Need to identify this 38 special ctg
- Thread starter softtouch
- Start date
S&W Model 15. Poorly done nickle plating. Not factory. It may even be chrome paint and not plating. Serial number should be on the butt of the grip. Depending on the variation the serial number may be stamped on the inside of the yoke. If not then the model and variation may be stamped there.
SouthpawShootr
New member
Sure does look like a model 15 heavy barrel to me. My dad had a blued one that I shot extensively and he carried for years. I'd suggest posting it over at www.smith-wessonforum.com and see what you can dig up there. Lots of peopel who know their Smiths over there.
GunsnRovers
New member
I'm inclined to say M15 that someone badly refinished.
Mike Irwin
Staff
"Okay, my non-expert opinion, based upon some time reviewing the Standard Catalog, is you may have a M50 (also sometime marked as a M36 or M36-1), possibly one of the relatively rare nickel finished pre-50s."
Sorry, not a chance. Look at the cylinder flutes. You can see three of them. That means it's a 6-shot.
Southpaw,
Open the cylinder, and look in the crane cut, the flat area right under the forcing cone. The model number and serial number may be stamped or engraved there.
Sorry, not a chance. Look at the cylinder flutes. You can see three of them. That means it's a 6-shot.
Southpaw,
Open the cylinder, and look in the crane cut, the flat area right under the forcing cone. The model number and serial number may be stamped or engraved there.
Marko Kloos
Inactive
It looks like a tool shop knockoff of a S&W K frame. Several details just don't match a production S&W...the firing pin is frame-mounted (and apparently pinned into place), yet the gun has a barrel pin. The S&W factory and trademark roolmarks don't look right. The ejector rod detent doesn't look right, either. The frame almost looks like a fixed-sight M10 retrofitted for an adjustable rear sight.
My guess is one of those Filipino or Pakistani toolshed copies.
My guess is one of those Filipino or Pakistani toolshed copies.
Mike Irwin
Staff
You know, now that you mention it, there are some other things that don't look right, either...
The contouring of the underbarrel lug looks odd...
There's a screw in the front of the trigger guard.
The front sight isn't right, either.
The contouring of the underbarrel lug looks odd...
There's a screw in the front of the trigger guard.
The front sight isn't right, either.
SouthpawShootr
New member
Wouldn't a rimfire S&W have frame mounted firing pin?
Older 17s did have pinned barrels.
Still the S&W trade mark is stamped way high.
Grip medallions are funny looking and too low. So is the grip screw for that matter.
Kind of reminds me of some of those old BB gun or newer soft airguns.
Older 17s did have pinned barrels.
Still the S&W trade mark is stamped way high.
Grip medallions are funny looking and too low. So is the grip screw for that matter.
Kind of reminds me of some of those old BB gun or newer soft airguns.
GunsnRovers
New member
The more you look at it, the wonkier it gets. 
It is not a S&W. Looks to be a copy of some type but poorly done.
From back to front: The hammer is the wrong shape and it appears not to have a frame mounted firing pin which it should have. The side plate is the wrong shape and where the top "screw" is a pin is in it's place and this does not help retain the side plate. The S&W emblem is misplaced. The pin for the barrel is too far to the rear. The barrel looks to be a heavy barrel which would be wrong for a four or 5 screw gun and appears to have the incorrect friont sight blade anyways. The lug for the ejector rod is the wrong shape for an S&W. The trade mark stamping is off center and don't look right noways. The cylinder is the wrong length for a .38 spl.
Well you get the idea.
I wouldn't shoot it, no telling about the metal. A S&W collector may want it as an example of a poorly done fake S&W. I've seen a couple of old Mexican made copys of Colt's (spelled Coult's on the copy) that actually sold for several hundred bucks as variations of copies. Ask around.
tipoc
From back to front: The hammer is the wrong shape and it appears not to have a frame mounted firing pin which it should have. The side plate is the wrong shape and where the top "screw" is a pin is in it's place and this does not help retain the side plate. The S&W emblem is misplaced. The pin for the barrel is too far to the rear. The barrel looks to be a heavy barrel which would be wrong for a four or 5 screw gun and appears to have the incorrect friont sight blade anyways. The lug for the ejector rod is the wrong shape for an S&W. The trade mark stamping is off center and don't look right noways. The cylinder is the wrong length for a .38 spl.
Well you get the idea.
I wouldn't shoot it, no telling about the metal. A S&W collector may want it as an example of a poorly done fake S&W. I've seen a couple of old Mexican made copys of Colt's (spelled Coult's on the copy) that actually sold for several hundred bucks as variations of copies. Ask around.
tipoc
Jim Watson
New member
Fake.
Remnds me of the Hocus Focus cartoon where two frames of the same scene are shown, puzzle to pick out the small differences.
Add to the above oddities, the cylinder is too long, it fills the window where even a M19 shows a little shank and gas ring. Cylinder stop notches are too narrow and extractor rod tip checkering is too long without the S&W relief groove.
Remnds me of the Hocus Focus cartoon where two frames of the same scene are shown, puzzle to pick out the small differences.
Add to the above oddities, the cylinder is too long, it fills the window where even a M19 shows a little shank and gas ring. Cylinder stop notches are too narrow and extractor rod tip checkering is too long without the S&W relief groove.
XavierBreath
New member
No way is that gun a S&W. Not even a poorly refinished one.
My guess is this is an Astra counterfieted into a S&W in the Philipines.
My guess is this is an Astra counterfieted into a S&W in the Philipines.