Need help with identifying model of .38 S&W Special CTG

[luckydawg54]

My mother recently gave me a 38 special (from my father that passed away several years ago) it has .38 S&W Special CTG stamped on the side of the barrel, on the other side it has four screws (and one in front of the pistol grip) and a S & W logo stamped on the body. The grips had previously been replaced with target grips and they were falling apart -- the number on the but of the grip doesn't have any letters, just #135904 stamped on the frame.
it has a 6" (I think they call it pencil barrel) no moveable sites.

It has a little rust and I would like to know if it is worth restoring. I can clean up the rust and probably blu it but I have no idea how to get original grips for it.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Jim K]

I believe it is a Military and Police Model, Second Change, made in 1908 or 1909. I would remove any active rust, but real restoral would not be cost effective. Repro grips can be obtained from www.gungrip.com. You might also check www.gunpartscorp.com or at gun shows for grips as modern S&W grips should fit.

I couldn't give a value estimate without pictures, but there were a lot of those guns made and in rusted condition they only bring $200 or so.

One note of caution. If planning to carry the gun, keep a fired case or an empty chamber under the hammer; that gun has a rebound lever but no hammer safety block and if dropped on the hammer with a round under it, the gun could fire and cause an accident.

Jim