Real old S&W 38

[rickt300]

I thought it was a model 10 but it must be before that designation came out. 4 inch slender barrel and half round front sight basic service pistol. There is no letter under the crane the number being 405xx oddly the number on the butt is 489xxx. The gun has seen some use as blu is pretty light and there is a lot of light surface rust. It came to me with plastic grips.  Anyone have an idea how old this gun is and what model it is?

[rickt300]

Well I went thru all the posts concerning model 10's and early 38 S&W pistols. It has a larger knurled button on the end of the ejector rod than some pictured by Hammerdown. Other than the serial # the pistol is sparsley marked with MADE IN USA on the right side of the frame and 38 S. & W. SPECIAL CTG on the barrel which is 4 inches long the other side of which is marke SMITH & WESSON.  The S&W logo is present but it is smaller than a dime. Though it's a bit rough on the outside there is little evidence of holster wear and it doesn't look like it has been fired a lot. The cylinder locks up tightly and after a thorough cleaning it functions smoothly.  Somewhere in the past posts someone mentioned that if the gun is marked for caliber as written above it is chambered for a less powerful version of the 38 Special, possibly a shorter cartridge. I'd like to know this for sure as I want to shoot it.  It does chamber 38 special cartridges with ease which leads me to ask if standard, not plus P level ammo is required.

[John Traveler]

Your description of a pre-wwII S&W Military & Police, the forerunner of the Model 10.

No, you should not fire +P .38 Special in it.  It was made for standard velocity lead bullet .38 Specials.

[rickt300]

Thankyou.

[S.B.]

Number on the grip frame is serial number the one in the cylinder window is probably assembly number? Your gun is probably a M&P. They call the half round front sight a thumb nail front sight. Email me and remind me and I'll look up it's age tomorrow?
Steve

[S.B.]

If it's serialed at 405XX, it is a .38 Military & Police Model of1902-1st Change. 33804-62449, they were made between 1903-1904, I would guess your from late 1903? Should be a round butt, grips are checkered hard rubber, example no.43953 has a small leaf spring trigger return(don't know if yours will have this or not). The first square butts started in the middle of these at around 58000. This one is worth a letter to Roy Jinks. Info is quoted from SCS&W(Bible) 3rd edition. By the way, the two numbers on the frame and again in the cylinder window may both be serial numbers, if it was repaired at factory. The letter to Roy will verify if so?
But, if it's actually 489XXX it's a .38 Military & Police 4th Change. 1915-1942?
Good pictures would help determine for sure what you have?
HTHs Steve
Steve

[rickt300]

It is a square butt and the grips are of brown plastic. I found the same number that is on the grip on the barrel above the ejector rod. I'm taking it to my other gunsmith that mostly does restorations for a detailed clean and a line on some grips. I believe it is the 4th change version. Thanks again. By the way are M&P frames K frames.

[rickt300]

Well some fooling around shooting this pistol has come to pass.  I found it hits 6 inches or so high at 25 yards with just about any lead standard velocity 158 grain factory load.  It shoots slightly lower with my reload using Universal Clays and a commercially cast 158 grain Semiwadcutter.  It's double action pull is pretty good and the single action pull makes this a rabbit gun for sure.  Now I can make 3 inch groups with it at 25 yards.  This happens to be just about what I can do with any handgun from a rest as my 53 year old eyes are limiting me.  I am considering putting  longer 6 inch barrel on it, should I?

[mcwoodduck]

My question is are you sure it is a 38 Spl?  Guns of that period were also made in the shorter 38 S&W.
Make sure it says Special or SPL on the barrel.
Also there were a bunch of S&W knock offs from Spain that were imported in the 20's and 30's.  My great grand father had one.  It looks identical to my old model 10 from the 40's.  the blueing is more of a rust brown on it though.

[S.B.]

If it's indeed a model 10, it would probably be cheaper to just sell it and buy the barrel length you desire?
Steve

[Mohawk]

  The M&P's are early K-frames. I have a very early 4th change in .32-20. Plastic grips? Haven't ever seen plastic grips on a Smith that were factory....