Need help identifying SW 38

[tulsajeep]

I inherited my Grandfather's police revolver and am curious about it's exact age. The serial number on the bottom of the grip is S 67576. When the cylinder (6 round) is swung out, the same number is there and also the number 8225 which is stamped twice along with the letters b and d - I suppose these are inspection marks. The barrel is 2.5" - says Smith & Wesson on one side, 38 S & W Special CTG on the other. The only other marking is Made in USA under the cylinder. No patent numbers are anywhere. My Grandfather had it chromed after he left the police force, and the trigger, hammer, and cylinder release tab are all gold-plated. Handle is wood - looks walnut - I think he changed to that also. He was on the force in the late 40s - I want to say around 1949. Any info would be much appreciated!

 

[2RCO]

You could contact Roy Jinks at S&W he's a really friendly guy and usually pretty helpful they charge for a factory letter but in this case for family reasons it would probably be worth it.

 

[FPrice]

The serial number on the bottom of the grip is S 67576.

That letter prefix and that amount of digits would make it about a 1947 N-frame revolver, probably a .38/44. What type of sights? Fixed or adjustable? The barrel is probably not the original barrel but this is part of the S&W model line which I am not all that familiar with.

 

[Jim K]

The "8225" is an assembly number, used to keep the crane and frame together during the final assembly and finishing. The 2.5" barrel length indicates either a shortened barrel or an error in measurement. The minimum barrel length on the 38/44 was nominally 4" but was actually about 3.75". Revolver barrels are normally measured from muzzle to the rear of the barrel, not to the front of the frame.

The name "38/44" indicates that the gun was a .38 caliber on a large frame originally intended for .44 caliber. The direct predecessor of the .357 Magnum, the .38/44 could handle the heavily loaded cartridges needed by police in an era when firing at cars had become common. There were special ".38/44" rounds made to be used only in heavy revolvers; even though they would fit lighter guns, their use in other guns was not recommended.

The barrels of the guns, however, were always marked simply ".38 Special" not ".38/44".

Jim