smith & wesson 38, blue finish, approximately 90 years old, serial number looks like

[rick harsch]

Can anyone help me acquire information on this smith & wesson .38. serial number looks like 246829 it was owned by my great grandfather who was deputy sheriff of Cheyenne for some time, so the gun was probably purchased in that region. I'm not interested in its value, just any specific information or likely facts and further research possibilities.
thanks

 

[rcmodel]

See this sticky at the top of this forum.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=372213

Note the info needed in post #1 to positively I.D. your gun.

rc

 

[rick harsch]

more .38 s&w info

serail number is 246829

square grip

4 inch muzzle

6 clinder

stock sight

thanks,
rick harsch

 

[rcmodel]

Sounds like a Military & Police model of 1905, Forth Change.
Made between 1915-1942. Probably much closer to 1916 or so though.

rc

 

[rick harsch]

thanks and

Thanks for the prompt reply. Is there any way to get further information, such as registration, place of purchase...? The owner's name was Hector Robitaille.

 

[Oyeboten]

You can contact Smith & Wesson and have them re-search their original sales and production Records which can show when the Revolver was shipped, and to whom.

I think this costs $50.00 for the 'Letter'.


No Hardball, no Jacketed, no +Ps...stay with plain old soft Lead Bullets of standard Velocity/Loading if intending to be Shooting it.


Have fun!


These are wonderful, very high quality Revolvers...made in the Hay Day of Craftsmanship.

 

[rick harsch]

great site

Thanks

 

[rcmodel]

such as registration, place of purchase...?

No. Gun Registration was not too widespread in the U.S. back in 1916. We were still a free county then.

Oyeboten gave you the info on getting a S&W research "letter".
But it can only tell you where the gun was shipped to from the factory.
In almost every case, that would be a large hardware chain or firearms distributor of the time. They in turn probably shipped it to a smaller hardware store or gun shop for resale.

How it got to be Hector Robitaille's gun is now lost in time, I would say.

rc

 

[Maj Dad]

One more thing Rick, don't carry it with 6 rounds and the hammer down (uncocked). Those nice older Smiths did not have the internal hammer block and if dropped on the hammer it could fire. I don't worry about it at the range under controlled conditions, but it you put it in a holster or the like, keep the hammer down on an empty chamber. Sounds like a really nice heirloom - hang on to it & pass it down to your son. Wish I had my g-g-grandfather's pistol - it would have been a doozy: he came to America around 1830 and settled in Little Rock, AR, dying around 1880 something...

 

[Old Fuff]

Information concerning historical letters of authentication from Smith & Wesson’s historian, Roy G. Jinks can be obtained from the link listed below.

In summery:

In exchange for a $50.00 research fee (make any check out to Smith & Wesson, not Mr. Jinks) he will search through the company’s original records until he finds your particular revolver. He will then send you an official letter which usually includes:

A short history of the revolver model’s background.

What the barrel length, caliber/cartridge, finish and stocks material were, as well as the exact date it was shipped from the factory – and to what distributor, dealer or individual – as whatever the case may be.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...catalogId=10001&content=25301&sectionId=10504