Help with a s&w 38

Seablast

Inactive
My father recently gave me a few guns from my grandfather's collection. Two of these are handguns. One is a Sterling 22 that I have determined is pretty much a piece of junk. The nicer of the 2 is a Smith & Wesson 38 Special and I can't seem to find any information on it. I tried to look up the model and year but it seems impossible with a S&W. Can anyone help? On the barrel it says 38 S.&W. SPECIAL CTG. the serial number starts with a D and the first three numbers are 610. Are you able to find out the year, model, etc. from this?
Thanks
 
Open the cylinder, look at the section of frame exposed just under the barrel.
Any model numbers there?
The barrel markings are just the caliber.
Denis
 
The D serial prefix would be from 1968-1977. Should be stamped something like MOD 10-5 or 10-7 etc. Look here for the model number:

standard.jpg
 
Y'know, this is causing me some angst.

Seems lately there's an increasing number of posters on gun forums who create threads similar to this.
Mention of inheriting "old" guns from Grandpa.
When the guns are from an era when I was using those same guns & still have those same guns.

More than a bit disconcerting.
Old? Grandpa?
Denis
 
One is a Sterling 22 that I have determined is pretty much a piece of junk.

What the Sterling has going for it is that it is all steel (or stainless steel). If you have a good magazine, they can be made to work fairly well (sometimes). While not anywhere near the top of the list, they are still one cut above the Zamak family of Lorcins, Jennings, Brycos, Jimenez, Raven, etc., etc.
 
A D serial number prefix would indicate a K frame, Model 10, 12, 13, 14, or 45. If there are 5 digits or less, the gun was made in 1968; if six digits, date of manufacture would have been 1973-1974.

Jim
 
Seablast,
Does it say Mod 64?
Is it a five or six-shot revolver? Blue or stainless?
Barrel length (From front of cylinder to end of barrel)?
Adjustable sights or fixed sights?
Denis
 
Just wait... soon enough it won't be " I inherited a 38 S&W CTG gun from grandpa" It'll be "I inherited a C Lock 19 gun from grandpa!'
 
When the guns are from an era when I was using those same guns & still have those same guns.

More than a bit disconcerting.
Old? Grandpa?

I hear you. A recent post was inquiring about a "vintage" S&W from the 1980's. Wow! I guess the new model 10 I was issued in 1965 is an "antique". Right? Sheesh!

Off to the fridge for some Ensure...
 
On another site a while back, someone asked if an S&W Model 28 was safe to use with smokeless powder or should he stick with black powder .357's.

Aaaaaarrrrrrrgggggghhhhhh!

Jim
 
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