1905 S&W hand ejector.

[eveled]

I just found this revolver locally. Model 1905 k frame. 5 digit serial number puts it at 1906 or 1907 manufacture.

What is odd is the barrel is marked like at model 1902 would be.

US SERVICE CTGS meant .38 Long

Any comments are welcome and appreciated.

 

[ArizonaTea123]

Never seen a barrel marked like that.

 

[eveled]

Never seen a barrel marked like that.

My understanding is, S&W wanted the military to adopt these revolvers but did not want to stamp Colt into their barrels.

The military was unhappy with the .38 Long Colt chambered M1892 Colt revolvers.

The 1899,1902 & 1905 model S&W could shoot both the Long Colt and relatively new more powerful .38 special. Which they wanted the military to adopt.

This gun must be from when S&W still hoped to get a government contract.

Instead the military chose to go back to .45 Colt m1909 briefly and then to .45acp both 1911 automatic and 1917 revolvers

Wikipedia says the military stopped using .38 Long Colt in 1909 when they went to .45

 

[eveled]

According to the responses from another forum the stocks are newer from the 1950’s.

The dual caliber marking on the barrel lasted until about sn 100,000 so approximately the first 40,000 model 5’s out of almost 1 million made until 1942.

 

[hittman]

6” barrel?

 

[eveled]

6” barrel?

Yes

 

[hittman]

I agree they’re later grips …. But the wear on them seems to match the “vibe”. I know, the purists will hate to hear that.

Mine is I think what they call 4th Change and believe it dates to the early 30s.

 

[rugerguy]

Nice gun, too bad they over polished it when it was redone,,,I used to like those ,and had the 4th and 5 th models but sold them a few years ago, when I got rid of all my 'smiths....ah yes those were the days my friend..........:unsure:;)

 

[Drayks]

The markings on the barrel pictured are EXACTLY what mine are marked as. Mine has a 6 1/2" barrel and rounded front sight, Serial 86,XXX with black hard rubber grip panels. I believe mine is a model 1905/4th change made in 1906. Don't know how to post pics.

 

[eveled]

That’s awesome! My sn is 83,8xx about 3,000 away from yours! Interesting about the rubber grips, is yours a round butt or square? Does your front sight look like mine?

 

[Drayks]

Round butt, rounded front sight, not rectangular, rubber grip has sn inside, so know they are original. Wife's grandfather's gun, he put hand made larger wood stocks on and preserved the original grips which I found in a gun junk box. I put a set of pachmayr sp? grips on for larger size and to preserve grips.

 

[eveled]

Very cool to have a family gun like that.

 

[flyer898]

The finish is very well preserved - not many like that any more.

 

[eveled]

The finish is very well preserved - not many like that any more.

Thanks.

Unfortunately it looks better in pictures than in person, it has some speckling. Also the way the barrel stamping “US SERVICE CTGS” is wallowed out indicates it was over polished before a reblue.

It must have been refinished a long time ago, probably when the stocks were replaced. It is presentable, but not really collector grade.

It was cheap, so I’m not upset, it is almost 120 years old after all.

It tells part of the story that led up to the adoption of the 1911 and .45acp.

 

[hittman]