The Smith & Wesson .38 Military & Police is among the most significant and prolific revolvers in American firearms history. Its lineage traces to the Hand Ejector Model of 1899, which introduced the swing out cylinder, double action platform that would define Smith & Wesson revolvers for over a century. The design was refined through several generations, including the Model of 1902, 1905, and the Model of 1905 First through Fourth Changes, before maturing into the form commonly recognized as the .38 Military & Police. When Smith & Wesson adopted numerical model designations in 1957, the .38 Military & Police received the Model 10 designation. Throughout its long production history, the K-frame featured a 5-screw configuration consisting of four sideplate screws and one trigger guard screw. This construction detail is found across multiple eras of production, including pre-war Model of 1905 variations, wartime Victory Models, and early postwar revolvers, and remained standard until Smith & Wesson eliminated the top sideplate screw in the mid-1950s, transitioning to the 4-screw configuration. 

This example is a C-prefix serial number revolver, placing its manufacture in the approximately 1949 to 1951 early postwar production period. It features a 2 inch barrel with a blued finish and is fitted with walnut round butt diamond grips consistent with this era of production. Sights consist of a fixed front sight and a fixed rear notch integral to the top strap. No original box or accessories included.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: Smith & Wesson
• Model: .38 Military & Police (Pre-Model 10), 5-screw
• Date of Manufacture: ~1949–1951 (C-prefix serial)
• Caliber: .38 Special
• Action: Double action/single action
• Frame: K-frame, steel
• Finish: Blued
• Grips: Walnut round butt diamond grips
• Sights: Fixed front, fixed rear notch
• Cylinder: 6 rounds