38 S&W Special CTG questions

[pupscoach]

I have a 38 S&W Special CTG and I'm trying to find out more information about it. Could you help me?

It does not have rear sights.
Patented dates read: Feb. 8, 08, Sept. 14, 09, Dec. 29, 14
Back of cylinder: S 8533XX
Square butt: S 8533XX
Bottom of barrel: B 515456
Inside of the frame when the cylinder is open reads A7 followed by 22884

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Cosmoline]

You mean you have a revolver chambered in .38 S&W. Does it say "Smith & Wesson"?

Those patent dates have me stumped. The second two line up, but not the first one. Photos would be enormously helpful.

 

[Oyeboten]

Images?

 

[1911Tuner]

More commonly referred to as simply .38 Special. Kindal like the official name for the .44 Magnum is ".44 Remington Magnum.'

 

[Jim Watson]

Of course if it had been a Colt, then it would be .38 Colt Special.
Yes, there is (was) such a thing. Same thing as .38 S&W Special except a flat-nosed bullet.


The barrel may be a replacement, they were normally numbered to match the frame and cylinder in those days.

 

[gdesloge]

Deleted due to poor reading skills.

gd

 

[Radagast]

pupscoach:

You have a post war .38 Military & Police revolver manufactured between November 1945 & September 1948. These guns are considered transitional models between the pre-war .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change and the later Model 10 revolver. The main difference is that it has the internal hammer block safety developed during World War II (the S prefix to the serial number denotes the safety), but still uses the old 'long action', noted for its smooth trigger pull. The 'short action' replaced the 'long action in September 1948. Because of the hammer block your gun can be carried with all six chambers loaded. With earlier guns it is prudent to leave the chamber under the hammer empty to prevent accidental discharges.
It would appear that at some point your gun has been re-barreled, as the serial number on the barrel flat is for a gun from the late 1920s.

 

[pupscoach]

pictures

Thanks Radagast. I thought that it might be re-barreled. I think that the front sight has also been cut and filed. Don't know for sure. I believe it has different grips as well. What does the A7 stand for? Is the pistol worth much?

The barrel says Smith and Wesson on the left side and 38 S. & W. Special CTG on the other.

Pictures were taken with an iphone. Please be kind.

 

[Radagast]

pupscoach:
the A7 is an assembly number, used to track parts in the factory, it has no meaning once the gun is completed.
The front sight has been filed down, it would originally have been a half moon sight on that particular gun.
The grips are post 1968 Goncalo Alves target stocks.
Value is not high, probably $250 to $350. There have been several million .38 Military & Police revolvers manufactured, so they aren't particularly rare.