38 S&W Identification

[twozips]

When my father passed away, he left me a blue revolver. The markings on the barrel are 38 S&W CTG. It is a 5 shot revolver with serial number 254391 on the bottom of the butt. The barrel is 3-1/4" long (from front of the cylinder to the end). It has a top break to load, and what look like walnut grips. I would like to find out the approximate age of the gun, as well as what it might be worth. It is in extremely good condition.

 

[Jim Watson]

Assuming it has an exposed hammer, it is a S&W .38 Double Action Third Model Revolver, Flayderman 5G-076, made 1884 - 1895. Dollar value depends on condition, this is a common gun and it takes a very nice example to be worth more than a very few hundred dollars.

Standard grips were black checkered hard rubber. Walnut is unusual, maybe replacements.

 

[twozips]

Thank you for the information. From the condition, it doesn't appear to be as old as you suggested, but who knows. Is there a way to trace it using the serial number?

 

[Jim Watson]

You could pay Smith & Wesson $50 for a factory letter that would describe the gun as originally produced and where shipped, normally to a dealer.

If you lived in a repressive jurisdiction that had registered guns for many years and had the political connections to get into the files, you might could trace its ownership. But that is highly unlikely.