.38 S&W CTG

[RDW]

I was hoping someone could help me with an older pistol, that I just came across. On the top it is marked .38 S&W CTG, on the side of the barrel is "SECERT SERVICE", It has a serial number on the bottom of the trigger loop of 2551. The grips are black with "SSS" in a circle at the top of the grips. One of the grips is broken, also on the saftey it shows a pat of May 22, 1917.
Thanks in advance for the help.

[woolleyworm]

I'll quote an earlier post by Mr Goforth ( he's much more thourough and knowledgeable than I ):

"there were actually 5 different manufacturers of the secret service special. being a distributor fred biffar would buy from whoever gave him the best price.

SECRET SERVICE SPECIAL HAMMER
(manufactured for FRED BIFFAR Co.)--------------------1912-????
LARGE FRAME AND SMALL FRAME DOES NOT HAVE HAMMER THE HAMMER ACTION: These are the same as U.S. Revolver Co. Four other Companies also manufactured Secret Service Special revolvers for Fred Biffar Co. they are Meriden Firearms Co., Hopkins & Allen Firearms Co. and H&R Arms Co. and an unknown Spanish manufacturer. The Secret Service Special is the same revolver as the U.S. Revolver Co. Automatic except for the markings on the barrel. The top of the barrel will be marked “ for .38 SMITH & WESSON cartridge” (or .32 for the small frame) and the left side of the barrel will be marked SECRET SERVICE SPECIAL. This Brand name was sold only through Fred Biffar Co. of Chicago. Main serial number location on left side of grip frame grips must be removed to see.
VALUE: Iver Johnson: manufacture same as U. S. Revolver Co. equivalent
H&R Arms Co. manufacture 10% less than U. S. Revolver Co. equivalent
H&A Firearms Co. manufacture 15% less than U. S. Revolver Co. equivalent
Meriden Firearms Co. manufacture 20% less than U. S. Revolver Co. equivalent
Unknown Spanish manufacture 25% less than U. S. Revolver Co. equivalent

SECRET SERVICE SPECIAL HAMMERLESS
(manufactured for FRED BIFFAR Co.)-----------------------1912-????
LARGE FRAME AND SMALL FRAME DOES NOT HAVE HAMMER THE HAMMER ACTION: This revolver is the same as the U.S. Revolver Co. Automatic Hammerless model only the markings on the barrel and the grips are different. The grips and barrel markings are the same as the hammer model. This revolver Brand name is sold only through Fred Biffar Co. of Chicago. Main serial number location on left side of grip frame grips must be removed to see.
VALUE: Iver Johnson: manufacture same as U. S. Revolver Co. equivalent
H&R Arms Co. manufacture 10% less than U. S. Revolver Co. equivalent
H&A Firearms Co. manufacture 15% less than U. S. Revolver Co. equivalent
Meriden Firearms Co. manufacture 20% less than U. S. Revolver Co. equivalent
Unknown Spanish manufacture 25% less than U. S. Revolver Co. equivalent

SECRET SERVICE SPECIAL WITH HAMMER BLOCK SAFETY-------------1917-????
LARGE FRAME AND SMALL FRAME DOES NOT HAVE HAMMER THE HAMMER ACTION: The only difference between this model and the earlier Secret Service Special is the Patented hammer block safety. This safety was patented by Prospero Donaldo and assigned to Fred Biffar Co. of Chicago. It is number 1,227,531 issued on May 22, 1917. Main serial number location on left side of grip frame grips must be removed to see.
VALUE: Iver Johnson manufacture 10% more than U.S. Revolver Co. equivalent.

when providing information to the 30th edition of the blue book i included the secret service special because iver johnson was one of the 5 supplier for revolvers marked secret service special. the values place on them are based on the iver johnson manufactured U.S. Recolver Co., which will be betwee 100%=$225 and 60%=$105.

each manufacturer of these revolvers can be identified if a person has knowledge of the different manufacturer. with out an inhand inspection or at the least good clear pictures the exact manufacturer is impossible to determine.

to the best of my knowledge Hopkins & Allen was the first supplier and the unknown spanish company was the last. the eariest date seem to be about 1890 and the last in the late 1920's. all the iver johnson manufactured one date from about 1912 through the early 1920's
bill"

[RDW]

Thank you for the quick responce

[woolleyworm]

Originally Posted by RDW

Thank you for the quick responce

No problem, take a look around and hope you'll enjoy the forum. Welcome and glad to be of assistance in quoting one of our greatest assest on the forum. Bill is very knoweldgeable on IJ's, HR's and alot of things that go bang!

[b.goforth]

the only thing i want to add to the answer already given is that most of the Secret Service Special's equiped with the patented hammer block safety seem to be of iver johnson manufacture. not all but a majority i have seen. this safety was not added at the time of manufacture but added later by the distributor Fred Biffar.

a picture would help us tell who the manufacturer might have been.
bill

[RDW]

Thank you for the help. I will try to get some pictures up later this week or next week.

Thanks again