Help me ID my Grandfathers S&W

mparris71 · September 22, 2002, 08:48 PM

HI,
My Grandfather has an old S&W 38 speical. He bought it in the 70's off an old guy that said it was bought new in 32 but that could be not true. I don't know much about S&W so I was hopeing someone could date it and ID the model number for me. on the butt of the gun it has "s" large Space then the # 953060
on the top of the barrel the last Patnet date is Dec 29 14 under the crane arm on the frame is K 4 then the # 32901.
Hope someone can help me.
Thanks
Mark Parris

**Mike Irwin** · September 22, 2002, 09:13 PM

Parris,

Are you sure about the numbers on the grip?

If it is 6 numbers after the S, it's a postwar .38 Military & Police, which is now known as the Model 10, and was probably made in 1948.

The K that you note could indicate that it's a K-frame, but I've never seen one so marked. The number after the K is the floor assembly number.

If it is only 5 numbers, then it's one of the .38 Spl. chambered N-frame revolvers, which is larger and heavier and would have been made about 20 years later.

The patent dates, though, are a strong indication that this is a .38 Military & Police.

mparris71 · September 22, 2002, 09:40 PM

Mike,
Thanks for the information. I wrote the #'s down while looking at the gun I geuss I could have made a mistake but I don't think I would. I will try to take some digtal pictures next week if you interested in seeing it. I might have been unclear were the K4 and the number 32901 is located. it is on the frame where the crane arm rest in the frame.
Thank you
Mark

**Mike Irwin** · September 23, 2002, 12:06 PM

Parris,

I'd say the chances of it being a Military and Police are EXCELLENT, given that there were millions of these made and they were available after the war very inexpensively.

When you take the pictures, lay a ruler along side the gun, along the top of the barrel.

This will give a definite size reference. S&W's revolvers are SO similar looking that without a size reference it can often be very difficult to tell the frame size.

September 22, 2002, 08:48 PM	#1
mparris71 Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2001 Location: WNC Posts: 104	Help me ID my Grandfathers S&W HI, My Grandfather has an old S&W 38 speical. He bought it in the 70's off an old guy that said it was bought new in 32 but that could be not true. I don't know much about S&W so I was hopeing someone could date it and ID the model number for me. on the butt of the gun it has "s" large Space then the # 953060 on the top of the barrel the last Patnet date is Dec 29 14 under the crane arm on the frame is K 4 then the # 32901. Hope someone can help me. Thanks Mark Parris

September 22, 2002, 09:13 PM	#2
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	Parris, Are you sure about the numbers on the grip? If it is 6 numbers after the S, it's a postwar .38 Military & Police, which is now known as the Model 10, and was probably made in 1948. The K that you note could indicate that it's a K-frame, but I've never seen one so marked. The number after the K is the floor assembly number. If it is only 5 numbers, then it's one of the .38 Spl. chambered N-frame revolvers, which is larger and heavier and would have been made about 20 years later. The patent dates, though, are a strong indication that this is a .38 Military & Police. __________________ "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 22, 2002, 09:40 PM	#3
mparris71 Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2001 Location: WNC Posts: 104	mike Mike, Thanks for the information. I wrote the #'s down while looking at the gun I geuss I could have made a mistake but I don't think I would. I will try to take some digtal pictures next week if you interested in seeing it. I might have been unclear were the K4 and the number 32901 is located. it is on the frame where the crane arm rest in the frame. Thank you Mark

September 23, 2002, 12:06 PM	#4
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	Parris, I'd say the chances of it being a Military and Police are EXCELLENT, given that there were millions of these made and they were available after the war very inexpensively. When you take the pictures, lay a ruler along side the gun, along the top of the barrel. This will give a definite size reference. S&W's revolvers are SO similar looking that without a size reference it can often be very difficult to tell the frame size. __________________ "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.

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