Help Identify This Revolver

[gcastro]

I need help in determining the year of MANUFACTURING, MODEL and value for the following single and double action S&W revolver .
5 shot. PIN, BARREL LENGHT 3.25" FIXED SIGHT, SQUARE BUT, MOTHER OF PEARL GRIPS. AND WITH HAND EJECTOR, LONG ACTION HAMMER,4 SCREW FRAME, .265 SERVICE HAMMER
On the left side:
the barrel is stamped: SMITH & WESSON
On the right side:
the barrel is stamped: REGULATION POLICE 38 S.& W. CTG.
below the cylinder: MADE IN U.S.A.
back by the grip: the S&W trademark
TOP OF THE BARREL SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD MASS. USA
PATENTED FEB 6.06 SEPT 14.09 DEC.29.14

FINISHED IS NICKEL PLATED
SERIAL # INSIDE THE GRIP 33418
FRAME NUMBER 3185

THE GUN IS CLEAN,SMOOTH OPERATION, LITTEL BLEMISHES ON THE PLATING. I BEEN INFORMED THAT IT SHOULD PRE DATE 1930. and that uses a .38 short bullet

THANKS FOR THE HELP.



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Quick Reply

 

[Oro]

To properly ID it, please understand the following conventions:

For that gun:

1) The S/N is stamped on the bottom of the grip frame, under the barrel, and on the cylinder face. What are the numbers in those places?

2) barrel length is measured from the front face of the cylinder to end of the muzzle. 3.25" is either a butchered gun or a mis-measurement.

Also, you state it is a four screw frame, which makes it after 1962. I think you don't understand this term. Posting pictures would help.

Please post those details and it will make it easier to help.

 

[RON in PA]

All the info you need is on the gun, it is a Regulation Police model in 38 S&W caliber. This is a small frame revolver.

Important: The 38 S&W cartridge is not the same as a S&W 38 Special cartridge.

 

[Old Fuff]

Because the pre-war Regulation Police Model (1917 - 1940) was made with oversized stocks that wrapped around the bottom of a smaller round-butt frame to make it a square butt; the serial number was stamped:

On the frame's frontstrap above the mainspring strain screw. not the bottom of the butt

On the rear face of the cylinder

On the bottom of the barrel, above the ejector rod.

The barrel should be 4 inches long - measured from the front cylinder face to the end of the muzzle

The date of manufacture is most likely 1934 or '35, but no later then 1936.

Because of the wrap-around-the-bottom feature of the stocks, mother of pearl is unusual.

Value of the revolver would likely be in the +/- $300 range. If the pearl stocks originated at the factory you can add another $100.

 

[SaxonPig]

PS: Your gun is an I frame model. Stocks can be hard to find.

 

[Jim Watson]

The .38 S&W cartridge, although shorter than .38 Special is NOT ".38 Short."
Nor ".38 Regular".

 

[Old Fuff]

PS: Your gun is an I frame model. Stocks can be hard to find.

Yes and no...

J-frame stocks are identical, except they are about 1/8" longer. I have shortened service style J-frame stocks to fit on both I-frame and .38 Safety Hammerless revolvers.

But the backstrap on the Regulation Police model was altered to take the special square-butt stocks mentioned before. And yes, they are almost impossible to find, and expensive when you do.

 

[gcastro]

Thanks to all for the info. Mr, Old Fuff gave me the best points to determine the year of manufacturing. Taking off the grips I can see that the gun was made with oversized stocks that wrapped around the bottom of a smaller round-butt frame to make it a square butt;

The serial number is stamped: On the frame's front strap above the mainspring strain screw. not the bottom of the butt, it is also on the rear face of the cylinder and on the bottom of the barrel, above the ejector rod, the serial number is 33148

The barrel is 4 inches long

As per Mr SaxonPig the S&W series 30000 was made in 1929, therefore the serial number 33418 looks like it should have been made in 1929. I was informed that the original owner died in 1930, and therefore this would agree with the date of 1929. Please confirm if this is correct.

This is a 3rd generation gun that is being passed on to me.

In Ref to the grip being mother of pearl it looks to be factory original. it is a beautiful piece of workmanship. and now that is clean is even more beautiful.

