38 S&W special model and year?

[jdar41]

Can anyone enlighten me as to what year and possible model of the above gun.
There is no model # so I am guessing it's before 1957. Serial number is
C339XXX. any help would appreciated. Thank you

 

[Jim Watson]

What above gun?
Caliber is not normally enough to go by.

It chances that the only C serial number I know of for a .38 S&W Special is the Smith & Wesson Military & Police from about 1955.
I guess you could call it a "pre-Model 10".

 

[J A]

Welcome jdar41

Pictures would be a big help to identify your revolver. Pictures of grips, barrel markings, sights and barrel length measured from the cylinder out to muzzle are a big help. And we all like to look at pics of guns especially if S&W. OK that is a fib. We like to see pics of any gun. It's a disease for most of us.

 

[laytonj1]

Serial number is C339XXX

Serial numbers ran from C277555 in 1954 to C402923 in 1956.
It's a .38 Military & Police.
S&W began assigning model numbers in 1957, at which time if it had a steel cylinder it would be a model 10. Aluminum cylinder would be a model 12.

Jim

EDIT: I meant aluminum frame, not cylinder.... sorry.

 

[UncleEd]

I believe, or thought, Model 12 has aluminum frame, not cylinder. It's a "light" Model 10.

 

[DPris]

12 does have an alloy frame, steel cylinder.
Denis

 

[carguychris]

I believe, or thought, Model 12 has aluminum frame, not cylinder.

Very early pre-Model 12's had aluminum alloy frames and cylinders, but the alloy cylinder was too weak to withstand repeated firing even with standard pressure ammunition, and was superseded by the steel cylinder after (reportedly) less than 2 years. (IIRC there's some debate amongst collectors about the exact date or serial number at which the alloy cylinder was discontinued.)

A pre-M12 with an original alloy cylinder is considered UNSAFE TO FIRE, but is ironically a rare and valuable collector's item today, as most of these guns have either been blown apart or had their cylinders replaced by now.

 

[SFsc616171]

Smith and Wesson M & P 3-screw, with 4-inch 'pencil' barrel, post 1955.