1900s .38sp

[The Burnside Ninja]

Gents,

My 71 year old father was recollecting his grandfather's day of deterring looters in the late 1800's to early 1900's with a .38sp revolver. I believe he mentioned Smith and Wesson.. but it could've been Colt (he wasn't sure) Anyway, I was hoping to get him a .38sp revolver as a gift... any suggestions of what model to get? (without being too expensive?)

 

[Jim K]

The first .38 S&W Special revolver was the S&W M&P First Model, sometimes called by collectors the Model 1899. It is the direct ancestor of the S&W Model 10, even to the shape of the frame (the internals are different from the modern gun).

A good choice would be a new Model 10, one of the few S&W's still made with the blue finish rather than stainless steel. You can usually get them for $400 or so. I assume you would want to get a new gun, but if a good used one would be acceptable, ex-police guns are often available for around $250.

Jim

 

[armoredman]

Look around for one with character - sounds like your father has a lot of it. At his age, he was shooting around the end of WWII, so a nice Military and Police model would be neat. Pencil barrel, classic half moon frontsight, that kind of thing, classic styling, not the modern heavy barrel, 60s/70s police style.
Kinda like this, I'm thinking, but this one is mid 60s.
Edit to say, get some comfortable grips to go with it in the package, but keep the originals on for the gifting, for the "charm".

 

[Will5A1]

Nice, used M10's and M&P's/Victorys are still available for $200-300, and I agree that the pencil barrel with half-moon sight is a classic; put a lanyard ring on it and I can't keep my wallet in my pocket when I see one for sale. Sometimes you can find them with Tyler T-grip adapaters, or find used T-grips, they can help "fill the hand" for some folks, others don't like the feel.
I wish I had a son (or nephew/neice/daughter wife/friend) that would buy me a Model 10.