of surprises.
Surprise #1: The revolver had not yet been sold.
Surprise #2: I asked the clerk to check for box and papers, and he found it! The label matches the gun description and serial number. The original wrapping paper and factory literature was under the foam rubber. and the box contained the factory rubber grip.
Surprise #3: The box label displayed a "Special Order" number, and "Target Hammer". Looks like a target trigger, also. It had been shot, but patches through the bore and chambers came out clean, so it had not been shot much. I cannot see any wear on the ratchet at all. The firing pin is mounted on the hammer.
Surprise #4: He accepted my offer of $450, so even with sales tax it was less than $500 out the door.
Surprise #5: The rosewood grips are not S&W grips, which I suspected because there was no medallion. They fit very tightly and are marked "J-SQ" on the inside. They were made for a square butt gun.
Surprise #6: This is a round butt gun, but the wood grips work just fine. The factory rubber grip feels fine also.
Surprise #7: The sights adjusted quickly to the only .38 Special loads I have on hand at the moment, home-cast 158 grain RNFP over 2.7 grains of Bullseye. The target was at 7 yards but I shot it Bullseye style; one-handed, single action. What you are seeing on the target is mostly my old eyes and Parkinsonian tremor. I have no doubt most of you could produce a tighter group.
With the "Special Order" number and the other unusual features, I'm thinking I have an odd duck here. Which is fine because my family thinks I am an odd duck anyway. I posted on the S&W thread above and hopefully we can get a manufacturing date from the serial number.
Edit: 1996
This was fun! Thanks for your support. We should do it again!!
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