Smith & Wesson .38 Military & Police (Pre-Model 10) K-Frame, Five-Screw, Blued, 4-inch Barrel, 1948–1949
This late-1940s, post‑war Smith & Wesson .38 Military & Police is a pre‑Model 10 K‑frame with hallmark five‑screw construction and an early C‑prefix serial range. It features a 4‑inch pinned and tapered barrel, fixed sights with a half‑moon front blade, and color casehardened hammer and trigger. Notable period-correct details include the unshrouded ejector rod, hammer‑mounted firing pin, original checkered walnut Magna grips with diamond, and matching serial numbers on the butt and cylinder.
Condition
Overall Condition: Good condition, showing some signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Overall Condition: Good - Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Bore Rifling: Good Rifling - Intact, well-defined lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: Shows handling marks from prior use. Presents well for its era. See photos for close-ups of markings and finish.
What’s Included
- Cleaning brushes
- Smith & Wesson factory cardboard box for .38 Military & Police Revolver — Blue Finish, Square Butt, 4-inch barrel (as printed on end label)
This revolver represents the post‑war, pre‑Model 10 configuration of the .38 Military & Police, built on the K‑frame with the five‑screw pattern. The four‑line right‑frame address rollmark (introduced in April 1948) and the early C‑prefix serial range place it squarely in the 1948–1949 production window.
The 4‑inch tapered “pencil” barrel is factory pinned, pairing with fixed sights — a half‑moon front blade and a topstrap-integral rear notch — for a classic service setup. The revolver retains its unshrouded ejector rod, a defining feature of this era.
Mechanically, it is a DA/SA design with a swing‑out six‑shot cylinder. The hammer‑mounted firing pin and the color casehardened hammer and smooth, narrow trigger are original-style components from this timeframe, complementing the blued carbon steel frame and steel cylinder.
The original checkered walnut Magna grips with S&W medallions and diamond around the screw are present. Matching serial numbers on the butt and cylinder support period correctness for the assembly.