Looking for Smith & Wesson .38 sold in PA

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burke1943

Inactive
My name is Maggie Burke Dull and am searching for my late father's PA STATE POLICE service revolver. I NOW know that it is a SMITH & WESSON with a 4" barrel, blue and may be a regulation issue Chief's Special. It is engraved with: PA STATE POLICE 1933-1956 JOHN J BURKE. He retired in 1956. Thanks for looking (again). Maggie
 
Well, all I can tell you is that it was not a " 4 inch regulation issue chiefs special". The term Chiefs special ( when referring to a blued revolver ) refers to the Model 36 or sometimes the 37 airweight. Either would be S&W's smallest frame , the J-Frame, a five shot revolver that was never issued by any dept. ( though often favored as a privately owned backup by many officers )

It seems most likely that if it was an issued blued .38 with a 4" barrel, that was a Model 10 Otherwise referred to as the ".38 Military & Police" , or possibly a Model 15 otherwise called ".38 Combat Masterpiece". Both were widely issued by LE agencies.
 
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Unless you know to whom it was sold, it will probably be just a memory. The amount or time that has past is working against you. I am curious as why it was sold in the first place. Most people don't get a gun engraved unless they plan to keep it. Best of luck.
 
If you ever found it this would certainly be a Cinderella story. I wish you the best of luck in your search. The only warning I give you is if you do indeed find it don't expect it to look the best... Who knows how well it was taken care of and by whom after all those years.

A number pieces of both my grandfathers collections disappeared as relatives took them after they passed, and they have all disappeared to places unknown. So I understand you desire to find it, I wish I could have ours back.
 
Thanks to all who answered me.

I really don't know guns at all so didn't know about the "chief's special" details. Thanks. I'll contact the PSP archives -maybe will find the number. Thanks everyone. Maggie
 
One other avenue to try is writing the historian at Smith & Wesson (Roy Jinks). It may be a long shot, but if someone through the years wanted to know the history of your dads revolver they may have written to Mr. Jinks asking for a letter of authenticity.

What I described above is fairly common practice for S&W collectors. Mr. Jinks may be able to tell you if someone ever had him research a revolver matching the one you describe and provide some sort of contact info...but then again, he may not release that info (due to privacy concerns) even if such a situation has transpired.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/SmWesson/upload/other/LOA.pdf

Mr. Roy Jinks, Historian
Smith & Wesson
P.O. Box 2208
Springfield, MA 01102
 
I spoke with the dealer who purchased this firearm in 2003

Not sure anyone cares anymore, because no one has responded to my posts and PMs on several forums. However, I spoke with the dealer who purchased this firearm in 2003 and he does recall the revolver.

Only real course of action if the ATF, who who have the record of the transaction (shop closed its books years ago and submitted them to the ATF, per law). It's possible to run it the serial number through local PD, but you need the # AND they only have last owner, might not have current owner.
 
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