My father was a auxillory police office for a local town for many years and recently has given this gun to me. A Smith and Wesson 38 Special CTG....He has never fired it in all the years he owned it. Is there anybody that can give me so good information on this handgun it has adjustable sights and a 4 Inch barrel with the letter K in the serial number?
Its a beautiful gun I was looking for an estimated production date and value....also can it handle +p loads?
The K prefix before the serial number indicates this is a transitional .38 Hand Ejector model with the post-war short action made prior to stamping the model designator in the yoke cut of the frame and before introduction of the "new style" hammer block. Your revolver was assembled in 1954 and is NOT +P rated.
My father was a auxillory police office for a local town for many years and recently has given this gun to me. A Smith and Wesson 38 Special CTG....He has never fired it in all the years he owned it. Is there anybody that can give me so good information on this handgun it has adjustable sights and a 4 Inch barrel with the letter K in the serial number?
Its a beautiful gun I was looking for an estimated production date and value....also can it handle +p loads?
Thanks
Hello
When Civilian Gun production resumed after World War II, S&W changed the hammer Block assembly which Prompted The K-Prefix on K-Frame revolvers and an S-Prefix on Post-War -N-Frame revolver's.. Previous K-Frame revolver's had a hammer mounted block and sadly one failed on a Navy ship , as a sailor dropped his World War II victory Model, and when it hit the ship steel deck it discharged Killing the sailor, Prompting a Madatory recall from the Springfield Armory of all Previously released Victory models to get the new modified hammer block installed, and these revolver's were then stamped with a small V Prefix on the left upper rear frame area of the revolver after this change. The Post-War examples also had the new short throw actions as well. With Your Father's revolver having a 4" Barrel it sounds like a Model 15 or Pre-15 Known as The Combat Masterpiece. This gun is the shorter barrel version of the famous K-38 Target Masterpiece model that had a 6" barrel and Patridge front sight blade. Your's will have the Baughman style quick draw ramped sight blade which prevented snagging when drawing it from a holster. Tooling up was as a Little slow after the War, and this model came Three Year's after they resumed production so They made them from 1949-1999 but before 1957 they were called a Pre-15 which had a six Groove back strap and was a Five screw gun and after 1957 they started stamping the crane area with the guns model number, which later became a Ten Groove back strap starting with 15 which changed to a Four Screw Model, then as design changes were made they got a dash series stamp in the crane area as 15-1, 15-2 and so on, and they Became a Three screw gun after 1962 or so. To tell when it was from I would need to have a serial number. I have a bank of serial numbers to reference with on shipping Dates but to be precise you would have to share it with me. If you prefer just PM me a Partial serial number of your Dad's gun leaving the last number an X prefix. That way I can look it up for you, and his serial number remains unknown only to you. An estimate of value can not be determined until I know when it was made as the earlier ones are a Lot Higher in collector Value and sell for a lot more in the open Market, compared to the newer models. It sounds as though this revolver either has never been shot or shot very little if your dad got it issued to him new. It is perfectly safe to fire Plus-P ammo in that frame size it will not hurt a thing. Below is a Model 15-4 from the Mid 1970's. They came in either Nickel or Blued finish's. I hope this helps, Hammerdown
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Last edited by Hammer Down; 10-15-2009 at 07:25 AM.
Thanks for the details Hammer Down. It sounds like a Model 15 that a fellow officer had when I was in law enforcement. It was a ".38 only" and he used it in 4" service revolver competitions. It was a smooth and accurate revolver.
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There's a screw on the righthand side of your S&W revolver, forward of the trigger, below the opening in the frame. Loosen and remove it and the whole cylinder/crane assembly will slip right out the front. Nothing else will come loose.
Clean all the gunk out, oil the parts, and your revolver will operate smoother.
Hammerdown, you help me considerably in the past with my K-22 (circa 1948), I am currently looking a another Smith a 38 special, serial # K219XXX, 5 screw, s/ns on the butt, grip panel, extractor, cylinder, and also the underside of barrel. Could you please fill me in on any info like date of manufacture, and value (looks in real good shape). It seems that I'm starting to get addicted to these S&W revolvers.
Thanks in advance.
Hammerdown, you help me considerably in the past with my K-22 (circa 1948), I am currently looking a another Smith a 38 special, serial # K219XXX, 5 screw, s/ns on the butt, grip panel, extractor, cylinder, and also the underside of barrel. Could you please fill me in on any info like date of manufacture, and value (looks in real good shape). It seems that I'm starting to get addicted to these S&W revolvers.
Thanks in advance.
Hello Canuck
Is it a fixed sighted revolver ? if so that one was called an M&P or Pre-10. If is has Target sights and a 6" Barrel it is called a K-38 Target Masterpiece. If is has a 4" Barrel with adjustable sights it will be a Combat Masterpiece or Pre-15. I need to know more about the gun model to tell you it's worth, but it would fall into this range and year 1954-K-210096--K--231255 . I hope this helps, Hammerdown
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Yeah though I Walk Through The Valley of Death, I shall fear no evil as I carry with me my S&W
Hammerdown, I had another look at the K-38, it has a 6" barell with adjustable sights, also it is S/Ned inside the right grip panel. Hope this helps you to ballpark a fair value.
