The first .38 Special revolver
The only.38 spl Smith and Wessons in that serial number range were produced in 1903 and 1904 as the Smith and Wesson.38spl Hand Ejector M&P. They look like Model 10's, and are very similar, but predate the Model 10 by over 50 years. Jun 16, 2009 Mr.Borland is correct on the serial number time frame, so I have to assume you have a 1954-1956 gun.
Swing out cylinder, solid frame, double action revolvers were well established by the last decade of the 19th century.Iver Johnson employed the concept as early as 1879 and Colt’s Models of 1889-90, chambered for the .38 Long Colt cartridge were the standard U.S. Military sidearm by the early 1890s. Smith and Wesson called their version a “ Hand Ejector” to differentiate if from the break –top, automatic ejection arms of the time. In 1899, the Army and Navy placed orders with Smith and Wesson for two to three thousand (sources vary as to the exact number) Hand Ejector revolvers chambered for the .38 U.S. Service Cartridge (Long Colt.). It became the Military and Police model of 1899. The need for these additional revolvers arose during the Spanish- American War.These revolvers, along with the very similar Colts were in service during the Philippine insurrection of 1899. Early sources universally report that the old Long Colt cartridge was considered inadequate against the Moro warriors encountered there.Smith and Wesson responded by lengthening the .38 case and increasing the powder charge and bullet weight.Nominal velocity of the new .38 S&W Special cartridge was 870 feet per second against the reported 780 fps of the earlier round.Bullet weight increased from 150 to 158 grains and the black powder charge upped from 18 to 21 grains.It is clear that the military contract revolvers chambered the .38 Long Colt round.Early references indicate that the .38 Specials might have gone to the civilian market.Serial number run from number 1 in the K Frame Military and Police series to 20,975 spanning the years 1899- 1902.
At a glance, the model of 1899 appears nearly identical to the quintessential M&P of the 20th century.The primary visible difference is the absence of a front locking lug.The cylinder locks only at the rear and at the locking notches leaving the ejector free standing.Barrel lengths are four, five, six and six and a half inches with finish options of blue and nickel. There are also target-sighted versions. These and serial number blocks-associated with small military orders, are very desirable as collectors items.
Both the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson (second edition) and Ftjestad's Blue Book list 59,400 Perfecteds being made between 1909 and 1920 with serial numbers 1-59400. It was S&W's last top break revolver model. I really like your Perfected, Mike. Smith & Wesson reportedly manufactured 605 Aircrewmans based on the J frame, and, like this example, they fall into the A.F.NO. 2399 serial number range. (Smith & Wesson also manufactured a version based on the five screw K frame, which fall into the serial number range A.F. 1190 to A.F.NO.1794. Again, 605 were manufactured.). Manufacture date to match a serial number? Some ways to look at where to know an old smith and allied armies. By serial number: smith and wesson. The dates on the serial numbers. I just bought a year 1956. I just bought a s w. Sometimes the original box is merely a serial number is a powerful revolver.
First Model M&P revolvers often exhibit the extremes of neglect. Black powder, chlorate priming and owner indifference take their toll among many examples. They do not fare nearly as well as the hand ejectors of 1902 and later.
Mine, number 8200, has only minor finish blemishes and is in near-new mechanical condition. The cylinder and crane lock tightly into the frame and timing is perfect. The bore and chambers are pristine and the internal lockwork - once relieved of decades of congealed lubricant - might well have been forged last week instead of 103 years ago. According to the factory letter, the revolver went to Bekeart & Company of San Francisco CA on December 20, 1900. Additional provenance shows the M&P registered to an E6 at Wheeler AFB, Hawaii in 1975 and has remained in his possession until this year.
Shooting the first .38 Special revolver
Smith And Wesson Manufactured Date
While the early Smith and Wessons resemble the Colt double actions in function and broad outline, I have always found the handling characteristics and the action of the Smiths to be much more desirable.This is purely a personal opinion and the gun magazines used to rage over the question “ Which is Better? Colt or Smith and Wesson.”M&P # 8200 with its frame fitting round butt and six- inch barrel points very well. The sight picture, comprised of a knife-sharp front blade and a tiny rear notch proved to be the limiting factor in shooting precise groups. On the other hand, the four pound single action trigger and the typically smooth Smith and Wesson Double Action, were great aides to practical accuracy.Many service revolvers and autos of the 19th and early 20th centuries feature raunchy six- pound single action triggers making it very hard to achieve any degree of precision.
M&P cylinders were not heat treated until 1920 so standard; factory level pressures are the order of the day.
Smith And Wesson Age By Serial Number
My standard .38 Special load is 3.5 grains of Alliant Bullseye and the available 158- grain Lead bullet.This is a few tenths grain under the listed factory duplicate and the tightly gapped Model 1899 averaged 859 fps with the swaged Hornady SWC and 862 with a five round string of machine cast 158 SWC. This and subsequent shooting was done in five shot strings.The First M&P has no provision for a hammer block safety and while earlier owners no doubt loaded all six chambers with impunity, hindsight demands that we leave an empty under the hammer.
In keeping with shooting practices at the end of the 19th Century, I did most of my shooting one-handed.This is how Walter Mitty’s dad would have done it and it captures the flavor of the era.My 25 yard bench groups and fifty foot off hand efforts ran four inches.I was unable to fully exploit the accuracy of the revolver because of the sight picture. Point of impact was dead on for elevation and slightly to left of point of aim.
The light recoil of the standard .38 Special and the superior handling qualities of the Smith Hand Ejector came into their own in the more “practical” shooting exercises. Firing double action single-handed with the shots spaced about one second apart, I was able to keep fifteen consecutive rounds in the center ring of the Texas Police Target at twenty-five yards.. The sights did not seem much of a handicap in this application. The revolver came very naturally up to point. A clear flash sight picture came about naturally and hung steady through the smooth double action pull. I also managed ten consecutive hits on the upper torso from a vertical braced position single action at fifty yards.
The Military and Police first model emerged as a dynamic reactive tool for the gunfighter of a century ago.It continues to satisfy the essential criteria for a personal sidearm in the present day.
S&w Model 66 Serial Numbers
Got something to say about this article? Want to agree (ordisagree) with it? Click the following link to go to the GUNBlast Feedback Page.