Picked up a Smith & Wesson...finally

[Ronald_55]

I have been keeping my eye open for a .357 or .38 revolver for a while. Not a rush, but I like them. My Dad has a Smith .45 Model 1917 that I grew up around. So preference was on a Smith or a Colt. Finally found a guy who said he had a Smith & Wesson Model 10 to trade. Met him and traded. From my research this did not look like a Model 10, but looked good anyway.

Got home and started digging.

Looks like I am the new owner of a Smith & Wesson .38 Military & Police square butt model from the early- to mid-1920s (probably  1924/25). All the Serial numbers match, but the grips are not original. Apparently they are from the '30's and are even rarer than the ones that are supposed to be on it. I had a guy at the Smith forum immediately offer to swap me the correct ones and "a dollar or two extra." I politely declined.

All in all I think I got the better end of the deal. I think he thought he just had some old revolver to get rid of.

Went and shot it yesterday just out in a field and everything ran smooth. Gave her a good cleaning last night. Gonna test accuracy at the range next time. Also, looking for a nice leather holster for her to live in. The generic Uncle Mikes he gave me with it does not do this gun justice.

Just wanted to share my excitement. Rarely do I get this lucky.

[jhc77]

Nice find.  I just got back from the range. Get to spend the next hour and a half cleaning my 686 No Dash with the 6" barrel. I had gjohnsonIV (I think, sorry George) to make a holster. Turned out nicer than anything I saw anywhere really. 

[Ugly]

Congrats! That's a timepiece and a great find! 

Can vouch for George and his leatherwork, you won't be disappointed! 

 

[Ugly]

double post

 

Edited December 13, 2016 by Ugly

[TrickyNicky]

George does great leather work, holler at him and you wont be disappointed. He's got a few orders ahead of yours just now though  

[Raoul]

4 hours ago, Ronald_55 said:

I have been keeping my eye open for a .357 or .38 revolver for a while. Not a rush, but I like them. My Dad has a Smith .45 Model 1917 that I grew up around. So preference was on a Smith or a Colt. Finally found a guy who said he had a Smith & Wesson Model 10 to trade. Met him and traded. From my research this did not look like a Model 10, but looked good anyway.

Got home and started digging.

Looks like I am the new owner of a Smith & Wesson .38 Military & Police square butt model from the early- to mid-1920s (probably  1924/25). All the Serial numbers match, but the grips are not original. Apparently they are from the '30's and are even rarer than the ones that are supposed to be on it. I had a guy at the Smith forum immediately offer to swap me the correct ones and "a dollar or two extra." I politely declined.

All in all I think I got the better end of the deal. I think he thought he just had some old revolver to get rid of.

Went and shot it yesterday just out in a field and everything ran smooth. Gave her a good cleaning last night. Gonna test accuracy at the range next time. Also, looking for a nice leather holster for her to live in. The generic Uncle Mikes he gave me with it does not do this gun justice.

Just wanted to share my excitement. Rarely do I get this lucky.

You know this is just the start of the madness?

[Garufa]

Nice!   I still think that particlar series from S&W is the most classic and perfect revolver ever devised.  Love the fixed sights with half-moon blade and simple "Made in USA" on the side.

if you really want to brag call it a Model of 1905, Fourth Change. 

[Ronald_55]

3 hours ago, Raoul said:

You know this is just the start of the madness?

Oh I know. I was already looking at another, but my funding will keep it sane. LoL

[Ronald_55]

2 hours ago, Garufa said:

Nice!   I still think that particlar series from S&W is the most classic and perfect revolver ever devised.  Love the fixed sights with half-moon blade and simple "Made in USA" on the side.

if you really want to brag call it a Model of 1905, Fourth Change. 

Yeah. I saw that somewhere in the literature I read. It is hard to beat this design. 90 years old and it still snaps crisp when you pull the trigger.

[hipower]

Smith & Wesson... .  Great find. I'm sort of partial to them myself.

[Ronald_55]

12 minutes ago, hipower said:

Smith & Wesson... .  Great find. I'm sort of partial to them myself.

Now if I can just be as lucky a few more times and have the money to buy what I find. Lol

[gregintenn]

With practice, you'll be simply amazed at the level of accuracy one can achieve with these old pencil barrel M&Ps.

[hipower]

10 hours ago, Ronald_55 said:

Now if I can just be as lucky a few more times and have the money to buy what I find. Lol

That's my problem. lol I find old, and newer, Smiths a lot. But usually at the wrong times. I have a few from 60 to early 80's and love them.

[hipower]

31 minutes ago, gregintenn said:

With practice, you'll be simply amazed at the level of accuracy one can achieve with these old pencil barrel M&Ps.

Yes, even my pitiful skills are made to seem better with the Smith&Wesson revolvers. But I have to say my favorite is a tossup between a Model 66 and a Model 19. Both are just fantastic! So sweet to shoot.

[Ronald_55]

My biggest part of getting a holster is picking the type I want. Anybody have any idea what type would be era appropriate for this gun?

[MP5_Rizzo]

12 minutes ago, Ronald_55 said:

My biggest part of getting a holster is picking the type I want. Anybody have any idea what type would be era appropriate for this gun?

I know Barney carried a Colt but since you asked, here's what I'm thinking.

[Ronald_55]

29 minutes ago, MP5_Rizzo said:

I know Barney carried a Colt but since you asked, here's what I'm thinking.

Yeah I like the basket weave. It is a classic. Did Barney carry a 6 inch barrel model?

 

Saw one like this that I thought about.

 

I need to see what styles George does and what prices. I do a little leather, but nothing as involved as a holster. Plus I may want a double speed loader case to match.

 

[MP5_Rizzo]

12 minutes ago, Ronald_55 said:

Yeah I like the basket weave. It is a classic. Did Barney carry a 6 inch barrel model?

So the interwebz say he carried a 4" Colt Official Police but there are sources that claim he was seen in a few episodes with a S & W model 10. I will admit the holster in the picture I posted looks awful long for a 4 inch pistol barrel.

While I'm here and you showed us yours I will show you mine.  It's a predecessor to your model.  Mine is a 32-20 Hand Ejector Model 1905 1st Change made between 1906-07.  For a 110 year old gun that has seen some use based on what appears to be holster wear on the barrel it's amazingly tight and smooth.  I wish I had the original factory grips but it was wearing the post factory mother of pearl grips when I acquired it from a distant family members estate.  I guess people liked bling back in the day as much as some do now.

Sorry for the less than stellar photo.

[Ronald_55]

27 minutes ago, MP5_Rizzo said:

So the interwebz say he carried a 4" Colt Official Police but there are sources that claim he was seen in a few episodes with a S & W model 10. I will admit the holster in the picture I posted looks awful long for a 4 inch pistol barrel.

While I'm here and you showed us yours I will show you mine.  It's a predecessor to your model.  Mine is a 32-20 Hand Ejector Model 1905 1st Change made between 1906-07.  For a 110 year old gun that has seen some use based on what appears to be holster wear on the barrel it's amazingly tight and smooth.  I wish I had the original factory grips but it was wearing the post factory mother of pearl grips when I acquired it from a distant family members estate.  I guess people liked bling back in the day as much as some do now.

Sorry for the less than stellar photo.

That is a nice looking gun.  Thanks for sharing.