newbie with a question

[the loon]

I'm sure you guys get tired of these but I'm going to ask anyway. I inherited a Smith & Wesson 38 CTG serial number on the bottom of the butt is 261142,
Looks like 3' from cylinder to the end of the barrell. Fixed sights. Top of the barrell says Smith & Wesson Springfield Mass no dates or anything else. Wood handle blue metal. My mom says an old judge gave it to my grandfather before she and my dad were married. She guesses in the late 30's. What have I got? I think it only has a 5 round cylinder, it also has a sqeezer type handle. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[rainbowbob]

There are a lot of folks on this forum that will be able to tell you precisely what you have. What does "CTG" refer to? Is it hammerless? If so - it sounds to me like you may have an early Model 40 snubby - something I am interested in owning myself. Is it for sale?

 

[dvcrsn]

I am reasonably sure CTG is shorthand for cartridge

 

[the loon]

Rainbowbob,
It is in fact, hamerless with a sqeeze type handle. I don't know what CTG stands for. It's on the right hand side of the barrell. It reads 38 S W. CTG. That's all it says on the right hand side. The top says Smith & Wesson Springfield Mass USA, the left side says Smith & Wesson. On the right hand side of the frame it says Made in the USA and the trademark is there. Nothing else on the gun. Searches on this very forum lead me to believe the CTG was pretty common on the side of the barrells on a lot of S&W 38's. Also the serial number appears to say it's pretty old. I guess how old is what I'm trying to figure out. After I gather some info on it, I might sell it. I'm restoring an old car and this might help buy some parts. We'll see. I will have to convince myself it's ok to sell my dad and my granddad's gun before I could actually do it. Let's see if anybody chimes in here with a date and better description.
Thanks,
John L.

 

[Brian Dale]

I'm sure you guys get tired of these

Nope.

CTG on the barrel is the abbreviation for the word, "cartridge"—this abbreviation still used today.

The first thing that comes to mind is that the .38 S & W is not a .38 Special. It's an older, lower pressure cartridge. Do not load .38 specials into your revolver!

Second, I'm going to go and Search (using the button at the top of every THR page) on "lemon squeezer," a nickname for an old S & W revolver, to see if I can find anything out. I could be nuts; don't assume that I'm right.

Someone who knows a lot more will probably chime in before I get back.

{Music from Jeopardy cuts in...}


Edited to Add:
Does it look like the revolver in the thread linked below?

< LINK TO A THR LEMON SQUEEZER THREAD >


Personally, I'd find something else to sell to finance a car restoration.

Like classic cars, real estate, antique furniture and original art, good guns appreciate in value. Think of it this way: what would be the value of the car that you're restoring if you'd inherited it in good condition, unrestored? Guns can be the same way.

I especially wouldn't sell it with that kind of family history.

 

[the loon]

Guys, I tried to use the manage attachments button and got a message that said failed to upload. Can I e-mail a picture to somebody who can then post for me. I guess I'm not quite ready for the digital era.
Thanks,
John L.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

I'm into old cars myself, but this thing is an heirloom. You could work a weekend at a second job and make as much as you might get for this little hand cannon.
Just remember that when it's gone, it's gone.

 

[Brian Williams]

nice break top lemon squeezer

 

[the loon]

Thanks to Brian for posting the picture. And ok guys, I won't sell it. Anybody know how old it is by the serial number? There are no dates on it anywhere.

 

[sceetshooter]

personaly i dont know but there is a gun show in biscoe NC

some dealers might be able to help you

www.biscoeeventcenter.com

 

[batmann]

Unless you really need the money--DO NOT SELL. If you go www.smith-wessonforum.com someone there can and will help. The stag grips alone are worth their weight in gold. IMHO you have a real piece of S&W history on your hands.
That being said---I will give, oh, $50 for it--LOL

 

[the loon]

Thanks for the generous offer batman. I guess I better just hold on to it though. And thanks to everyone who responeded.

 

[Brian Williams]

OBTW it is a .38 Safety hammerless, 5th model because of the latch and the first digit of the serial number looks like a 2 which would put it about 1940.
ANIB would be about $600 to poopr about $60.

5th model serial range is from 220000 to 261493 made from 1907 to 1940