I was also corrected by ORO I think that the gun is a 5 screw not 4 as previously had indicated. 4 are the screws that you can see on the right hand side holding the gun.I did not take into consideration the one holding the grips.


I believ that this may be also a model I. The stock is in perfect condition, the Ni plating is also in excellent condition, what I though were scratches it was just 80 years of dirt. Can any one confirm if this a modle I?

With the clarification of this detailes is the gun still worth $400.00?
I have the pictures that I will try to post, once I figure out how to do attache them on this message

To all thanks

 

[gcastro]

help with the identification of S&W 38 police ctg

Thanks to all for the info. Mr, Old Fuff gave me the best points to determine the year of manufacturing. Taking off the grips I can see that the gun was made with oversized stocks that wrapped around the bottom of a smaller round-butt frame to make it a square butt;

The serial number is stamped: On the frame's front strap above the mainspring strain screw. not the bottom of the butt, it is also on the rear face of the cylinder and on the bottom of the barrel, above the ejector rod, the serial number is 33148

The barrel is 4 inches long

As per Mr SaxonPig the S&W series 30000 was made in 1929, therefore the serial number 33418 looks like it should have been made in 1929. I was informed that the original owner died in 1930, and therefore this would agree with the date of 1929. Please confirm if this is correct.

This is a 3rd generation gun that is being passed on to me.

In Ref to the grip being mother of pearl it looks to be factory original. it is a beautiful piece of workmanship. and now that is clean is even more beautiful.

I was also corrected by ORO I think that the gun is a 5 screw not 4 as previously had indicated. 4 are the screws that you can see on the right hand side holding the gun.I did not take into consideration the one holding the grips.


I believ that this may be also a model I. The stock is in perfect condition, the Ni plating is also in excellent condition, what I though were scratches it was just 80 years of dirt. Can any one confirm if this a modle I?

With the clarification of this detailes is the gun still worth $400.00?
I have the pictures that I will try to post, once I figure out how to do attache them on this message

To all thanks

 

[zoom6zoom]

I think that the gun is a 5 screw not 4 as previously had indicated. 4 are the screws that you can see on the right hand side holding the gun.I did not take into consideration the one holding the grips.

The grip screw doesn't count in this.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/530103904/m/875107028

 

[Old Fuff]

The first production .38 Regulation Police revolvers were made from 1917 (when they were introduced) to about 1940 or perhaps 1941 (when they were discontinued because of increasing production of other models as World War Two started in Europe). These were serial numbered between 1 and 54,474. Your revolver falls within this range.

All were so-called "5-screw" models.

It is difficult to ascertain the exact date of manufacture, because S&W would serial number frames before they were made into complete guns. When revolvers were completed the frames were taken out of inventory, but not necessarily in order of oldest ones first. Then time might pass before the completed revolver was shipped. The best anyone outside of the factory can do is compare you gun's serial number to others where the shipping date is known. But if knowing this information is important to you there is a way to find out.

Given this gun's history within your family, I suggest that you get it "lettered." To do so you will need a snapshot of the gun, a full description including the serial number on the frame, and a check in the amount of $50.00 made out to Smith & Wesson. In exchange the company's historian, Roy G. Jinks, will research the original records (which are not computerized by the way) and send you a letter containing the details of what he finds.

This comprehensive document will contain an overview of the model’s history, followed by the details of your particular gun. This usually includes the caliber, barrel length, finish, and the exact date it was shipped from the factory, and to what distributor or dealer. If there are any special features they will be listed too. This information is often invaluable to both you and future generations.

Additional information on a historical letter will be found at the Smith & Wesson company website at:

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...catalogId=11101&content=25301&sectionId=10504

If a factory letter confirms that the pearl stocks were original to the gun the $400 estimate is more then reasonable. Ordinary revolvers in the condition you describe are selling in the mid-$300 range or better

 

[gcastro]

Please identify this Colt

I need help in determining the value and the year of manufacturing of a revolver Colt, OFFICIAL POLICE 38, SERIAL #7239xx, checker pattern hard wood grips, with the colt silver logo, square but, the revolver is blue, fixed sights, 4" barrel length, hand ejector. Long action hammer, top of the barrel is stamped with Colt's PTFA Mfg co, Hartford Ct, Ptd Aug 5, 1884, july 4 1905, oct 5, 1926.

Thanks for your help