What model is this S&W revolver and when was it made?

[Klif]

My wife got me this revolver for Christmas a few years ago. It's used and came with a tag that it is a S&W PRC10 from WWII but I just don't know. It is a 6 shot revolver with 3 inch barrel. S/N is S 8850**

Barrel marking is Smith & Wesson on left side of barrel and .38 S&W Special CTG on right side of barrel. S&W Trademark on rear of frame on right side and Made in U.S.A stamped on forward part of frame on right side.

When the cylinder is open I can see, on the frame 588 25 and above that what looks like a capital A and some other character and on the cylinder frame also 588 25. There are no other markings visable except on top of frame Smith & Wesson Springfield Mass U.S.A. and below that Patented Feb. 6, 06 Sept 14, 09 Dec 24, 14.

I don't believe the grips are original.

Along with model number I have a question about the ammo for this pistol. She got a box of .38 S&W Special ammo ($37.00 a box). It's an old box and the ammo looks a little different from regular .38 special, so can this pistol us .38 special or is it strictly the .38 S&W special?

Thanks

 

[Jamescg]

pre model 10

 

[GAgunLAWbooklet]

Internet (S&W forum posts) say a K-frame with the S prefix before the rest of the serial number is one that was made from 1946 to 1948.

It's a commercial build, made for sales to cops, armed guards, and civilians, not the US Armed Forces.

 

[Klif]

Internet (S&W forum posts) say a K-frame with the S prefix before the rest of the serial number is one that was made from 1946 to 1948.

It's a commercial build, made for sales to cops, armed guards, and civilians, not the US Armed Forces.

Thanks! Any idea on the ammo question?

 

[GAgunLAWbooklet]

"Regular .38 special" ammo *is* properly called the .38 S&W Special.
(Not to be confused with the older
.38 S&W, which is much shorter and a very tiny bit wider.)
Duing WWII, the Brits had Smith & Wesson make a bunch of the revolvers in this caliber (.38 S&W, the short fat one)

They called it the .38 / 200. I think they loaded it with a 200 grain bullet
(at slingshot velocity!)

 

[GAgunLAWbooklet]

Some WWII era Smith revolvers that were originally built in the .38 S&W caliber
were later given a new cylinders to accept 38 special loads, but if the barrels were not also replaced it would be too wide to give good accuracy.

Some distributors / wholesalers in the late 1940's thru the early 1960's
mass-produced these conversion mil-surps. Some companies used new barrels and some didn't swap barrels.

 

[Klif]

This is the box of bullets that came with the pistol. But they don't chamber, seem to be too big around to fit the cylinder. I can force it part way down but not willing to force it all the way since after firing it might not come out at all. The .38 Special pictured on the right chambers easily and the .38 S&W Special on the left does not chamber at all. I suspect this is never going to be a shooter but a wall hangers instead.

 

[StuP]

Those are the s&w 38 not the 38 special I suspect that revolver is chambered for.

 

[lostchild]

Those are the s&w 38 not the 38 special I suspect that revolver is chambered for.

This.. try a standard .38 special.

 

[Klif]

Yep, .38 special drops right in.