Old S&W 38 Regulation Police Revolver - The Firearms Forum

Cary Lang · 12-10-2012, 04:15 PM

Today I saw a S&W 38 CTG Regulation Police revolver in a local gun shop and wondered if anyone could tell me a little about it. It is a five shot revolver with a 4" barrel. It has a swing out cylinder and hand ejector rod. It appears to be an "I" frame, square butt with checkered walnut grips. There are two sets of numbers on the gun...What appears to be the serial number is on the front of the frame between the grips, it is #10524 with no letters before or after it. There is another number where the ejector rod cradles in the frame when it is closed and that # is 1180. I am sorry that I am unable to post pictures at this point but was wondeing if anyone knew when it might have been manufactured. Mechanically the gun is very tight and locks up well. The bore is clean and has good rifleing. The entire gun looks like most of the blue had faded to a grayish color...does someone know when this gun may have been made and what if any an approximate value may be for this gun?
It has a series of patent dates on top of the barrell...year o1 I believe is the first year 09 the second and dec,14 being the last patent date listed. I hope I provided enough information to get some information on the gun.

Jim K · 12-10-2012, 06:27 PM

You know pretty much all there is to know about that gun. As you note, it is chambered for the .38 S&W cartridge, not the .38 Special. The "I" frame is a shorter and slightly smaller version of the current J frame. The number on the front of the grip is the serial number; the number under the crane is an assembly number. They are sometimes listed as square butt, but in fact they were all round butt frames, with the wood grips made to give the look of a square butt. The standard grip would have covered the serial number on the bottom of the butt, which is why the number was moved to the front strap. They are unique in having a "step" in the rear grip strap, apparently to better support the grip if the gun is used as a club.

The pre-war .38 Regulation Police was serial numbered in its own range 1 - 54474, 1917 - 1940. That gives an approximate production of 2500 per year, so your number 10524 would date to about 1919-1920.

Value as described would probably run about $250-300. They are very nice guns for carry; reasonably powerful, yet light and, with a 4" barrel, having a good sight radius.

Jim

Alpo · 12-10-2012, 06:37 PM

Cary Lang · 12-11-2012, 07:26 AM

Thanks Jim for your help.

12-10-2012, 06:27 PM	#2
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: Old S&W 38 Regulation Police Revolver You know pretty much all there is to know about that gun. As you note, it is chambered for the .38 S&W cartridge, not the .38 Special. The "I" frame is a shorter and slightly smaller version of the current J frame. The number on the front of the grip is the serial number; the number under the crane is an assembly number. They are sometimes listed as square butt, but in fact they were all round butt frames, with the wood grips made to give the look of a square butt. The standard grip would have covered the serial number on the bottom of the butt, which is why the number was moved to the front strap. They are unique in having a "step" in the rear grip strap, apparently to better support the grip if the gun is used as a club. The pre-war .38 Regulation Police was serial numbered in its own range 1 - 54474, 1917 - 1940. That gives an approximate production of 2500 per year, so your number 10524 would date to about 1919-1920. Value as described would probably run about $250-300. They are very nice guns for carry; reasonably powerful, yet light and, with a 4" barrel, having a good sight radius. Jim

12-10-2012, 06:37 PM	#3
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,651	Re: Old S&W 38 Regulation Police Revolver . __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies. Last edited by Alpo; 12-10-2012 at 06:38 PM..

12-11-2012, 07:26 AM	#4
Cary Lang V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Charlottesville, Virginia Posts: 50	Re: Old S&W 38 Regulation Police Revolver Thanks Jim for your help.

12-10-2012, 04:15 PM	#1
Cary Lang V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Charlottesville, Virginia Posts: 50	Old S&W 38 Regulation Police Revolver Today I saw a S&W 38 CTG Regulation Police revolver in a local gun shop and wondered if anyone could tell me a little about it. It is a five shot revolver with a 4" barrel. It has a swing out cylinder and hand ejector rod. It appears to be an "I" frame, square butt with checkered walnut grips. There are two sets of numbers on the gun...What appears to be the serial number is on the front of the frame between the grips, it is #10524 with no letters before or after it. There is another number where the ejector rod cradles in the frame when it is closed and that # is 1180. I am sorry that I am unable to post pictures at this point but was wondeing if anyone knew when it might have been manufactured. Mechanically the gun is very tight and locks up well. The bore is clean and has good rifleing. The entire gun looks like most of the blue had faded to a grayish color...does someone know when this gun may have been made and what if any an approximate value may be for this gun? It has a series of patent dates on top of the barrell...year o1 I believe is the first year 09 the second and dec,14 being the last patent date listed. I hope I provided enough information to get some information on the gun. --> Last edited by Cary Lang; 12-10-2012 at 04:39 PM.. Reason: more information