Thanks in advance.
I got a version from my dad today for x-mas. He said he got it from his dad years ago. My dad never shot it and didn't know anything about it. From what I read here it may be an older model, Pre-war?. The serial # is all numbers. It has 5 screws, 6" barrel has pat#'s from mar27,94 up to feb 6,06, rear sight looks adjustable for windage. I don't want to sell it, will give it to my kid someday. Any thoughts about the age? #121XXX. I plan to get "the book" asap.
hammerdown...you seem to be quite knowledgable..hopefully you can help me...i have a revolver i am working on for my mechanic...it is a s&w .38 special ctg...i need a firing pin for it. cleaned and lubed it with kroil and got the previously frozen cylinder to work beautifully....my problem is..i have no idea what model this revolver is....the serial number is v 621610...there is a small p stamped on the upper rear left side of the frame as well as after the serial number above the push rod there is something stamped before the v on the bottom of the grip where the serial number is....looks like a sideways 8 but i can't really tell...do you have any information that could help me...what model is this? when was it made?....and is it single or double action...it only works as single action but when you pull the trigger with the hammer closed, the hammer does move a little...value? and any idea where i can find a firing pin?
Hello
That V Prefix tells me you are speaking of a Victory Model revolver. These were a War time revolver made by S&W. It will have a non Glare Parkerized finish on it and will be Fixed sighted. It came in .38 Special caliber, and there were some 38-200 british Models made. It has more than Likely a 4" or 5" Barrel measured from the cylinder face to the end of the barrel. It should have a Lanyard ring in the butt of the gun. They came with smooth Walnut non medallion grips, and were a double action revolver. It may have SV stamped on it where it is hard to read and this would indicate it has the newer hammer block design as the original style ones that were hammer mounted were changed due to one that broke on a Sailor that dropped his on a Navy ship flight Deck discharging Killing him. This prompted a major recall of the Victory model revolvers to have the newer hammer block installed to prevent this again and the P Prefix would indicate this new hammer block change. These were made from 1942-1945 and yours sounds like it was made close to the end of their production being 1945. Numerich Gun parts in West Hurley, New York should have the parts to repair your revolver. Here is a link to show you what the models loook like. I hope this helps, Hammerdown
Hi Hammer Down,
You seem to be the S&W Revolver expert, so I hope you do not mind if I pick your brain also. My revolver (inherited from my Father) is similar to those above. Blued, with a checkered grip. It has 38 Special CTG on the barrel. I can not find a model number or patent dates anywhere on it. I found the serial number (matching) under the extractor and on the bottom of the grip. The serial number is 2628XX. I am interested in knowing the model and date of manufacture. I have NO intent to ever sell it, but would appreciate an approximate value. The blueing is 85-90% and the grips are excelent. Thanks is advance!!
Hi Guys I found your site via Google in search of some info of one of my fathers handguns. This is a nice site with lots of helpful info, hopefully someone can help me date and determin this piece.
I'm trying to find what year or model it could be. My father was a city office. And if my memory severs me correctly I remember this S&W as far back as the later 60's ?
The only markings found on the Gun says..
38 S&W Special ctg < found on the right side of the 4" Barrel
The revolver has 4 screws on the right side of the receiver / frame area. 1 just below the rear sights and infront of the hammer, and 1 below and behind the hammer. 1 above behind & 1 above foward of the triger,
Left Side
Barrel just says Smith & Wesson and just above the front of the triger guard it has a 2 over a 1
It has a step Ramp front sight, and adjustable rear sight.
At the bottom of the Butt it has what I think is the S/N. it reads K 2203xx
Nothing that makes any sense inside of the handle under the grips, which are the typical checkered wood grips.
Also one item of concern. This is a used piece, not abused just used and cared for some wearing of the blueing but a cleaned good condition piece. I do remember shooting this gun with my father probably early - mid 70's just not sure what ammo he used.
So what is the Model, and aprox what year is this item, and also what ammo can be safely used?
Thank You in advance for any helpful info.
Hi Hammer Down,
You seem to be the S&W Revolver expert, so I hope you do not mind if I pick your brain also. My revolver (inherited from my Father) is similar to those above. Blued, with a checkered grip. It has 38 Special CTG on the barrel. I can not find a model number or patent dates anywhere on it. I found the serial number (matching) under the extractor and on the bottom of the grip. The serial number is 2628XX. I am interested in knowing the model and date of manufacture. I have NO intent to ever sell it, but would appreciate an approximate value. The blueing is 85-90% and the grips are excelent. Thanks is advance!!
Hello Paul
It sounds to me like a Pre-War M&P Revolver later named the Model 10. These were a Fixed sighted revolver with a High Polished bluing. They are very common and were used by most Police agencies as a daily carry gun. Shown below is one of mine with a 5" Barrel that shipped in 1939 and is Dang close to your serial number, I hope this helps... Hammerdown
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Yeah though I Walk Through The Valley of Death, I shall fear no evil as I carry with me my S&W
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