S&W identification

[sgt_zim]

This belonged to my great grandfather, can't read the model number, looks to me like it's a model 64, but I think it's quite a bit older than when they started making that model around 1970. Anybody have any thoughts?

Not trying to sell it, just figure out what it is

 

[93marlin]

Your revolver is an early Model 10, old one, possibly re-nickeled. When that was made it was called a military & police, M&P.
Caliber is 38 special.
The model 64 is in 357 magnum.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

Any stainless gun should be new enough to have the model stamped under the yoke. If it’s not there I would guess it’s a military and police, which later became the model 10, with a nickel plated finish.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

Your revolver is an early Model 10, old one, possibly re-nickeled. When that was made it was called a military & police, M&P.
Caliber is 38 special.
The model 64 is in 357 magnum.

The 64 is a 38 special with fixed sights and all I’ve seen have the heavy barrel.
65 and 66 are 357 magnums.

 

[sgt_zim]

Thanks gentlemen, I knew I could count on somebody here.

 

[cajunchefray]

I have one very similar from my father in-laws estate, with a 5 inch barrel. By looking up the serial number,I determined it is a S&W Military and Police, 4th model, tens of thousands made. Mine was made in 1943. The finish is a patina of parkerization, and machine marks remain evident of wartime production.

Look on the crane or heel of the butt (where mine was) for the serial number and look up on the Smith and Wesson collector's forum.

The front sight, knurled ejector rod and grips look like the many tens of thousands were made from the 1930s to 1950, shipped all over the world to Allied forces for various duties. ,In the 1950s, when the designation of S&W Model numbers were added, the M&P 4th model was designated as a Model 10.

In my opinion, with the slim tapered barrel, this is the best proportioned and balanced 38 special revolver ever made by Smith and Wesson.

Mine is going to the gunsmith next week for new springs, hand, and cylinder bolt to make it tight again to shoot. (I have in the past, it is accurate regulated fixed sight with 158 grain standard pressure lead round nose.

I'm keeping the finish all original.

I like these old guns. You have a nice heirloom piece.

 

[Inkgardener]

That is a 38 hand ejector Military and Police Model of 1905. Hard to tell, but looks nickel in the pic, and has been refinished. Stocks are original era. I could tell you approximate ship date if you want to post the serial number.

 

[Inkgardener]

I have one very similar from my father in-laws estate, with a 5 inch barrel. By looking up the serial number,I determined it is a S&W Military and Police, 4th model, tens of thousands made. Mine was made in 1943. The finish is a patina of parkerization, and machine marks remain evident of wartime production.

Look on the crane or heel of the butt (where mine was) for the serial number and look up on the Smith and Wesson collector's forum.

The front sight, knurled ejector rod and grips look like the many tens of thousands were made from the 1930s to 1950, shipped all over the world to Allied forces for various duties. ,In the 1950s, when the designation of S&W Model numbers were added, the M&P 4th model was designated as a Model 10.

In my opinion, with the slim tapered barrel, this is the best proportioned and balanced 38 special revolver ever made by Smith and Wesson.

Mine is going to the gunsmith next week for new springs, hand, and cylinder bolt to make it tight again to shoot. (I have in the past, it is accurate regulated fixed sight with 158 grain standard pressure lead round nose.

I'm keeping the finish all original.

I like these old guns. You have a nice heirloom piece.

You are describing a Victory model, and with a 5” barrel could be a British lend-lease gun if indeed from the 1940s. If the serial number starts with a V, then it was also originally chambered in 38 S&W, not 38 Special.

 

[cajunchefray]

You are describing a Victory model, and with a 5” barrel could be a British lend-lease gun if indeed from the 1940s. If the serial number starts with a V, then it was also originally chambered in 38 S&W, not 38 Special.

Thanks very much for the information. I know there are things I don't know, all of the variants of S&W revolvers during WW II.
Here are a couple of pictures of mine. It does have a V prefix serial number, as well as 3 marks that I will research. A Victory model.

It may have been originally chambered in 38 S&W, but the barrel is marked 38 S&W CTG, with a triangular (I think) mark behind that.

It chambers and fires 38 special. My FIL carried it in a zipper case with Western Super X 38 Special 158 grain lead RN. I still have the box with a few rounds.

My father-in-law bought this at a New Orleans Police Department sale of old firearms. He had no more information on it.

Now I'm going to get deep into more details of this revolver and learn about the history of the Victory S&Ws, and the extra markings.

 

[sgt_zim]

That is a 38 hand ejector Military and Police Model of 1905. Hard to tell, but looks nickel in the pic, and has been refinished. Stocks are original era. I could tell you approximate ship date if you want to post the serial number.

178780

Definitely nickel, but I doubt it has been refinished. It's been doing nothing but gathering dust for almost 70 years. It belonged to my great grandfather, and he died in 1957, and was passed down to my grandmother who I'm certain never fired it. From her it went to my mother, who I know never picked it up.

 

[Inkgardener]

178780

Definitely nickel, but I doubt it has been refinished. It's been doing nothing but gathering dust for almost 70 years. It belonged to my great grandfather, and he died in 1957, and was passed down to my grandmother who I'm certain never fired it. From her it went to my mother, who I know never picked it up.

It’s a M&P Model of 1905 3rd change, made between 1909-1915 with that serial. If the hammer and trigger are nickel, then it has been refinished since those parts are case hardened from the factory. It’s hard to tell sometimes from photos.

The important part is treating her right with six rounds of 158 grain cast every once in a while.

 

[Inkgardener]

Thanks very much for the information. I know there are things I don't know, all of the variants of S&W revolvers during WW II.
Here are a couple of pictures of mine. It does have a V prefix serial number, as well as 3 marks that I will research. A Victory model.

It may have been originally chambered in 38 S&W, but the barrel is marked 38 S&W CTG, with a triangular (I think) mark behind that.

It chambers and fires 38 special. My FIL carried it in a zipper case with Western Super X 38 Special 158 grain lead RN. I still have the box with a few rounds.

My father-in-law bought this at a New Orleans Police Department sale of old firearms. He had no more information on it.

Now I'm going to get deep into more details of this revolver and learn about the history of the Victory S&Ws, and the extra markings.

I love the Victory models. Lots of them were reamed out to take 38 special after the war. It’s also known as a 38/200 British Service Revolver. They had 5” barrels and most of the Victory’s for our guys had 4” barrels and were chambered for 38 special.

Look carefully on the left side on the top strap and see if anything is stamped on it.