| Powered by phpBay Pro |
Information on Smith & Wesson 38 Pearl Grips Nickel Yr. 1901 ?
Left side barrel marked FOR 38. S.&W. SPECIAL CTGS then in front of this marking and after there is a kind of a geometric mark like triangles. The finish is Nickel and the grips are mother of pearl. the number on the butt is 38*** and SPAIN is stamped behind the trigger housing. Any help would be great.... Semper Fi....
Copied from a forum:
# 10741 - Spanish S&W Copy
5/24/2005
Mark
UK - UK - 38 -
The number (looks to be hand-stamped) '921' on the underside of the barrel and on the cylinder assembly (under the ejector). On the left side, just above the grip, it has ''MADE IN SPAIN'', and on the left side of the barrel it contains the line of text ''FOR 38 SPECIAL AND U. S. SERVICE CTG.''. Just to the right of this, where the barrel meets the frame, it contains stamped letters ''PN''. On the cylinder, the barrel, and the frame, there is a small mark that looks like a 4-legged animal of some kind. Under the cylinder release lever, there is a round stylized marking that has ''TRADE'' above it, and ''MARK'' below it. The mark itself is hard to tell just what exactly it is... at my closest guess, it looks like an 'IA' or 'IH' stamped over a football-shaped 'E' or 'C'. On the right-hand side of the frame, near the front there is a marking that is partially worn off, written vertically... it looks like part of an 'E', and ends with an 'R'... to the left of the '! R' there is a diagonal line that may have been part of an 'A' (I'm guessing it may be 'EIBAR'), with the number '1925' stamped clearly below it. The serial number I provided (I'm assuming that's what it is) is stamped at the bottom of the grip, and is pretty crudely stamped. I inherited this piece from my father... As far as I know, it was his duty weapon when he was a forestry / game warden years ago. The finish was pretty worn when he had it, but it looked to be either chromed or nickel-plated... I remember it being a silvery color... he later had it refinished and blued. I'm trying to identify just what it is, and I've never been able to find out anything about the trade/makers' marks, who made it, when it was made, possibly some general history on it, and if it is a common piece or a collectors' item... It's got a lot of family history and sentimental value to us (I'm not planning on selling it, but if it's worth something, I'd like to insure it at the correct value), and I'd like to know more about it. I have found ''RUBY'' pistols that look similar to it, but none were exact to what I have. It is complete and in good working (firable) condition. I'd appreciate any information you can provide... feel free to contact me if I can! get you any more detail that may be needed to identify it.
Answer:
Mark, it sounds like you have one of the many Spanish Smith and Wesson copies which were imported into the United States in the first half of the 20th century. There were several companies in Eibar Spain manufacturing this type of revolver during that time. Information about individual makers is often hard to find, without a brand or model name it is almost impossible. Spanish Smith and Wesson copies often had a logo that was similar to the one used by Smith and Wesson. One theory is that the similarity in logos was intentional, designed to deceive the unwary potential buyer into thinking that they were actually purchasing a real Smith and Wesson. It is very doubtful that this firearm was issued as a service revolver, it is more likely that it was purchased privately. The 921 stamping is probably an assembly or match number and the animal stamping you describe is probably a proof mark.
Spanish Smith and Wesson copies have a reputation in general for making use of low quality, steel which may not be strong enough to handle modern day high- pressure loads. My advise would be to retire this weapon and not fire it. There is no collectors in the Spanish S&W copies, I often see revolvers in perfect condition being offered in the $50.00 range. Marc
If you can find any other markings it could be a more modern "ruby" pistol made by Llama. Astra also made some S&W knockoffs.
Items Recently Purchased From This Site:
| Powered by phpBay Pro |
