Wife's Dad's 38 Special

[Daddy Rabbit]

Wife's Dad died about 10 years ago. He was 76 I cleaned out his house back then and found a Gun in a bucket by his bed. I put in our closet and never touched it again until the other day.

I don't know nothing about guns. I have a couple of shotguns
and that is it. I live in Tennessee in the country.

I saw this site the other day and thought I would get the gun to find out about it.

I'm going to describe it the best I can and put down the markings I find.
The barrel is 3 1/8" long. On the right side in front of the trigger reads.
Made in U.S.A. MARCAS REGISTRADAS S&W SPRINGFIELD MASS.
On the right side the end of the barrel reads 38 S&W SPECIAL CTG.

You open up the spinner? On the Gun itself by the spinner reads MOD 10-5. On the spinner(what holds the shells) bracket reads... Looks half a C and 3975
There is a D a 9 and a 4 stamped on the same bracket.
Not in any order just randomly.

Wifes father lived in East Tenn up in the hills. He was a pharmacst and ran the only Drug store in town. Of course he knew about everybody as they came to him about like a Dr.
I figure he got if from a law man or sombody like that.

I have been thinking to get a gun to keep here at home and one the wife can use and also carry in her purse. There has been alot of meaness at the big wall mart at the next town over. Woman getting attacked in he parking lot by thugs...

I want her and me to take the gun course, get permits.
I have been looking at a SW 638?? Think that is the right #.
It is a smaller S&W the kind were the trigger is hidden. It wont get caught up/hang on something in her purse. This was a used one that had not been fired??. It was about $430..
He said a local man bought it but never fired it..

I was looking into seeing how much this Old 38 was worth.
Wife don't want to part with it. I know... she never even fired it but she is jus that way on keep sakes. Id sneak it in on a trade in if it had any value. Deal with her later on that.

Tell me this which is better for a woman. A revolver or a automatic. I did look at a few automatics. Kind you squeeze the grip and that is the saftey. They have the slide chamber to load the shell. I'm just thinking she migh jam it up.
A revolver might seem less to jam up. Trigger pull is a bit harder. Man said for a extra $50 he can smooth it to make it easier???

If you will fill me in on the value and the history of the old gun. Which is better for a inexperienced (gun sense) woman to handle and why.

Thank You
DR
raveATusit.net swap the AT with @

 

[jaydubya]

You have a .38 Special S&W Model 10, probably the most common police handgun of the 20th Century. It is a fine weapon, but as old as it is, you should not use +p (higher pressure) rounds in it. There are plenty of standard pressure, hollow point rounds out there that are just right for home defense. As for the best weapon for your wife, you already have it. Dead smack reliable. Learn to shoot it double action (not cocking the hammer), because when you do it for real that is what you must do. Find a range near you, and both of you practice, practice, practice. And do it with Walmart cheap stuff.
Cordially, Jack

 

[Iggy]

First, you and your wife should take a gun safety course, and the gun you have is an ideal one for doing that and for home self defense.

After learning more about handguns, you can make valid decisions about the different types of firearms and their various pros and cons.


BTW, the "spinner" your refer to is called the cylinder

 

[Will5A1]

You father-in-law's revolver is a S&W Model 10-5, a classic, and a very fine revolver for a house gun, given your wife's stated attachment to it I'd think you may be better off keeping it and buying your carry gun(s) outright.

The serial number is on the butt (bottom of the handle) of the revolver, post that and we can probably pin down an approx. date it left the factory (the C3975 on the rear of the cylinder sounds like a partial serial number, but for a 10-5 it should be longer). It really is an excellent revolver and you can't buy a new one of that quality today.

Taking the course is an excellent idea and your instructor should have a variety of handguns there for you to examine and handle - letting your wife choose one that best fits her is probably a good idea.

Welcome to the forum and shoot that classic Smith - you will enjoy it.

 

[Smith357]

You have a S&W model 10 made I think the -5s were made in the 80s but if I'm wrong someone will say so. The Model 10 is a classic double action revolver that was introduced in 1899. The 10-5 will have little collector value, collectors look for the pre 1950s guns, but it should be a great shooter and serve you well for many years, it will also have more value as a family heirloom than on the open market, you would be lucky if a dealer gives you more than $150 for it.

 

[GP100man]

the model 10-5 is a solid revolver for the 38spec round ,you will be served well by it .
family guns never leave!!!!

