Source: ATF P 5300.11 · Curios or Relics List · Jan 1972 – Apr 20253,573 entries · 4 sections
The C&R RegisterA finding aid to the ATF Curios or Relics List, for Type 03 collectors
C&R · II · 485

S&W .38 Double Action, late 4th & 5th Models

Section II: curio or relic, still subject to the Gun Control Act

Official wording

ATF P 5300.11 · APRIL 2025 EDITION · SECTION II · VERBATIM · PDF P. 16 ↗

Smith & Wesson, .38 Double Action Top Break, cal. .38 S&W, S/Ns 382023 and higher.

What this entry requires

  • ATF REQUIRESYour serial number is one ATF listsATF: “S/Ns 382023 and higher”
  • INFOATF states no date; production was about 1899–1911.

Editorial facts · Our research

Country
United States¹
Manufacturer
Smith & Wesson
Type
Pistol²
Action
Other³
Caliber
.38 S&W
Made
S/N 382023 and higher · c. 1899–1911production; ATF states no date⁵
Service
Commercial
Search listings ↗Check a specific gunReport an error ↗

Source

Official wording
ATF P 5300.11, April 2025 edition · Section II · PDF p. 16 ↗ · ATF original ↗
Entries
1 line
Verbatim check
Checked against the PDF text before every release
Editorial facts
Confidence: Medium · Last revised 18 October 2026 (Evidence pass) · How we rate confidence
References
  1. Wikipedia, “Smith & Wesson” ↗, country: Wikipedia: Smith & Wesson is an American firearm manufacturer, founded in Norwich, Connecticut / Springfield, Massachusetts
  2. Wikipedia, “Smith & Wesson” ↗, type: Wikipedia (S&W, list of revolvers by frame size): "Smith & Wesson Double Action" under top-break models — a revolver (handgun)
  3. Wikipedia, “Smith & Wesson” ↗, action
  4. gunvalues.gundigest.com ↗, years (estimate: partly supports it): Gun Digest: .38 DA 4th Model "Serial Range 322701 to 539000. Approximately 216,300 manufactured between 1895 and 1909" (premium for those built before 1898) — ATF's S/N 382023 falls in late 4th Model production; start year 1899 is our estimate
  5. gunvalues.gundigest.com ↗, years: Gun Digest: .38 DA 5th Model "Serial Range 529001 to 554077. Approximately 15,000 manufactured between 1909 and 1911"
Fact tags
  • ATF the ATF wording states it.
  • REF ¹ an outside reference supports it; the number points to the list of references.
  • ESTIMATE an approximate or indirect reading, for example the production range of the base model.
  • NO CITATION we haven’t attached a reference for this fact; it’s our editorial reading, not ATF’s.
Source checked
20 October 2026: ATF’s page still lists the April 2025 edition
Corrections
3 changes · see below

Correction history

  1. Evidence passEditorial confidence: High → Medium. Re-rated after its references were re-checked and some details couldn't be confirmed.
  2. Evidence passYears: 1909–1911 → 1899–1911. Gun Digest's serial ranges put S/N 382023 in the 4th Model (1895–1909, 322701–539000), so the entry covers late 4th Models as well as the 5th Model
  3. Evidence passName: S&W .38 Double Action, 5th Model → S&W .38 Double Action, late 4th & 5th Models. S/N 382023 and higher begins inside the 4th Model range

All corrections · How corrections work

Historical context

NO VERIFIED IMAGE AVAILABLEWe show only freely licensed images verified to depict this model. None has been found yet.