[OneShot]

Older S&W with 38 S&W Special ctg. on right side of barrel, Smith & Wesson on left side of barrel. Front blade sight is fully rounded, not like Model 10-5/6, not partridge. Number on bottom butt is C  1974. 07
Rear sight is groved. The barrel is 5-5 1/2 inches.

With cylinder open on main frame the number 27, and below it is 31350. 31350 is repeated on cylinder frame.  The number 31350, twice, looks like a manufacturers stamp, the number 27 appears stamped unprofessional.

The grip is smaller than my L Frame 586, and smaller than Model 15s and K-22, K-38s I have shot.  It feels good, points "naturally" like a Lugar.

Any assistance on identifying this S&W would be appreciated.
Thanks, OneShot

 

[Nobade]

How about the sideplate - does it have a screw on top, or is it blank? Does the trigger guard have a screw in the front of it? Does the barrel have a cross pin in the top of it, through the front of the frame? If it has all these it sounds like a 38 Hand Ejector, forerunner to the model 10.

 

[OneShot]

Thanks for your reply Nobade.  This is probably a Model 10.  There are two small screws on the right side just above either end of trigger guard.  There is one larger screw on top between hammer and cylinder on right side.  The barrel is pinned on top of frame.  A response on another list looked up SN  C 1974. 07 in Supica's and referenced Model 10, C range of numbers, 1948 - 1952 manufacture.  Neither of us has seen a (.) in a SN however, and the 7 in the 07 matched the stamped 7 in 1974.  But, is it a Model 10 what?  It is not a -5/6 because the front sight is round not partridge.  Also, a suggestion that it might be a Model 11 but I did not kknow S&W made a Model  11.  Thanks for your response Nobade.  Any other suggestions out there?  Best regards to all on the list.  OneShot

 

[Jack Monteith]

Hi, Oneshot:
  The Model 11 was chambered is .38 Smith & Wesson, which is not the same as the .38 Smith & Wesson Special.

Here's a detailed list of S&W models & variants for 1900-1988.
<a href="http://www.recguns.com/IIIB2e1.html

Bye" target="_blank">http://www.recguns.com/IIIB2e1.html

Bye</a>
Jack

(Edited by Jack Monteith at 12:19 pm on Sep. 27, 2001)

 

[Snowman]

Smith and Wesson also made a model of the hand ejector third model , based on the model 24 in .44 cal. This gun used the .38 S&W special cartridge and was called the .38/44 heavy duty.

 I am not an expert by any means but was going through the new American Handgunner magazine (november/december issue). Good article on the New hand ejector from Smith and Wesson with the history of the firearm.