Smith & Wesson .38 Military & Police Pre-Model 10, Five-Screw K-Frame, Early 1940s, .38 Special, 6-Shot, Blued, Round-Butt
This early-1940s Smith & Wesson .38 Military & Police Pre-Model 10 is a five-screw K-Frame in commercial (non-Victory) configuration with a blued finish and round-butt grip frame. It features a short tapered barrel with an unshrouded ejector rod, a fluted six-shot cylinder, and fixed sights. Classic rollmarks and period-correct color case-hardened controls add to its period character.
Condition
Overall Condition: Fair condition, showing extensive signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Fair - Generally clean, some residue or smudges, slight corrosion.
Bore Rifling: Fair Rifling - Worn rifling, slight loss of definition.
Specific condition notes: There are many patches of rust and pitting on the metal surfaces. Scratches and blemishes are present throughout the finish. The rifling is defined, but there are blemishes visible within the bore.
What’s Included
- Smith & Wesson .38 Military & Police Pre-Model 10 revolver
This pre-model-number K-Frame comes from the five-screw era, including the trigger-guard screw, and is configured in the blued commercial style with no lanyard ring. Its round-butt grip frame currently wears aftermarket/replacement smooth wooden round-butt grips (non-factory).
The short, tapered round-profile barrel retains an unshrouded ejector rod, and the fluted cylinder holds six rounds. The revolver operates in double-action/single-action, with fixed sights consisting of a half-moon front blade and a square-notch cut into the topstrap.
Construction is carbon steel throughout the frame, cylinder, and barrel. The hammer and trigger show color case-hardening, while the cylinder latch and hammer spur are checkered for positive purchase. The trigger itself is smooth and narrow, consistent with the era.
Chambered in .38 Special, the barrel carries period rollmarks including "SMITH & WESSON" and "38 S.&W. SPECIAL CTG." The frame bears the "MADE IN U.S.A." stamp. Overall, this is a representative early-1940s S&W M&P with hallmark features of the time and series.