I bought it so I could hang out over here more!
Serial number of 52,5XX. 1930's???

The right stock has the serial number in pencil on the back and the fit and finish is superb. Not much of a barrel though!

Late 20's.
Dated by:
"Made in USA" present- was ordered around 26. CORRECTION- was ordered around 1922.
Mushroom knob- ordered discontinued around 26. CORRECTION- was ordered around 1927.
Non-med grips- gone by the 30's.
PRETTY little gun. How can ya look at dat, an' NOT like it?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: handejector,

You keep showing pretty little finds like that and you'll be welcome on this side anytime. Great gun. Outstanding wood.

Awesome! I just bought one just like that in the same shape with a four digit serial number, first year production. They are awesome pistol's.Enjoy yours, I will mine!
Matt

What a wonderfully clean example of the Regulation Police. This is another one I've never had the chance to meet personally. Thanks, Chad!

Jerry

S/N 27862 was shipped Dec. 1925. The S/N range ended at 54474, in 1940, so your 525XX would probably be late 30's, 1938 or 1939. Since it doesn't have the flat latch it would still be a PreWar.

You certainly got a NICE one.

quote:

Originally posted by H Richard:
S/N 27862 was shipped Dec. 1925. The S/N range ended at 54474, in 1940, so your 525XX would probably be late 30's, 1938 or 1939. Since it doesn't have the flat latch it would still be a PreWar.

You certainly got a NICE one.

Good point- I did not think about that serial number. However, something is WRONG here- perhaps the serial number he gave. That mushroom knob would NOT be on a 30's gun, in my opinion. If the grips are original, they are definitely 20's.
What about it, Chad, is that number correct?

Lee,
52,5XX is the number of the gun. I pulled the stocks and right one is numbered in pencil. A couple more pics.

quote:

Lee,
52,5XX is the number of the gun. I pulled the stocks and right one is numbered in pencil.

Why don't you ask Roy for a ship date? I'm REAL curious now. I still say late 20's- thas ma story, an' I'm stickin' to it!

Yes, get a ship date so we can satisfy our curiosity. (Maybe the fitter got to the bottom of his supply of ejection rods in 1938 and found a old one? Naa, the cut wouldn't be there.)

Update-
Roy dates the shipping as Feb, 1939.
I asked about the early features that did not fit that time period, and he replied that by that time, they were not making many parts except 38/200's, so they probably scrounged up what they could to build it!
INTERESTING gun!
The ONE time a serial number sequence matches shipping time, and it bites me on the ass!

Gee, first time I outguessed Lee Jarrett. I went by the S/N as I have seen them delivered a lot later, but not earlier than the S/N date ranges.

quote:

I went by the S/N as I have seen them delivered a lot later, but not earlier than the S/N date ranges.

That is a very good point.
However, one could say that some high numbers shipped early on some models, using S&W's old marketing ploy to make the public and/or competition think more had been made than were. Ed often mentions this.
This is the first documentation I have ever encountered showing a mushroom knob more than a couple of years past the drop order of 27- this one is TWELVE yrs past! First mushroom in the 30's for me.
Same for the grips- NON-meds have never shown up past 29-30 in my obs, and these are NINE yrs too late....

As has often been said, with S&W, nothing is absolute. We all learned from this one. That's what I like about this forum.

I also forgot to mention the logo- it has a small one on the left. The order to put the large one on sideplate is dated Dec, 36- a little over 2 yrs before this gun........