Info on .38 SPL CTG

That serial does not look right. First, as per my literature no such serial exists. Second, looking at the photo, I think the 22 may have been added after it left the factory. The font looks just a little different and it's off center. Drop the 22 and the serial is centered on the butt. I think the correct serial is likely J640 making it an early 1969 gun. No idea why anyone would add the 22 except the obvious reason...it was stolen at one time and the number was altered. If it was stolen a long time ago, it may be impossible to trace and/or no records still exist on it. I am certain the 22J640 cannot be correct.

If the frame is steel it is a 36. If alloy it's a 37. The Airweight is indicative of it being a 37. I wonder if the magnet could be sticking to the internal parts in the gun that are steel?

Open the cylinder and see exactly what model number is stamped on it. Should look like MOD36 or similar.

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I have 3 of his weapons..including his retirement gift..an unfired, commemorative 1911...45..with MSP badging...and im retired Army..82nd..i know my way around a few things..not being disrespectful
 
A thought: In doing your magnetic test, are you detecting the SAME level of pull on the frame as on the barrel?
Where on the frame are you touching the magnet to?

Quite often in doing the magnet test, it reacts to steel parts INSIDE alloy outer assemblies or underneath the part you're touching it to.

I have a magnet kept here on my office desk, I frequently use it to test for steel on various guns. It can appear to react to alloy or plastic front sights, for instance, when it's actually reacting to the steel under those sights.

On my alloy-framed Smith J just now I tried both sides of the frame behind the cylinder & the magnet showed attraction to the steel guts inside. I KNOW it wasn't attracted to the frame itself.

Touched the magnet to the triggerguard away from any steel parts, no attraction whatever.

Do your test again, touch the magnet to the triggerguard, or the base of the gripframe, away from any steel internals.
Denis
 
It says Model 37 with Airweight stamped on the barrel and that settles that.

As for the serial, I still can't find any reference to a 22J serial prefix being used.

I would not be surprised if many honest cops wound up with guns that were seized or unclaimed. It happened back in the day.
 
If he'd respond to the bit about re-checking the frame with a magnet, could be helpful, for the reasons I stated.
Denis
 
I'm a bit late to this party, but FWIW another indication of an alloy frame on a vintage Smith is the finish.

Aluminum alloy cannot be blued, so the frames were either anodized or finished with another similar process (the literature is somewhat contradictory in this regard). Regardless of the scholarly dispute over the method used, the frame finish on these guns did not perfectly match the cylinder and barrel finish; it's typically a deeper or darker black with less reflective depth to it. This is hard to see in most pictures, including the OP's, but is usually apparent when the gun is inspected closely.

The alloy frame finish also typically wears faster than the bluing on a steel frame, but this is not helpful on a revolver like the OP's that displays no obvious wear.

[EDIT TO ADD] This is likely where Bill DeShivs is going with his request for better pictures. :)
 
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If the magnet does NOT stick to the triggerguard, you have an alloy frame.
Which would be the Model 37.
Denis
 
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