US Revolver

[Wilfredoqf]

Hi, ten years ago, I lost the chance to keep my great-grand father revolver a Colt model stainless cal .38, it went to the police storage room for decommission. I saw it the year before, it was like new. That won’t happen again, about a year ago, I get to own my grandfather handgun he was a land lord dedicated to the production of sugar cane and coffee here in Puerto Rico. The gun has the original leather holster with the brand name stamped on, is an oldie Iver & Johnson, Model US Revolver, stamped in the barrel top line, US Revolver co., and is a .38 caliber - short ammo, an old topbreak, serial no. 27544 stamped in the left side of the hand grip, and the serial is also stamped below the end inner edge of the topbreak, plating is almost gone, because all its nickel plating has come off, due to body sweat and fertilizers he used to work with, there is no rust at all, metal is smooth and all its parts works perfect. His gun permit was assign in 1952, we think he bought it in a warehouse, or in a 5 and 10 store, for $75 or $80 dollars, because at that time there were no gun stores here.
Now can you help with this two questions: Is there a way to find the production year with the serial number or not?, and what company make the most accurate plastic grips for it?, if not the real original ones. Last year, I bought a pair and I have to return them, because they did not fit properly and were very thin in comparison with the originals I have. I‘ m trying to restore it. To me is like a piece of history.

 

[Jim K]

A U.S. Revolver Co. revolver with that serial number and no letter prefix, would date to 1913. Iver Johnson stopped making the U.S. Revolver Co. guns in 1933.

The only place I can think of for grips would be www.gungrip.com and they have only one type (under Iver Johnson, the actual maker of the gun).

Unfortunately, those guns have little value on the mainland, and in the condition you describe would bring only about the price your great grandfather paid in 1952.

Jim

 

[rcmodel]

+1 on what JimK said about your revolver.

And just to be correct.
What you remember about your grandfathers stainless steel revolver is not correct.

It was probably Nickel plated if it was silver color like stainless.

The first stainless steel handgun in production was the Smith & Wesson Model 60 .38!Special J-Frame in 1965.

Colt didn't make a stainless steel handgun until the late 1970's - 80's?, Maybe?
Too late to look it up tonight.

rc