Hi I am a new member and have recently inherited a 38 smith and Wesson ctg. I would like to know anything about the gun you can tell me like age, value, and maybe a little history or where I can find the history of this gun. It was originally black metal but was nickel plated. It has a wooden handle that looks like oak. It has a double lock one on the left side that has to be pushed in so that you can raise the other lock that is located above the hammer. the serial number that is located on the bottom of the handle and on the back of the cylinder is 7510. it also has a engraved 4 digit number on the bottom of the handle that is 2370 that appears to be hand engraved. the gun still work and appears to be in mint condition. I was also given 18 38 rounds that are lead bullets in a brass jacket that say norma on the bottom. are the rounds worth keeping or should I get rid of them. thanks for all your help and incite.
help me identify the age and value of a gun
- Thread starter jtbomar
- Start date
- Status
rickomatic
Member
A picture is worth 1,000 words. 
There were many handguns chambered for the S&W catridge that were not made by Smith & Wesson. In other words your gun could be something other than a Smith & Wesson made gun , but made to shoot that cartridge.
Perhaps the double lock will be a key clue, but I personaly don't recall the model that had that feature. A picture will do a lot. Keep the cartridges ! Norma would have been of later vintage , and they are likely very usable if they look realitively clean yet.
Good Luck - When the pictures come you will be certain to get this gun identified.
Perhaps the double lock will be a key clue, but I personaly don't recall the model that had that feature. A picture will do a lot. Keep the cartridges ! Norma would have been of later vintage , and they are likely very usable if they look realitively clean yet.
Good Luck - When the pictures come you will be certain to get this gun identified.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
The only S&W ever made with both a thumb latch and a top latch was the .38 Double-Action Perfected model.
It was made from 1909 to 1920. Serial numbers ranged from 1 to 59400, so yours would fall into that range.
Factory grips would either be black hard rubber, or Walnut, but certainly not oak.
If in fact it is really this model, value would be pretty low in the re-finished condition you indicate.
Perhaps $150 - $200 tops.
Post a picture and someone can give you a better estimate of value.
rc
It was made from 1909 to 1920. Serial numbers ranged from 1 to 59400, so yours would fall into that range.
Factory grips would either be black hard rubber, or Walnut, but certainly not oak.
If in fact it is really this model, value would be pretty low in the re-finished condition you indicate.
Perhaps $150 - $200 tops.
Post a picture and someone can give you a better estimate of value.
rc
Hi, jtbomar,
Are you sure the gun was originally blued and later nickel plated? Perfected models were made in both blue and nickel finishes.
While a re-nickeled finish would reduce the value, a factory nickel in "mint" condition would be fairly valuable ($800 or more).
Jim
Are you sure the gun was originally blued and later nickel plated? Perfected models were made in both blue and nickel finishes.
While a re-nickeled finish would reduce the value, a factory nickel in "mint" condition would be fairly valuable ($800 or more).
Jim
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Well, it is not factory nickel because the hammer & trigger are plated. The factory finish would have left them color case-hardened.
The grips are not oak.
They are old replacement grips, made from stag horn. Again probably not the original factory grips.
The guns were offered in 3 1/4", 4", 5" or 6" barrel length, maybe.
(Measured from the cylinder face to the muzzle.)
Yours might have been cut off, as the photo seems to look a little short for the 3 1/4" barrel, but it's hard to tell.
rc
The grips are not oak.
They are old replacement grips, made from stag horn. Again probably not the original factory grips.
The guns were offered in 3 1/4", 4", 5" or 6" barrel length, maybe.
(Measured from the cylinder face to the muzzle.)
Yours might have been cut off, as the photo seems to look a little short for the 3 1/4" barrel, but it's hard to tell.
rc
Radagast
Member
The front sight on the Perfected Model was a forged blade integral with the barrel. If the blade on the gun is not silver soldered/staked into place then it is an original short barrel and may still have some collectors interest. The rare 2 inch barrel hammerless guns from the same era command a 100% premium over the more common lengths.
- Status
