Grandpa's revolver

[Mr. Fusion]

In the process of moving, my dad retrieved his handguns for the safe deposit box in Rockwood to take them with him. It was the first time my brother and I had ever seen them.

As it turns out, he has his father's revolver, as well has his grandfather's revolver. Well, his dad's revolver is none other than a Smith & Wesson Hand Ejector chambered for a .38 caliber. I said, "I didn't know you had Indiana Jones' gun!!!!"



I don't know much about it. As far as I can tell it's most likely a 1st model. This assumption is based on the ejector rod shroud and the patent dates. The 3rd model also has the ejector shroud. But if it's a 1st model, it's in incredible shape. It does need to be cleaned pretty badly.

One day it will be mine.

-Josh

[Pennsylvania Jones]

A Triple Lock?!?!?!?!

Lucky! Years ago, I've read on online gun sources that the third locking lug gives the revolver some great quality. I think they said it makes it more durable or capable of more power, but I'm not really sure how valid that is. Whatever the case, nice gun.

Steven

[California Jones]

Holly Crap!!! that awesome what a find one nice gem of a pistol it's a old school Smith they dont get better than that!

[Mr. Fusion]

Yeah, she's a beaut alright.

-Josh

[jnicktem]

Beautiful gun! What kind of gun was your dad's grandfathers if I may ask?

[Mr. Fusion]

Jun 24, 2011 14:12:01 GMT -5 jnicktem said:

Beautiful gun! What kind of gun was your dad's grandfathers if I may ask?

It appears to be a Smith & Wesson Model 10. It is, however, in very, very rough shape. I didn't get a chance to snap a pic of it.

at Wikipedia:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_%26_Wesson_Model_10

imfdb.org:


My great grandfather used his S&W while he was a security guard at a coal mine, I believe. That must have been about 90-100 years ago. I'll try to get my dad to take a picture sometime.


-Josh

[BigFitz]

Mr. fusion, I would like to offer my opinion of your grandfather's revolver as I know a little bit about S&W's although I'm not an expert.

If the gun you picture is in 38 special caliber, then it is what is referred to as a "Heavy Duty" model. The picture isn't too clear, but it appears that the S&W logo is roll marked in the frame just below the cylinder release. This indicates to me that the gun was manufactured somewhere from the early '30's to just before WWII started. I have one almost exactly like the one pictured except mine was made in the '50's.

The Heavy Duty was the forerunner to the 357 magnum which was introduced I believe in 1935 by S&W. The Heavy Duty fired a "hot rodded" 38 special cartrige that was very close to the performance of todays 357 magnum (357 ammo from the '30's was significantly more powerful than todays offerings).

They are great guns and of course you can still fire regular 38's in them although it feels almost like you're shhooting a 22.

It's a great looking gun from what I can see and they can fetch a decent price from the right buyer ( although I'm not suggesting it should be sold).

Hope this helps.

Also, and I'm not trying to rain on your parade, if this gun is a Heavy Duty, it is not a Triplelock, but still a great gun.

[Mr. Fusion]

Well, it doesn't really matter to me. It's not my gun. ;D But thanks for the information. I doubt I would have made time to look it up. I would have just assumed it to be a Triple Lock. I was also going by the patent dates (I cannot remember the years) which were earlier than the '30s.

Thanks for the info!

-Josh

[whipless01]

You lucky dog!!!
What a stroke of luck, and someday you will own it, and you just MIGHT post pics.

[whipless01]

Strong emphasis on the MIGHT.

[coldswiss]

Very nice find Josh!!!!

Regards
JM

[manpurse]

Sept 6, 2011 20:51:49 GMT -5 @whipless01 said:

Strong emphasis on the MIGHT.

no hard feelings but i was using that avatar way before you joined the forum

[Mr. Fusion]

FLASH TO: 1 year later...

My dad's friend (a former police officer), my dad and I went to a shooting range today and fired his three handguns: an Heckler and Koch HK4 (9mm), a Ruger Standard (.22 acp) and his dad's S&W .38 special (pictured above) along with David's Glock .40 and Remington 12-gauge. They all shot well. My dad hasn't fired any of them in years.

I have never fired a gun before (long overdue if you ask me). Today I got to fire 5 guns. Heh heh. It was fun to test my mettle. I started off doing very well with my dad's Ruger and Smith & Wesson; keeping the shots around the center. I didn't do as well with the bigger guns, though. ;D

I just thought I'd share.

-Josh

[micsteam]

Just to get back to something mentioned earlier in this thread, S&W Triple Locks only came in a large N frame and your Grandfather's revolver is a .38 which is a smaller K frame also Triple Locks came in either .44 special or .45 lc plus there is a distinctive difference in the look of the ejector shroud between HEs and Triple Locks. Hope this helps.

[Mr. Fusion]

Apr 24, 2014 15:40:09 GMT -5 micsteam said:

Just to get back to something mentioned earlier in this thread, S&W Triple Locks only came in a large N frame and your Grandfather's revolver is a .38 which is a smaller K frame also Triple Locks came in either .44 special or .45 lc plus there is a distinctive difference in the look of the ejector shroud between HEs and Triple Locks. Hope this helps.

The revolver I'm referencing in the first post is on an N frame. It's chambered in .38 Special (I previously believed it to be .38)

This is the only picture I have of it:



Here's something interesting I came across:Smith & Wesson N frame .38's

The one I mentioned later was my great grandfather's S&W .38. It is rusted practically beyond recognition, which is really a shame.

-Josh