Smith & Wesson ????

[bseabolt]

I just acquired a Smith and Wesson revolver that I believe is a model 15, but am not sure. It does not have the usual S&W model inside the main frame. It is simply a serial #. So I assume it was made before '57 or '58, but I am no expert and really do not have a clue. It is a 38 special 6" barrel, target sights and grips and is in, I believe, 99% condition or better. Another question is if this was made before the late 50's will it hold up to +P ammo?

I do not even know if I should shoot it??? Or hold it for collectors value???

Any info or questions would be welcome and appreciated.

 

[oneounceload]

serial numbers are on the bottom of the grip - inside the frame is only an assembly number - pics and a better description will help

 

[Jim K]

You are correct that S&W revolvers weren't marked with model numbers before 1957-58. Your description sounds like a K-38 Masterpiece, which became the Model 14. The Model 15 was not made with a 6" barrel until the 1990's.

The number inside the crane is not a serial number, it is an assembly number; the serial number is on the bottom of the butt but will be covered by the target stocks. If it is a newer gun (i.e. post-WWII) it should be OK with +P loads, but don't go to +P+. That is one of the finest target revolvers ever made and really should not be used with hot loads. To really appreciate it for what it is, the range is the place and target wadcutters are the ammo.

Jim

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

With a six-inch barrel and target grips, its modern day model number would be a Model 14. A serial number and especially some pictures would help to date it closer. It is not rare, but in the condition you describe does have some collector value. Shooting it occasionally won't hurt a thing; it is like taking your classic car out for a spin now and then.

 

[mnrivrat]

Pre-model 15's were known as the K-38 Masterpiece. If you go to the handgun section there is a sticky at the top for common identifying info on S&W handguns.

Your serial number is the key to the DOB.

 

[bseabolt]

s&w ????

Great responses, thank you. I just pulled the stocks and the serial # is 226609.Any info. greatly app. I also aquired a high standard military m. h-d that I honestly cant tell if its ever been fired.

 

[Jim K]

No, the K-38 Masterpiece became the Model 14. The Combat Masterpiece, with a 4" barrel and ramp front sight, became the Model 15.

bseabolt, there should be a "K" in front of that serial which would date to 1954.

Jim

 

[bseabolt]

I stand corrected, i just measured and barrell is 5and 1/8"

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Are you measuring this from the front of the frame? Revolver barrel length is measured from the front of the cylinder to the end of the barrel.

 

[SaxonPig]

S&W 101 is now in session.

Barrel is measured from face of cylinder to muzzle. Measurement is always nominal (meaning there are variations) so we round it off. Sounds like you have a 6" barrel.

If it is an adjustable sight 38 Special it's most likely the K38 Masterpiece. The Combat Masterpiece is the same gun with a 2" or 4" barrel.

K frame revolvers with adjustable sights made after WW II until the 1980s have a letter K prefix to the serial. Many S&W models have letters in the serial but for reasons I don't understand most people disregard the letters when describing the serial number.

These are excellent guns but S&W made tons of them. Unless it is absolutely pristine in the original box it will not command collector grade money and is not valuable enough to "save." Understand that I personally don't think ANY gun should be "saved." I shoot everything I own.

As for +P, it is a myth that this ammo is any sort of high performance load. It is actually loaded 3,000 PSI below maximum allowable pressure and I consider it a mild target load. It will cause no damage or excessive wear to a K frame revolver. Or any any quality revolver.

Does your gun resemble this one? This is a Model 14-3 from 1969. Should look very much like a late 1950s K38 Masterpiece.

 

[Radagast]

The serial number should have a K in front of it (K226609) to be a K38 Target Masterpiece from 1954.
If there is no K prefix then you have a .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 3rd Change manufactured between 1909 & 1915 in the serial range 146900 to 241703. These also came in a target variant with an early adjustable sight.

 

[Guillermo]

Jim K and Saxon have said it all.

Both are undeniable experts.

All I can add is "ditto"

 

[bseabolt]

s&w ???

Thank you for your responses . My revolver does does have the k in the # , dont know why I didn't put that in.

 

[Guillermo]

bsea,

there are some pretty amazing folks on THR.

Best gun board on the world wide web...by far.

Glad you found it.

 

[bseabolt]

s&w????

Yes there is a lot of knowledge floating around here , for sure. I aquired one of my customers collections last week and in there is a Browning A5 I am curious about. It is unfired, 12 guage, made in Belgium, round pistol grip, 26 1/2" barrel , serial #3m 6530. Any info on d.o.b and value would be amazing. Another shotgun in the collection I know nothing about is a L.C. Smith 16 guage , it is not marked 16 but that is what fits. It has 26" barrels , sxs,inside the frame is marked FW FIELD, # S24208, frame seems to be some sort of case hardened, barrels are blue with a full solid rib, bluing is 99%, wood is in great shape , except some of the checkering is not exactly uniform. I have the same questions on this one. Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[Jim Watson]

The Browning was made in 1963 according to the scheme shown at:
http://proofhouse.com/browning/58_dating_sys.htm

The Elsie was made in 1947 according to the Collectors Association at
http://www.lcsmith.org/serial.php

I won't guess a value, surely you "acquired" them at what you thought a reasonable price.