38 S & W Regulation Police

Kmzella · September 16, 2012, 04:42 PM

Thanks for ammo info. New question. Serial number 55xx on frame between grips. Rear of frame is halfway down between grips on back. 5 shot cylinder.
Serial number 55xx is also under ejector rod on bottom of barrel. SMITH & WESSON on left of barrel. REGULATION POLICE, 38 S & W CTG on right side of barrel. What can you tell me about this??

DPris · September 16, 2012, 05:35 PM

If four-digit serial, it's an early one.
Probably 1017-1920.
Mine was made in 1927.

Manufactured in two frame sizes from 1919 to 1969, with time out in the 1940s.
Yours is an I Frame.

Otherwise, you know the rest of it.
Value depends on condition, anywhere from $150 to $400. Could go higher if minty.
Denis

Kmzella · September 16, 2012, 08:02 PM

Thank you for info. I really do appreciate it. I know very little about guns, but, I am learning.

James K · September 16, 2012, 10:11 PM

The original grips were made to fill out the round butt and give it the look of a square butt. The wood came up to that notch in the rear grip strap. Since the standard grips would cover a serial number in its normal place on the bottom of the butt, the serial number was moved to the front of the grip. It is not clear why S&W put the frame notch in when they didn't do it with other guns having "filler" type square butts. One theory is that a revolver designed for police might be used to hammer on heads and the notch would prevent the wood stocks from cracking.

Jim

**Mike Irwin** · September 17, 2012, 04:45 AM

Closed as an errant duplicate.

September 16, 2012, 04:42 PM	#1
Kmzella Junior Member Join Date: September 15, 2012 Posts: 8	38 S & W Regulation Police Thanks for ammo info. New question. Serial number 55xx on frame between grips. Rear of frame is halfway down between grips on back. 5 shot cylinder. Serial number 55xx is also under ejector rod on bottom of barrel. SMITH & WESSON on left of barrel. REGULATION POLICE, 38 S & W CTG on right side of barrel. What can you tell me about this??

September 16, 2012, 08:02 PM	#3
Kmzella Junior Member Join Date: September 15, 2012 Posts: 8	S & W 38 Thank you for info. I really do appreciate it. I know very little about guns, but, I am learning.

September 17, 2012, 04:45 AM	#5
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	Closed as an errant duplicate. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

September 16, 2012, 05:35 PM	#2
DPris Member Emeritus Join Date: August 19, 2004 Posts: 7,133	If four-digit serial, it's an early one. Probably 1017-1920. Mine was made in 1927. Manufactured in two frame sizes from 1919 to 1969, with time out in the 1940s. Yours is an I Frame. Otherwise, you know the rest of it. Value depends on condition, anywhere from $150 to $400. Could go higher if minty. Denis

September 16, 2012, 10:11 PM	#4
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	The original grips were made to fill out the round butt and give it the look of a square butt. The wood came up to that notch in the rear grip strap. Since the standard grips would cover a serial number in its normal place on the bottom of the butt, the serial number was moved to the front of the grip. It is not clear why S&W put the frame notch in when they didn't do it with other guns having "filler" type square butts. One theory is that a revolver designed for police might be used to hammer on heads and the notch would prevent the wood stocks from cracking. Jim