Pre or Post WW2 S & W

D

Der Schutze

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An 88yr old neighbor lady, a close friend of ours was cleaning out her deceased husbands closet gave me this S & W revolver (she hates guns) and am wondering about year and value:

Markings on it are as follows,

4" Barrel with half moon blade frt sight
Rt side of barrel - what looks like to be a G8 or maybe a B8 can't really tell what that is before the 8 and then S&W SPECIAL CTG
Left side of barrel - SMITH & WESSON
Small S&W logo - on left side of frame (non on Rt side)
MADE IN U.S.A. on Rt side of frame
Ser# 507575 on bottom of butt frame and rear face of cyl.
Only thing on the frame behind the cyl arm is a very small # 59283
S&W logo inlets in wood grips

The blued finish is almost perfect, the only holster wear is ever so slight on end of barrel and wood grips are without scratch or mark.
I mean it is as near to 100% as one has seen for being a used gun.


It was in a black loop and clip holster marked MARCO NY 10013
She also gave me a full box of nickel plated Remington 38 SPECIAL POLICE SERVICE 158 GRAIN LEAD BULLET INDEX 5138 bullets.

Hand printed on the bottom of the box is "4.60 Box and 10 cents each" (thats been a few years back for sure)

So am wondering if anyone has an idea of mfg series age and value?
 
The description indicates that it is a Smith & Wesson Military & Police revolver, Model of 1905, Fourth Change, made in the 1920's. I can't come any closer on the date of manufacture, but maybe someone else can. The same basic gun was designated the Model 10 in 1957, when S&W began to use model numbers.

507575 is the serial number. The small numbers on the frame and crane are assembly numbers, with no meaning outside the factory.

If the gun is actually in 95+ condition and not refinished, it would be worth around $400, but any real evaluation would need detailed pictures.

Jim
 
I have no issue with anything James K wrote, but I'd like to add a few other minor notes.
  • The gun will be worth a substantial premium if it has an original screw-adjustable rear sight, which was an uncommon feature on prewar M&Ps. However, be aware that not all screw-adjustable rear sights are original!
  • Prewar (and early postwar) S&Ws have the serial number partially or fully repeated on the cylinder face and on the barrel flat above the ejector rod. Non-matching numbers indicate replacement parts, which reduce value.
  • The original-style wood stocks (i.e. grips) on a S&W from this era do not cover the front of the grip frame, and taper more or less evenly from bottom to top, rather than having a flared top "horn". The factory-original stocks will have the gun's serial number stamped inside the RH panel, but I would caution you against trying to remove them if you've never done it before, because they may be stuck and could be damaged by a clumsy amateur dislodging attempt. :(
  • Prewar S&Ws should generally be carried "five-up" with an empty chamber under the hammer. The 4th Change guns DO have a hammer block, but it is the earlier and inferior pivoting or "wing" design, which is prone to breaking or becoming jammed in the disengaged position with no external warning to the shooter. :eek: If you want to carry with all 6 chambers loaded, I recommend using a postwar gun with the superior and very robust sliding hammer block, or at least using a holster with a very good retention device.
 
Thanks guys, now I have an idea of what I have and am glad to have gotten it. I don't plan to use it as a CCW or even firring it for that matter and will be placing it with the rest of my collection. I have a old S&W Airweight 38 SPL CTG Ser#C813XXX Mod.12-2 snub nose but with a rounded butt, it will look good placed just above it.

Thanks again, later.
 
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