38 MILITARY & POLICE FIRST MODEL (MODEL OF 1899)
- .38 S&W Special cal., early Army & Navy models were marked "S&W .38 MIL.", civilian guns and standard models are 2-line barrel marked ".38 S&W SPECIAL & U.S. SERVICE CTG'S" with the "Maltese Cross" emblem stamped both before and after the caliber, these models are also referred to as .38 Hand Ejectors, 6 shot fluted cylinder, 4, 5, or 6 1/2 in. barrel, blue or nickel finish, "S&W" monogram checkered hard rubber or checkered walnut grips with walnut grips exhibiting an impressed circle at top, left plain for civilian issue, marked with inspector's initials for military issue. 20,975 mfg. 1899-1902. Serial number range 1-20,975.
On these models, barrel markings are somewhat confusing, generally marked .38 S&W Spl. & U.S. Service cartridge, Military Issue is typically marked .38 Military. Fixed sights are referred to as Military & Police Models while target sights are referred to as .38 Hand Ejectors.
.38 Military & Police First Model U.S. Navy
- 1,000 revolvers in .38 S&W Spl. cal. with 6 in. barrel, blue, checkered walnut grips, delivered in 1900. Stamped on butt "U.S.N." with an anchor and inspector's initials. All in S&W serial range 5,001-6,000. U.S. Navy serial number range 1-1,000.
.38 Military & Police First Model U.S. Army
- 1,000 revolvers in .38 Military cal. with 6 in. barrel, blue, checkered walnut grips, inspector's initials "K.S.M." on right grip panel with "J.T.T.1901" on left grip panel. Stamped on butt "U.S. ARMY/MODEL 1899". S&W serial number range 13,001-14,000.
.38 MILITARY & POLICE SECOND MODEL (MODEL OF 1902)
- .38 S&W Special and .38 Military cal., civilian and standard models barrels have a 2-line marking ".38 S&W SPECIAL & U.S. SERVICE CTG'S" with the "Maltese Cross" emblem stamped both before and after the caliber, 6 shot, fluted cylinder, 4, 5, 6, and 6 1/2 in. barrels, blue or nickel, "S&W" monogram checkered hard rubber or checkered walnut grips. 12,827 mfg. 1902-03. Serial number range 20,976-33,803.
.38 Military & Police Second Model U.S. Navy
- 1,000 revolvers in .38 United States Service caliber with 6 in. barrel, delivered in 1902, "U.S.N." with "J.A.B.", anchor, and arrow through horizontal "S" and "No." (Naval Ser. No. designation) stamped on butt, ser. no. range is 1,001 - 2,000.
.38 MILITARY & POLICE SECOND MODEL - 1ST CHANGE
- .38 S&W Special cal., 6 shot fluted cylinder, 4, 5, or 6 1/2 in. barrel, blue or nickel, "S&W" monogram checkered hard rubber or checkered walnut grips, rounded butt style. 28,645 mfg. 1903-05. Serial number range 33,804-62,449.
.38 Military & Police Second Model 1st Change Standard Round Butt
- hard rubber grips, round butt.
.38 Military & Police Second Model 1st Change Standard Square Butt
- checkered walnut grips or square butt to frame style. All will have serial numbers over the 58,000 range.
- .38 S&W Special cal., 6 shot fluted cylinder, 4, 5, or 6 1/2 in. barrel, blue or nickel finish, "S&W" monogram checkered hard rubber (round butt) or checkered walnut (square butt) grips. 10,800 mfg. 1905-06. Serial number range 62,450-73,250.
.38 MILITARY & POLICE (MODEL OF 1905 - 1ST CHANGE)
- .38 S&W Special cal., 6 shot fluted cylinder, 4, 5, 6, or 6 1/2 in. barrel, blue or nickel finish, grips same as above. 73,648 mfg. (including Model 1905 2nd change), exact quantity of both models has not been determined. The first change mfg. in 1906-08. Serial number range 73,251 - unknown.
.38 MILITARY & POLICE (MODEL OF 1905 - 2ND CHANGE)
- .38 S&W Special cal., cylinder barrel lengths, finishes and grip styles same as above. 73,648 (including Model 1905 1st change) mfg. Exact quantity unknown. The second change mfg. in 1908-09. Serial number range unknown-146,899.
.38 MILITARY & POLICE (MODEL OF 1905 - 3RD CHANGE)
- .38 S&W Special cal., 6 shot fluted cylinder, 4, 5, or 6 in. barrel, finishes and grip styles same as above. 94,803 mfg. 1909-15. Serial number range 146,900-241,703.
.38 MILITARY & POLICE (MODEL OF 1905 - 4TH CHANGE)
- .38 S&W Special cal., 6 shot fluted cylinder, 2, 4, 5, or 6 in. barrel, finishes and grip styles same as above. 458,296 mfg. 1915-42. Serial number range 241,704-approx. 1,000,000.
.38 MILITARY & POLICE (POSTWAR)
- .38 S&W Special cal., double action revolver built on the square butt K 5 screw frame. Mfg. circa 1946-1957
This model is a continuation of the previous model without the V serial prefix or the lanyard ring. A contemporary source indicates the S prefix postwar guns began as early as Dec. 27, 1944 at around s/n S769000. Others report Sept. 1945 beginning at S811120. It's reported that at S990184, Apr. 7, 1948, the new short throw hammer action was introduced, becoming the now familiar Model 10 in 1957. Many postwar frames will have the hole in the side of the frame for the access to the lanyard ring lock pin. Postwar production frames will also have the four address lines of "Made In U.S.A., Marcas Registradas, Smith & Wesson Springfield, Mass." on the right side. After the production of the second million M&P revolvers, the serial prefix was again changed to a C prefix on March 22, 1948 starting over at C-1, and was also numbered concurrently with the M&P Airweights and the M&P .22 or pre-Model 45. The C prefix continued until 1967 when a D serial prefix was introduced after C999999. Available in 2, 4, 5, or 6 in. round pinned barrel lengths with a 1/10 inch fixed round blade front sight and a square notch rear sight (later changed to 1/8 in.). Available in blue or nickel finish. The 6 shot fluted cylinder has a nominal length of 1.56 in.. Case colored .240 in. serrated trigger with finely checked hammer with .265 in. spur, checkered diamond walnut grips with S&W monograms, S&W trademark on the sideplate, barrel markings are "Smith & Wesson" on the left side and ".38 S&W Special CTG." on the right side. Smooth backstrap and forestrap. Serial numbers are found on the butt, cylinder face, barrel flat, yoke face (viewed thru a charge hole), the rear of the star extractor, and on the right grip panel. The round butt frame variation became available in late 1947. The 2 in. variation will have Smith & Wesson and the caliber marking on the left side of the barrel. Weight is 29.5 oz for a 4 in. version. Became the Model 10 in 1957.