smith and wesson 38 special

[kinghunterx5]

I have a S. & W. 38 special, I was wondering how old it is and how much it could be worth.

It has a pearl handle, probably a 1" or 1.5" barrel
One side of the barrel says 38 S. & W. CTG
Just above the trigger is had the S. & W. symbol that says trademark reg. us pat ofr or dfr
on the other side it say made in usa marcas registradas smith and wesson springfield mass.
There is a smith and wesson symbol on both sides of the handle
it is a 5 shot
the serial number is 68678
any info would be great, thanks

Jeremy

 

[XavierBreath]

This sounds like a J frame, probably a Chief's Special or Model 36. Open the cyklinder and take a look at the frame inside the yoke area. There should be a model number stamped there.

The Marcas Registradas marking started in 1948.

The grips sound like aftermarket ones, although the S&W medallion implanted in them may mean I'm wrong.

If I'm right, that it's a Chief's special, then you are looking at a $250-$350 gun, depending on condition.

 

[jaydubya]

If it is stamped .38 S&W CTG then it is NOT a .38 special revolver. It fires the .38 S&W cartridge, a less powerful cartridge than the .38 Special. Perhaps your revolver is a Banker's Special?
Cordially, Jack

 

[chris in va]

I have a 1952 model 36. It will have this marking if the caliber is 38 special. Sounds like yours is the S&W CarTridGe.

 

[XavierBreath]

I stand corrected and properly chastised. It appears you may have a .38/32 Terrier, also known as a pre-Model 32. These were round butt I frame revolvers chambered in .38S&W. The barrel should be measured from the front of the cylinder to the muzzle. In other words, barrel length includes the portion encased in the frame of the revolver.

Approximate value would be $400-$150, depending on condition.

 

[Old Fuff]

This is a case where a picture would be a big help...

The barrel marking would seem to confirm that the revolver is chambered to use the .38 S&W cartridge, not the .38 Special. The barrel length should be measured from the cylinder face to the muzzle, and I suspect it would then come out at 2 inches.

The serial number (68,678) is post-World War Two (pre-war serial numbers ended at around 54,474). Production was resumed after the war at Serial number 54,475 in 1948. Thereafter revolvers were made on the original I-frame, followed by the improved I-frame, followed by the J-frame. It is not impossible that this revolver is a Regulation Police model with a 2" barrel, but it's far more likely that it's a .38/32 Terrier. The difference would be a square butt on the former, vs. a round butt on the later. Both of these models were numbered in the same serial number series so that won't tell us anything. I suspect this revolver was made during the early 1950's and probably has an improved I-frame (with a coil rather then flat mainspring). If this is the case the bottom/front of the frame will not have a mainspring strain screw. X-Breath's proposed value is right on, unless it turned out to be a Regulation Police model.

 

[herohog]

Here is a S&W terrier:

More here

It had a little surface pitting from improper storage and I sold it for $250.