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S&W ?

chumchum
saw a smith at the show today and it is a 38 with 3"? barrel and it looked to be silver (although I know its not) not nickle or stainless and it dates about 1930-40 by the serial # I think. odd thing is that it has 3&1/2 tons stamped on the barrel and CHP along with the usual stuff. and the cylinder has stampings at each chamber.
it has a serial # only that is visible when cyl. is open - no modle #. any ideas on what it is and what its worth? its about 80-85% may go 92 or 3% if cleaned and buffed. wood grips are smith grips but look too good to be the originals. may be wrong there.

thanks -
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Comments

6 comments

Date Votes
  • chumchum
    what is meant by a pinned barrel? Is one or sought after by collectors?

    Thanks
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  • Ray Boone
    The barrel is screwed into the frame, then in addition to being friction tight, a hole is drilled through the frame and a notch is made in the barrel, inline with the hole in the frame. a pin is inserted that prevents the barrel from being unscrewed. Pinned barrels would cost more because of the extra steps in production.
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  • manderson
    S&W cut out pinning the barrels on the magnums (and some other models) when they started redesigning in order to make things cheaper to manufacture. I think most will agree that this is when some of the quality began to fall off. Experts, shoot me down if you think I am wrong.
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  • Laredo Lefty
    S&W stopped pinning the barrels on not only the magnums but all their revolvers about 1982, about the same time they discontinued the recessed cylinders on the magnums, but still recess the .22's.

    "Never let school interfere with your education"
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  • Contender Man
    If you encounter a S&W with a pinned barrel it is one of the quick visuals to tell you that you are looking at an earlier model (older) revolver.

    In general terms, if condition is equal, the older revolver can bring a higher price. However to folks just looking for good shooters the pin makes no difference.

    The engineering change to dispense with pinned barrels along with other changes were cost reduction measures, but they did not effect the safety or accuracy of the guns.


    2470103-S.gif

    If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!
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  • James Ayers
    [8D]Not an expert, but the S&W 686, mod 500 and new S&W 1911, suffer NO quality loss.[:D][:D][:D][:D]

    On your mark-get set- go away!!
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