Help identifying S&W 38 mod 10-5 serial number and country exported to.

E

Etraveller

New member
Hello all.
Some of the specifications of the firearm are:
barrel length 4'', overall length 9'', weight 0.860 kg.
Mod 10-5 stamped on frame opposite inner yoke
785xx G8 (5 or s?) stamped on inner yoke.

.38 S&W. Special CTG. stamped on R.H.S. barrel
K stamped on inner portion of each handgrip.
3910xx stamped on inner lower portion of RHS handgrip.
G8 785xx stamped on L.H.S. face of lower frame close to butt.
785xx stamped on the inside of the sideplate.
Smith and Wesson logo stamped on R.H.S. sideplate and on upper L.H.S. and R.H.S. handgrips.

Made in U.S.A.
Marcas Registradas
Smith & Wesson
Springfield . Mass. stamped on frame above forward trigger guard.

Smith & Wesson stamped on L.H.S. barrel

09-AR stamped on L.H.S. frame above forward portion of trigger guard.
GBNO. FDO. ARAGUA 09-AR stamped on rear of metal frame between handgrips.

D(4 or A),(4 or A),(4 or A),1xx stamped on butt of frame

Stamped under the cylinder release latch on the L.H.S. frame, there is a shield with a picture of two branches on either side of the shield and symbols/markings above and below the shield.
The shield is divided into three segments. at the top left segment is a symbol resembling a flower, top right segment, a symbol looking like a fire, and in the lower segment is a picture of a horse.

What I would like to know are:

(a) The location of the serial number of this firearm, and if there are any 'A's on the number on the butt. (i.e. the four closely resembles an A but are there any produced models with the letter A stamped on the butt.

(b) What does the G8 785xx represent? I've noticed for certain models, the serial number would correspond to this number whereas in other models it refers possibly to a part number.

(c) the GBO.....and also the shield are representative of export/assembly/production/??? to what country? the language looks spanish/italian or such.

Thanks for the help.

Etraveller.
 
Last edited:
Here's SOME information for you - - -

Etraveller - -

There has frequently been some overlap of features and serial number ranges. The reference I'm checking is The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, Second Edition, by Supica and Nahas.

Question: Does your revolver have the heavy barrel ("Bull Barrel," with same diameter the entire length and a wide rib on top? Or is it a tapered barrel with no rib on top?

The models 10-4, 10-5, and 10-6 all show to have started in 1962.

With the 10-5, the front sight width on the standard barrel model was widened from 1/10 inch (.1") to 1/8 inch (.125") The 10-6 did NOT supercede the 10-5. The dash six chsnge apparently pertains only to the heavy barrel frame.

Serial numbers on this vintage S&W were stamped on the bottom of the butt frame.

The "D" serial prefix started in 1967 at D1.
In 1968, the large, smooth diamond around the stock screw was deleted.

D4441xx shows to have been produced 1972 -- 1973

GBNO. FDO. ARAGUA 09-AR probably has something to do with
Gobierno Federal Distrito de Aragua -- Government of the Federal District of Aragua, Venezuela

The seal is probably that of the State of Aragua, as may be seen at:
http://www.venezuelatuya.com/estados/aragua.htm
The Aragua state is located in the region North center of Venezuela, being its limits the Caribbean Sea by the north; the Guárico state by the south; the states Vargas, Miranda and Guárico by the east and Carabobo and Guárico by the west.
Click to expand...
(From the Venezuelan official tourist web site, through Google search.)
http://translate.google.com/transla...agua.htm&prev=/search?q=Aragua&hl=en&lr=&sa=G

Sorry I couldn't attach the image of the seal in this msg.

Hope what I had helps you some.

Best,
Johnny
 
Additional - -

In another communication, you sent - -
I still need to enquire what the numbers stamped on the inner yoke, side of frame under handgrips and on the inside of the sideplate...represent.

P.S. what recent Smith and Wesson identification book you woudl recommend to be bought?
Click to expand...
Those are called "Assembly numbers," to allow parts fitted and/or finished together to be reunited after finishing (Bluing) is done. These are NOT the same as the serial number, nor are they parts numbers.

The "K" inside the stock panels merely denotes they are cut to be fitted to a "K" frame. The magna style stocks for K and N frames are very similar, viewed at a glance and apart from the frame.

The markings, GBNO. FDO. ARAGUA 09-AR are probably "Agency applied," after the revolver was received at the agency. S&W did custom apply markings on some larger agency orders, but the 09-AR are probably locally done. If you examine them closely, you'll probably see that they were stamped through the blue finish. On second thought, though, your revolver may have been refinished. The image you provide is very dark and I can't make out much detail.

The Standard Catalog referenced above is probably the single most valuable book about S&W products. The second edition was published in 2001.
History of Smith & Wesson: Nothing of Importance Will Come without Effort by Roy G. Jinks, a 1978 book.
Both of these may be found by running an on-line search.

Best,
Johnny
 
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