Looking for period of manufacture

[Texas Gal]

I inherited a .38 S&W Special CTG some years ago and I'm preparing to pass it on to a family member since I have no direct heirs. It's in prestine condition and has been locked in my safe deposit box for probably more than 20 years. It does show a little wear. My grandmother had it cleaned and shipped to me by a gunsmith after my grandfather died. I'm not sure if he inherited it or purchased it. He was a railroad conductor so he might have used it in his work.

I've been looking for a couple of days now on the internet trying to identify the potential manufacture date so I can include it in the family history I'm preparing for the gift.

:banghead:

But I don't seem to be able to find the exact handgun! The closest it seems to come to is the Smith & Wesson M&P .38 Special caliber revolver. But it's not exactly like the target model in that the handgrip is longer at the top, but it does have the square butt. And it doesn't have an adjustable sight. It has the grooved "half-moon" fixed sight I think it's called. Sorry I don't have a picture of it but I'll do my best to provide all the information on the weapon itself. It's a six shot revolver with a 6" barrel that is stamped on the top of the barrel with patented Feb. 06.06, Sept. 14.09, Dec. 29.14. Inside the chamber it looks to be stamped with KO 4 27 2 4. On the butt the serial number is S 927121. The serial number is also stamped under the barrel. On the right side it is stamped with the S&W logo and Made in U.S.A.

I also have the leather holster and shoulder belt that he wore that is in very good condition, manufactured by Red Head Brand that is stamped 306B on the belt loop to the holster.

I would so much appreciate if someone could give me an idea of the manufacture date and potential value based on excellent condition.

Thank you!
Texas Gal

 

[Will5A1]

Welcome to the forum, Texas Gal, your grandfather's revolver is, based on the info you provided, a post war (WWII) Military & Police, the S Prefix serial numbers were used on that model from 1945 -1948. I paid $365 for S866065, FWIW it shipped to the Marshall Fields Department Store in Chicago in February, 1947. Your serial number probably would have shipped in late 1947 or 1948. Please keep in mind that prices vary by region and your period holster would add some value, I really would not hazard to guess how much.

I'd like to add that I think its great you are keeping this in the family, and passing it on with a family history.

 

[Pistol Toter]

S8826xx shipped 4/29/48, so that make your gun some 44500 later. S&W did not necessarly ship guns in serial number order but that makes yours shipping in late 47 to mid 48 time frame. The old gun itself is probably worth $300 to $375 +/- depending on condition and locale. The holster is a tose up. Do NOT store the gun in the holster. It probably would not hurt it the piece was cleaned and lubricated again for storage unless the individual you are giving it to is going to fire it, even then it would not be a bad idea to have it looked at for that too.

 

[Old Fuff]

I you are willing to pay a $30.00 fee, a historian at the Smith & Wesson factory will research the old records until he finds your gun. Then he will send you a formal letter explaing the general background of the model, and then the exact details concerning your grandfather's revolver. This usually includes the date the gun was shipped from the factory, and to what distributor or dealer. I highly recommend that this be done on guns that are being passed down through a family.

Additional details will be found at www.smith-wesson.com

 

[Texas Gal]

Wow! This is more than I ever hoped for!

Thanks for the welcome Will5A1. Keeping the handgun in the family is important to me and that’s why I’ve decided to pass it on now, less squabbling later and I know the relative I’m giving it to will also pass it on one day. I had no idea that Smith & Wesson could research and authenticate the manufacture and issue of the weapon. That is fantastic and it sure will be a wonderful addition to the history I’m compiling.

Your help in identifying the potential manufacture dates led me to an old picture I have of my grandfather in his conductor’s uniform posed in front of the engine with the crew. It’s a small picture and probably dates back to the early 1950’s. But when I enlarged it I could see the top of the holster sticking out from under his coat!

I will take your advice and have a gunsmith clean, lubricate and inspect the weapon before I give it. I’m going to have to locate a case so I can include the holster and belt separately that has a place, like a tray insert, for the pictures, history, family genealogy and letter of authenticity. This is really turning into a wonderful gift thanks to all of your assistance.

Thank you all so much!

Merry Christmas!!

 

[Old Fuff]

The gentleman at Smith & Wesson that does the research is named Roy G. Jinks. He occasionally looks back to the Civil War to document one of the early revolvers. Not always easy to do, as he is looking through the original books, not a computerized data base. But what he finds is always interesting. It will probably be at least 2 months before you get an answer because his mail basket is always overflowing. But when the letter comes you will be delighted in all of the information he was able to dig up.

If you want to go a bit further, send an extra $15.00 in a seperate check made out to him, and he'll send a copy of his hard-cover book, History of Smith & Wesson. Autographs on the title page are free.

 

[kludge]

At our local gun show there is always someone selling nice oak and walnut presentation cases. Prices usually run from $30 to $100, and is a very nice touch for an hierloom revolver. It gives you a place to keep the gun, holster, photo, and paperwork dust free. And I agree that having S&W run the serial number is the right thing to do. It would also be very cool to have a vintage box of ammo (or even just the box) on display with the revolver.

A very nice gift indeed!

 

[Texas Gal]

Old Fuff, I will order his book. And thank you so much for telling me about the authentication for my grandfather’s firearm. I did read the sample at the website. What a great document that is going to be. I am the primary genealogist in my family for my paternal line and one of my cousins is the civil war historian for our family. He was so excited to find out that the handgun could be documented from Smith & Wesson.

Kludge, that’s a great suggestion. But I’m not sure what to look for. Do you think this one on eBay would be a good choice?

You guys are G R E A T!

 

[Rexster]

FYI, "CTG" = "cartridge." The weapon is supposed to be loaded with .38 Special ammo, the original name of which was .38 S&W Special. CTG is not the model name or designation.

 

[PTK]

Old Fuff

That's one heck of a service S&W offers! I think I'll get the scoop on my M&P .38spl....

 

[Old Fuff]

That's one heck of a service S&W offers! I think I'll get the scoop on my M&P .38spl....

It is indeed, and all because of a gentleman named Roy G. Jinks, who I believe has been working at the S&W factory since the middle-latter 1950’s. He is well known in S&W collector circles as a walking encyclopedia of just about anything concerning the company and it products. In addition he has written or co-authored several books and numerous magazine articles on his favorite subject.

Few outsiders know it, but half of the $30.00 research fee is donated to the U.S. International Shooting Team, which represents us at the Olympics and other competitions. That means that the company nets $15.00 for a service that another well-known manufacturer charges around $100.00.

As I previously mentioned, he sells one of his books, History of Smith & Wesson, for $15.00, which is a hardcover, and the price must be close to cost. Even so, it’s packed with information of all kinds. For example, would you ever guess that Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson invented what later became the Henry and Winchester lever action rifles?

That book is fun reading…

 

[kludge]

Do you think this one on eBay would be a good choice?

I'm not the one you should be asking. I'm not a collector and wouldn't know the dates of a particular cartridge.

If you go here and enter "38 Special" in the search box several items pop up.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Br...eframe=0&Sort=0&Items=50&Page=1&SearchLogic=0

There are probably a few people around here who do know the answer, and if you make a new post that you need help finding the right vintage of ammunition, they'll be sure to help.

Edit:

This guy has a box of WWII era 38 Special.

http://oldguns.net/catammo.htm About 1/3 of the way down the page.
http://oldguns.net/pix/13686.jpg

 

[Texas Gal]

Thanks Kludge!