rare smith and wesson revolver?

a friend of mine is trying to get some idea of the value of a S&W revolverhe has.
I think it has a 4 inch Barrel..I've not seen it in person, only pictures...Most of the blueing is gone...
This pistol is a .38 Special..I believe it is a pre-war Target Model..it has the adjustable rear site, and the tall pinned target front site. It also has a Target hammer and the larger what i would call target grips that co ver the fron and bottom of the grip frame with light finger grooves.
The pictures I have are too large of files to send on this site, and I don't know how to make them a suitable size for downloading here.
Here is what my friend wrote me that it says on the barrel:
Terry,

Here are the pictures of the .38 Special. On one side of the barrel it says:

Smith & Wesson Springfield Mass U.S.A.
PAT'D APR9.89 MAR27.94 MAY21.95 JUL16.95 AUG4.96
DEC.22.96 OCT.4 98 OCT. 8. 01 DEC.17.01. SEPT 2.02 JUL 7.03

On the other side of the barrel it says:

.38 S. & W. SPECIAL
U.S. SERVICE CTG '8

And up on the site block at the end of the barrel it says King pat. pen.

Also the serial number he gave me is:
1176xx.
And also the cylinder release lever is not the normal S$W..Type..it is just a round rod sticking straigt out the side of the left side frame which would be pushed forward in a slot.

Thanks, Terry Harper
Sonora,Ca

Crap !! I would love to see a photo of that gun. I had completely didmissed it until the King sight mention.

Ask on the Smith & Wesson Public Forum. Those guys know it ALL>

i think i have the same one as discribed above, only mine has franzite grips. i know nothing about it except it is in really good shape, blueing is good, no rust, only thing is the action somtimes revolves the cylinder but does not pull the hammer back. if u know of this sort of gun i would be happy to send pics i dont know how old, value(if any) or if that can be fixed...(the hammer thing)

TWOOD

That's a new one to me unless you mean the cyl will turn without the hammer back, that is commom and an easy repair. But not to worry. Any 1903 or later Smith can be fixed. Parts and people who know how to put them in abound, Again, the Smith public forum has a great gunsmithing forum with super helpful retired and active gunsmiths willing to help. - Tom