Need Help with ID: Older Taurus .38 special

[billyp]

A friend of mine gave me his fathers Taurus 38 after he passed away. I’m trying to do a little research on the gun to see what the model is because I cannot seem to find anything online.

It is a short nose .38 special. 5 shot, DAO revolver. It has wooden grips with the Taurus emblem in brass or gold it says Taurus all over it, but no reference to the model. If you flip the cylinder out it says 85 on the frame (I looked on the site for model 85's, none are hammerless like this one).

It is blued.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Billyp

 

[SAWBONES]

That's the Taurus Model 85.

If your example is from the '80s, you can probably count on it being an excellent 5 shot compact revolver.
It's modeled on the S&W Chief's Special. I'm not sure if Taurus provided any bobbed-hammer versions or if your example was altered after purchase. Mine had the hammer spur.

 

[gazpacho]

Is the hammer completely covered or just flush with the frame? If the first, the current model is 850. If the second, the current model is 851.

 

[billyp]

The hammer is flush with the frame, when I pull the trigger it will rise up above the frame then drop back down at the end of the pull.

Thanks,
Billyp

 

[Sistema1927]

Taurus 85CH (for "Concealed Hammer"). Nice little revolvers, I had one in the 80's.

 

[Sniper X]

On Taurus revolvers, open the cylender and look under the gate at the frame at the part of the frame that is covered by the gate when the cylender is closed. There is a factory stamping there 2 numbers that is the model number.

It looks like this....

 

[billyp]

Thanks everyone. After a little research I think it is an 85ch

Thanks again.

Billyp

 

[Sniper X]

Does it say that under the gate? That is the real way to find out accurate model identification on a Tarus.

 

[SouthpawShootr]

Good, reliable basic handguns, the Taurus 85s. I've had 2. Both have served me well. Right now I have an 85TI, but I wish I had kept my regular blued one.

Taurus used to have a SN lookup on their website to determine when the gun was manufactured. Take a look, see if it's still there at www.taurususa.com.

Edit: Found what I was talking about. IIRC, sometimes it readily gives you the info you desire, sometimes it hasn't been entered.

www.taurususa.com/products/findmodel.cfm

 

[billyp]

no, under the gate it only says 85.

EDIT:
looked it up on the site listed above it is an 85CHB2 mfg: 1992

thanks again for everyones help.

billyp