[birddogo1e]

Need a little help on a new purchase. It is a blued IJ 3rd Model (4 thru pins) Top Break Hammerless large frame in 38 S&W with a 6" barrel. Up to this point nothing special. Now for the "good" stuff. It has a set of wood target grips with a single screw that goes through the bottom into the bottom strap on the grip frame like a 22 target sealed 8 I have. The seriel number is 39XX on the trigger guard, underside of the cylindar top strap and on the left forward grip strap under the grips. There is no letter anywhere, just 39XX. Can anyone give me a little info on this? I haven't been able to find a picture of one that has grips like mine and all posts I've read indicate there should be a letter proceeding the SN under the left grip.

 

[hrf]

It's probably a special order gun:

Page 85 of Goforth's book shows two special order 3rd model .38s with four digit serials and no letter prefixes, and the special order feature of both is listed as the one-piece "Western Walnut" grips.

Unfortunately, there are apparently no production records listing the special order serials.

 

[birddogo1e]

Preciate the info, remember reading something about this awhile back. Does this possibly add to the value of the gun? Forgot to mention in original post that there are no Patent dates anywhere on this revolver, just the name (IJ) and location on the barrel topstrap. Could this possibly be unique to special orders? If so it would make ID of special orders much simpler.

Geezer in Dayton

 

[hrf]

Preciate the info, remember reading something about this awhile back. Does this possibly add to the value of the gun? Forgot to mention in original post that there are no Patent dates anywhere on this revolver, just the name (IJ) and location on the barrel topstrap. Could this possibly be unique to special orders? If so it would make ID of special orders much simpler.

Geezer in Dayton

The Western Walnut grip might add appeal to some collectors or shooters, but I doubt it would translate into any significate dollar value.

The patent dates or date would be on end of butt frame, but if present will be partly obscured by the hole for the one piece grip screw.

The marking 1914-1941 was PAT.NOV.17,08 over PAT'S.PENDING.