Value 38 cal. Safety Police

Question
Dear Charles. My grandmothers brothers firearm.

Hopkins and Allen Safety Police .38 short round 5 shot. Norwich Conn. Patd Aug 2 1906 Pistol Butt serial # F211 Chamber when opened has a lift bar that suspends the rounds. Black in color and in vary good shape,I'm no expert? Hammer drops away from firing pin when inactive. Hand weapon owned by Harold Wraith,Sheriff of Colorado Springs ,Colorado. He was sheriff for many years. Thanks for any help you can give and your kind consideration. Wayne,Chicago

Answer
Hello Wayne Miedema. Your Hopkins and Allen .38 Safety Police was an American service revolver produced from 1907 to 1914. The Hopkins and Allen .38 Safety Police had a unique safety mechanism in that if the hammer was pulled back and released, it would not strike the firing pin.Instead,the trigger needed to be pulled which rotated the firing pin into position ready for the hammer to fall. The Hopkins and Allen .38 Safety Police was chambered for the .38 Smith and Wesson cartridge, had a 5-chamber cylinder and a 3.25-inch barrel.
Your story about the sheriff of Colorado Springs, Colorado owning this revolver is intriguing. Most law enforcement officers would carry a Colt DA or Smith & Wesson MP model. I do know for a fact, however, that many carried a 'back-up' or some refer to the early ones as a 'drop gun'. My great-uncle was sheriff of Eddy County, New Mexico in the 40's. I hope this helps answer your question and thank you for asking for me. Charles Gage