Any old S&W Revolver experts? Help ID. Updated

pmt

pmt

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Trying to ID a revolver I came across.

Thanks in advance for any help.

S&W K(?) frame. Military & Police.
Nickel plated
5" barrel
Double action
Fixed sight
Round butt
Bakelite(?) grips
Side of barrel is marked 38 Special & US Service CTG's. (so 38 special & 38 long colt)
Top of barrel has several patent dates, the last being JUL7.03 (July 7, 1903)
Right side of frame has the S&W Trade Mark logo.
4 screws on the right side with a 5th screw in the front of the trigger guard
Serial Number D78xx (4 digit ser #)

From what I can find online it's a 1902 or a 1905 with a further designation of 'first change' or 'second change' ?????

No actual pics, but it looks like this one - only cleaner

1269d1313989156-need-help-determing-age-38-special-38-s-w-us-service-ctg-s.jpg
 
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The regerstation cert should tell you what it is and if it's in your name you can call the CFO and ask questions they will give you the answers. I find them handy for looking up info on firearms just ask make model and see what differn't versions were made in the past. I had a heck of a time regersting a 22LR rifle because the barrel was shorter then they had on file and the reason was they made 2 versions the first one happened to be very old and very rare ie first 1000 made.
 
haha49 said:
The regerstation cert should tell you what it is and if it's in your name you can call the CFO and ask questions they will give you the answers. I find them handy for looking up info on firearms just ask make model and see what differn't versions were made in the past. I had a heck of a time regersting a 22LR rifle because the barrel was shorter then they had on file and the reason was they made 2 versions the first one happened to be very old and very rare ie first 1000 made.
Click to expand...

Check my location - no CFO here.
 
to the OP.. If you haven't already done it, go to the Smith and Wesson website, and post your query on the forum : Smith and Wesson Hand Ejectors 1896 -1961 -- odds are that someone on there will be able to help out. Does kinda look like a pre numbered military and police ( later numbered as the model 10 ) though..
Anyway,those boys seem to be really good at identifying those pesky 5 screw revolvers :) Good luck.
 
Ok, I pulled out the big book of Smith and Wesson fun. Your description sounds like a .38 M&P Model of 1902, 1st change, it was available in nickel finish with hard rubber grips, but the D78xx serial doesn't jive. It would certainly be a 5 digit serial number, without a letter prefix. Where is this serial number located, it should be on the butt. As suggested, go to the S&W forum, there are far more experienced S&W experts there than me. Let us know what you find.

Brian
 
Interbak said:
Ok, I pulled out the big book of Smith and Wesson fun. Your description sounds like a .38 M&P Model of 1902, 1st change, it was available in nickel finish with hard rubber grips, but the D78xx serial doesn't jive. It would certainly be a 5 digit serial number, without a letter prefix. Where is this serial number located, it should be on the butt. As suggested, go to the S&W forum, there are far more experienced S&W experts there than me. Let us know what you find.

Brian
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The 4 digit ser # is on the butt and on the bottom of the frame and the rear face of the cylinder. Thanks for the effort. I will go to the S&W forum later.
 
haha49 said:
The regerstation cert should tell you what it is and if it's in your name you can call the CFO and ask questions they will give you the answers. I find them handy for looking up info on firearms just ask make model and see what differn't versions were made in the past. I had a heck of a time regersting a 22LR rifle because the barrel was shorter then they had on file and the reason was they made 2 versions the first one happened to be very old and very rare ie first 1000 made.
Click to expand...

Registration cert's tell you squat for many technical details and are often wrong because many times the owner knows more about the specific model than the 'professional' CFC person on the end of the phone. Especially with such a prolific revolver as this S&W 38 that could have possibly been manufactured in between 1899 to 1983. That's alot of room for error for a 'technical description' over a single telephone line, especially when rack numbers get mixed up with serial numbers.
 
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.38 Hand Ejector, Military & Police Model of 1905, 3rd Model, according to my S&W Volume two given to me by a very good friend. Manufactured between 1905-1906.
This according to the info you provided.

As Interbak alluded to your D###X serial number does not jive because using this info, it says your K-frame was manufactured in 1968? Obviously wrong I would say.
 
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The reason I picked a 1902 over a 1905 model M&P is the caliber designation of ".38 Special and US Service Cartridge", a 1905 would only be marked .38 Special, unless it was a Common Wealth contract in .38 S&W. also from the Standard Catalog of S&W.
The mystery continues.

Brian
 
Interbak said:
The reason I picked a 1902 over a 1905 model M&P is the caliber designation of ".38 Special and US Service Cartridge", a 1905 would only be marked .38 Special, unless it was a Common Wealth contract in .38 S&W. also from the Standard Catalog of S&W.
The mystery continues.

Brian
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^It was very late when I answered this thread. You could very well be correct sir.
 
The variances are small in those models, lots of little changes. As you said the D###x serial number would be a 1968 model 10, which certainly would not be marked for US Service CTG. any other 4 digit SN would be too early to have a 1903 patent date.
I'm interested to see what the experts say.

B
 
Interbak said:
The variances are small in those models, lots of little changes. As you said the D###x serial number would be a 1968 model 10, which certainly would not be marked for US Service CTG. any other 4 digit SN would be too early to have a 1903 patent date.
I'm interested to see what the experts say.

B
Click to expand...

You guys seem to have the same info I found while reading various forums - it's either a 1902 or a 1905. I haven't found any info regarding the serial number mystery. Thanks again.
 
Under closer examination (better magnifier / better light / no glare), the serial number starts with '9' and not a script 'D' as I initially posted. With the help of a members PM, this would make the gun a 38 MP 1905 second change.

I can finally sleep better. Laugh2
 
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