1966 S&W Model 38 "Michigan Police Supply." Uhh.. should I stop using this thing?

gfen · January 11, 2024, 10:26 AM

'Bout 20 years ago I picked up a 1966 vintage Model 38 in the distinctive MPS colors, blue frame and stainless cylinder.

I think I paid like $210 out the door and it became my carry gun. Went back to S&W once to get tuned up as it wasn't indexing well. Stuck a pair of CTC grips on it, sighted it in and.. That was that.

It spent a few years in my pocket, now I don't carry and it just spends its time in the cabinet.

The question is.. what was once a $210 disposable handgun seems to suddenly not be so worthless, and with some quick googling there seems to be some provenance behind the MPS guns.

Should I retire this from shooter status and just make it a safe queen?

Jim Watson · January 11, 2024, 10:40 AM

Are you a collector with a lot of variations of J Smiths?

Otherwise, if you can sell it for a profit, let it go.
If not, carry it, shoot it.

gfen · January 11, 2024, 12:41 PM

Not at all, but the number of folks I've seen wanting one like this due to family makes me feel a little bad knowing that even though it will only see a handful of regular .38spl a year is trashing it out.

Plus, NGL, if it fetches a premium due to its now suddenly 'rareity' that I can capitalize on.. why wouldn't I?

I'm sure there's another lockless Model 38 out there that I can beat up on instead.

reddog81 · January 11, 2024, 02:18 PM

Sounds like it is already well used. Putting a box or 2 of ammo through yearly it isn't really going to change the value much.

However selling it makes sense if others value the MPS connection and you don't really care much about it.

amd6547 · January 11, 2024, 07:40 PM

Of course, with the Model 38, you have to worry about the frame cracking under the forcing cone. Standard pressure loads only.

L-2 · January 12, 2024, 12:27 PM

Here's what S&W currently has as a similar revolver, Model 638, should the OP want something new.
I think it was ~$600 out the door.

photo to follow...

Mannlicher · January 12, 2024, 05:36 PM

if you have not compromised the mythical 'collector value' of the revolver by now, you probably won't in the long run. Use it. Safe queens are abhorrent.

**Aguila Blanca** · January 13, 2024, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reddog81

Sounds like it is already well used.

What makes you say that? Police sidearms are usually carried daily and actually fired very rarely. The OP says he carried it for a while, but he didn't say he shot it a lot.

radom · January 13, 2024, 02:18 AM

Here have my wifes grandads made in 1920 MP or as then model of 1905 forth change special order nickle and pearl grips it still gets shot so a made in hello much younger than I am gun just go shoot it..

January 11, 2024, 10:26 AM	#1
gfen Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2005 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 817	1966 S&W Model 38 "Michigan Police Supply." Uhh.. should I stop using this thing? 'Bout 20 years ago I picked up a 1966 vintage Model 38 in the distinctive MPS colors, blue frame and stainless cylinder. I think I paid like $210 out the door and it became my carry gun. Went back to S&W once to get tuned up as it wasn't indexing well. Stuck a pair of CTC grips on it, sighted it in and.. That was that. It spent a few years in my pocket, now I don't carry and it just spends its time in the cabinet. The question is.. what was once a $210 disposable handgun seems to suddenly not be so worthless, and with some quick googling there seems to be some provenance behind the MPS guns. Should I retire this from shooter status and just make it a safe queen?

January 11, 2024, 07:40 PM	#5
amd6547 Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2006 Posts: 2,313	Of course, with the Model 38, you have to worry about the frame cracking under the forcing cone. Standard pressure loads only. __________________ The past is gone...the future may never happen. Be Here Now.

January 12, 2024, 05:36 PM	#7
Mannlicher Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2001 Location: North Central Florida & Miami Posts: 3,209	if you have not compromised the mythical 'collector value' of the revolver by now, you probably won't in the long run. Use it. Safe queens are abhorrent. __________________ Nemo Me Impune Lacesset "The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so.".........Ronald Reagan

January 11, 2024, 10:40 AM	#2
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,545	Are you a collector with a lot of variations of J Smiths? Otherwise, if you can sell it for a profit, let it go. If not, carry it, shoot it.

January 11, 2024, 12:41 PM	#3
gfen Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2005 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 817	Not at all, but the number of folks I've seen wanting one like this due to family makes me feel a little bad knowing that even though it will only see a handful of regular .38spl a year is trashing it out. Plus, NGL, if it fetches a premium due to its now suddenly 'rareity' that I can capitalize on.. why wouldn't I? I'm sure there's another lockless Model 38 out there that I can beat up on instead.

January 11, 2024, 02:18 PM	#4
reddog81 Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2014 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,635	Sounds like it is already well used. Putting a box or 2 of ammo through yearly it isn't really going to change the value much. However selling it makes sense if others value the MPS connection and you don't really care much about it.

January 13, 2024, 02:18 AM	#9
radom Senior Member Join Date: January 21, 2000 Posts: 1,358	Here have my wifes grandads made in 1920 MP or as then model of 1905 forth change special order nickle and pearl grips it still gets shot so a made in hello much younger than I am gun just go shoot it..