Smith & Wesson .38 Military & Police Model 1905 4th Change 2″ Revolver Rare
SOLD FOR: $3,025.00
LSB#: LSB250803JT008
Make: Smith & Wesson
Model: .38 Military & Police Model of 1905, 4th Change
Serial Number: 597985. All serialized parts are matching.
Year of Manufacture: Shipped January 29, 1936 (Confirmed by Factory Letter)
Caliber: .38 S&W Special
Action Type: Double Action / Single Action Revolver with Swing-Out Cylinder
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “SMITH & WESSON / .38 S.&W. SPC. CTG.” The right side of the frame is marked “MADE IN U.S.A.” The top of the frame under the hammer is stamped “REG. U.S. PAT. OFF.” The left side of the frame bears the S&W monogram logo. The serial number “597985” is found on the barrel flat, the rear face of the cylinder, the butt of the frame, and inside the right grip panel. All serials match.
Barrel Length: 2″, Pinned
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a round blade integral to the barrel; the rear sight is a square-notch groove in the top strap.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are factory-original checkered black hard-rubber round-butt panels with S&W monograms. The right panel is serial-numbered internally to match the revolver. The checkering remains defined with light handling wear at the high points. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips rate in Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Factory Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright with sharp rifling and light surface frosting. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 9 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains approximately 97% of its original blue finish. Wear is present at the muzzle, ejector rod housing, and leading edges of the cylinder and frame. There are scattered light handling marks, a few small freckles of patina, and turn line wear on the cylinder. Screw heads are sharp, and markings are clear and legible. The revolver shows honest age and care commensurate with its 1936 production.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly in both double and single-action modes. Cylinder timing and lock-up are solid. We did not fire this revolver. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Accessories: Copy of Factory Smith & Wesson Historical Letter confirming configuration and shipment.
Factory Letter Details:
According to the included copy of the letter from S&W Historian Roy Jinks, this revolver—serial number 597985—was shipped from the factory on January 29, 1936, to R. V. Bardon, Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was ordered through Belknap Hardware Co., Louisville, Kentucky, and billed at $22.62 for direct dealer shipment. The factory records specify it left the plant with a 2-inch barrel, blue finish, and checkered black hard-rubber round-butt grips—exactly as it remains today.
Our Assessment:
This Smith & Wesson .38 Military & Police Model of 1905, 4th Change is a classic pre-war K-Frame revolver and a direct ancestor of the later Model 10. Shipped in 1936, it features the scarce 2-inch barrel and round-butt configuration favored by detectives and plainclothes officers during the interwar years. The matching-number grips, uniform finish, and confirmed factory letter make this an especially desirable example of the early “snubnose” service revolvers that helped shape modern defensive handguns. An authentic, documented pre-WWII Smith & Wesson with outstanding collector appeal. So bid high and bid firm. I encourage you to look at the item’s condition in our high-quality photos. Good luck with your bid. -K.F.