GP100man##

 

[Daddy Rabbit]

Thanks for ALL of the ideals.. From reading sounds like this is not that old/bad of a gun to have in the house.
I took the grips off and it reads C894834

I tried to attach a pic

 

[VHinch]

You have a fine revolver there. IIRC, -5 and up are fine for +p use.

On another note, no one seems to have noticed the apparent ethnic slur from your post, but such behavior is highly frowned upon around here.

 

[Rolando]

If you've got a raccoon problem the model 10 will be fine but really a .22 would probably be enough. I have some that are getting in my dog food and I had to lock it up in the garage. Watch out. They are known to have rabies

 

[armoredman]

Fine sidearm sir, the Model 10 is an excellent choice, especially for a beginner. I cannot add enough stress to the reccomendations to get good solid professional instruction on the safe use of your revolver.
BTW, the "Spinner" is called the cylinder, and it swings out on the crane. Congrats an a fine firearm! I also have an inheritance Model 10, and it is one of my favorite shooters.
Oh, have a competant gunsmith give it a safety inspection, just to be on the safe side.

 

[Daddy Rabbit]

10-4 VH I understand. I've been known to get a little side ways and will behave.
TKS
DR

You guys have about sold me to KEEP IT. Get some shells and some pratice on it. Might make it even sweeter for the wife shooting her fathers gun.
Somebody still finds about the serial number details please pass
it along just to know.

 

[Rolando]

Serial Numbers c810533-c999999 are approximately 1966-1967.

You better keep it. If you didn't you would regret it. Model 10 is a classic for sure.

 

[Black Knight]

Allow me to add to the sentiment, Keep It. The model 10 is a great revolver to start out with. I feel it is also a revolver that should be in every collection. It is the basis for most if not all of the S&W line. Even today with all the other choices available I would not feel outgunned if I were limited to one. With todays ammo the 38 Special is a viable defense gun and a nice all around one as well. You made quite a find. Now get a good holster for it after you give a good cleaning. If you don't know how to clean it most store bought cleaning kits have guides on cleaning a gun. If you have other questions come back here, someone here will be more than happy to help out.

 

[XavierBreath]

1. Keep your wife's gun. As a trade-in, you might.......Might get $100 for it. If you were to purchase it from a dealer, you could expect to pay $200-$300 depending on condition. As a family heirloom, it is irreplaceable.

2. A S&W 638 is a fine carry gun. $430 is on the high side for a used one, but used ones don't appear on the market frequently. Offer $375 and see if he will bite. Be aware that it carries five rounds, and it is not as easy to shoot accurately as the old Model 10 will be. The Model 10 will make an excellent "house gun" if you decide to get a 638 for your wife. I pocket carry it's predecessor, a Model 38. See the pic below.

3. An old Model 10 should need no "smoothing" of the action. Be careful who you let work on the gun. A lot of revolvers get screwed up by gun hacks who replace rebound springs and lighten trigger pulls by filing away at strain screws. This directly affects reliability.

4. Go to The Cornered Cat, a gun website by a woman, for women and the men in their lives. Read. Have your wife read. Then get training for both of you. Training is what counts.

5. I have edited your first post to remove the ethnic slur. I understand you are new here, but please abide by our rules. We have a global audience of gun owners, gun ambivalents, and even gun grabbers. At The High Road, we want to present the best face possible for gun owners.

 

[DWARREN123]

Not to knock THR or anything since you are from Tennessee please check out Tennessee Gun Owners
WWW.TNGUNOWNERS.COM

 

[ArchAngelCD]

DR,
I'm glad you decided to keep that revolver, you won't regret it.

I think you might want to rethink something you said. Like many people you said your wife might carry her handgun in her purse. That is the worse place for a woman to carry a gun. Snatch and grab thieves often go right for a woman's purse. In that case she is not only left unarmed but along with her money, keys and your address the thief has a handgun to rob you in your home or rob someone else. (or worse) Anyone who carries a handgun for Self Defense should always carry it on their body. You really don't want to supply a bad guys with a weapon, do you?

 

[wcwhitey]

I second ArchAngelCD's suggestion, always carry on the body. Better first that both of you take a course. It will help you evaluate your needs. By coming here and asking you are taking a good first step. It is also something that you can do together as a couple, spend a little quality time.