Is this a Military & Police model?

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owlhoot

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I gave my father in law a S&W revolver about 30 years ago. He wasn't a gun person but he wanted to have something around just in case. He died recently and his widow returned the revolver to me.

If any one can provide the date of manufacture on this revolver I would appreciate it.

The revolver looks just like the old pencil barreled Model 10. It is chambered for .38 special. It is a five screw model. On the back strap it says US property. On the butt there is a hole for a lanyard ring. The SN is 2629xx. There is also a G stamped on the butt. The finish is blued so I assume it is not a Victory model. I am guessing this was a revolver used by the military police or maybe the federal prison system. On the yoke there are numbers stamped, 3080, and above them the letter M (very faint). The grips are the standard checkered magna grips and they look as old as the gun, but I would have guessed that the grips should be the diamond grips given what I am assuming to be the age of the gun, pre-1950.

So, is this revolver called simply the Military and Police model? And about when was it made? Thanks for any help.
 
Hi owlhoot,


6 Shot?


Images?


Any letter prefix before the Serial No. as it appears on the Butt?
 
owlhoot:
Assuming a six shot cylinder, you have a .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 4th change manufactured between 1915 & 1919. It was manufactured before heat treating of cylinders was introduced, so it should only be fired with standard velocity lead ammunition. It has the early hammer block safety, but in 1944 a man was killed when this failed when a gun was dropped. The modern hammer block was developed as a result. It would be prudent to leave the chamber under the hammer unloaded.
The gun predates Magnas (late '30s) and if they lack the diamond then they are from 1968 or later.
The number under the yoke is an assembly number, used to track parts in the factory. I don't know what the other markings are.
The victory model was basically the M&P 1905 4th change with a phosphate finish.
 
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