Smith & Wesson .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change, Nickel, 4 inch, DA/SA .38 Special Revolver (Pre-Model 10, Immediate Post-War Transitional)
This immediate post-war transitional Smith & Wesson .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change is a commercial-production, five-screw-era revolver with a nickel finish that was less common than blue at the time. It features a 4 inch tapered barrel, fixed sights, and matching assembly numbers on the crane/yoke and frame cut. The butt serial shows an S prefix, and the revolver retains hallmark details such as an exposed, non-shrouded ejector rod and aftermarket black composition grip panels with medallion-style inlays.
Condition
Overall Condition: Fair condition, showing extensive signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Overall Condition: Fair - Generally clean, some residue or smudges, slight corrosion.
Bore Rifling: Fair Rifling - Worn rifling, slight loss of definition.
Specific Condition Notes: There is widespread rust and pitting. There are widespread scratches and blemishes. The bore is clean and shiny with defined rifling. The action is smooth with a tight lockup.
What’s Included
- Black leather holster with snap-closure retention strap
The .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change is the classic pre-Model 10 pattern in full-size configuration. This example is chambered in .38 Special with a 6-shot cylinder and a 4 inch tapered barrel. It runs in double-action/single-action and wears fixed sights with a half-moon front and a square-notch rear in the topstrap.
Built circa 1945–1948, it is an immediate post-war transitional commercial gun with commercial rollmarks and no martial or U.S. PROPERTY markings. It uses five-screw-era construction and was made in the USA.
The factory-style nickel finish covers the carbon steel frame and cylinder, a finish less common than blue in the period. It retains a smooth, case-hardened trigger and a checkered spur hammer. The grips are aftermarket black composition (hard-rubber/plastic) panels with medallion-style inlays, not factory for this period.
Mechanical details include an exposed, non-shrouded ejector rod with a knurled tip and no lanyard ring. Matching assembly numbers are present on the crane/yoke and frame cut, and the butt serial shows an S prefix. The action is smooth with a tight lockup as noted.