38 S&W CTGE 5 shot revolver

want2know · November 24, 2013, 08:57 PM

I have a revolver that I am having a hard time locating anything on it. The title on the left side of the barrel shows 38 S&W CTGE, the serial number on the bottom of the grip is 31204. it is a 5 shot with a 2 inch barrel and has the side load on right side of cylinder. It does not have the fold down barrel, it has a button to press in front of the cylinder to realease the cylinder rod and a buttom behind the trigger. Does anyone know how I can find out anything on it? thanks very much

lee n. field · November 24, 2013, 09:05 PM

Clear pictures would help a lot, including close up pics of any proof marks.

James K · November 24, 2013, 09:13 PM

The marking ".38 S&W CTGE" is the name of the cartridge (CTGE) the gun uses, not the maker. As Lee N. Field says, we need good, clear pictures to have any hope of further identification.

Jim

Jim Watson · November 24, 2013, 09:16 PM

CTGE is the abbreviation for Cartridge used by either H&R or/and IJ, maybe others, NOT Smith & Wesson.
A pull pin side loader is about the bottom of the product lineup.

Clark · November 25, 2013, 06:09 PM

15 years ago a gun writer in a magazine listed the most common questions asked.

High in the list was for info and value on a family heirloom 38 S&W break top revolver.

The answer then was $25 ~ $50.

That has at least doubled since then.

What every they are paying at gun buy back events, that is what the old break tops are worth.

Pawn shops in the 1960s would have so many they would put them strung together on a wire.

My grandfather had one in the Alaskan Gold rush.

I have Goforth's two books on identifying them. They made a lot of them with only small differences over a long time.

November 24, 2013, 08:57 PM	#1
want2know Junior Member Join Date: November 23, 2013 Posts: 1	38 S&W CTGE 5 shot revolver I have a revolver that I am having a hard time locating anything on it. The title on the left side of the barrel shows 38 S&W CTGE, the serial number on the bottom of the grip is 31204. it is a 5 shot with a 2 inch barrel and has the side load on right side of cylinder. It does not have the fold down barrel, it has a button to press in front of the cylinder to realease the cylinder rod and a buttom behind the trigger. Does anyone know how I can find out anything on it? thanks very much Last edited by want2know; November 26, 2013 at 07:28 PM. Reason: Better word

November 24, 2013, 09:05 PM	#2
lee n. field Senior Member Join Date: October 12, 2002 Location: The same state as Mordor. Posts: 5,570	Clear pictures would help a lot, including close up pics of any proof marks. __________________ "As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. "

November 25, 2013, 06:09 PM	#5
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	15 years ago a gun writer in a magazine listed the most common questions asked. High in the list was for info and value on a family heirloom 38 S&W break top revolver. The answer then was $25 ~ $50. That has at least doubled since then. What every they are paying at gun buy back events, that is what the old break tops are worth. Pawn shops in the 1960s would have so many they would put them strung together on a wire. My grandfather had one in the Alaskan Gold rush. I have Goforth's two books on identifying them. They made a lot of them with only small differences over a long time. __________________ The word 'forum" does not mean "not criticizing books." "Ad hominem fallacy" is not the same as point by point criticism of books. If you bought the book, and believe it all, it may FEEL like an ad hominem attack, but you might strive to accept other points of view may exist. Are we a nation of competing ideas, or a nation of forced conformity of thought?

November 24, 2013, 09:13 PM	#3
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	The marking ".38 S&W CTGE" is the name of the cartridge (CTGE) the gun uses, not the maker. As Lee N. Field says, we need good, clear pictures to have any hope of further identification. Jim

November 24, 2013, 09:16 PM	#4
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,545	CTGE is the abbreviation for Cartridge used by either H&R or/and IJ, maybe others, NOT Smith & Wesson. A pull pin side loader is about the bottom of the product lineup.