On loan from a friend, his dad's old gun. Mechanically perfect, good shooter, accurate. Here are photos...any info as to date, etc.? Also one photo of the holster. Ser. # looks like 430203*, with a different number in the crane area. Thanks...

I would guess it is a Military & Police (becomes the Model 10 in 1957) made in the late 1920s.

Don't know whether blue or nickel when it left the factory, but it's been nickeled as the hammer and trigger are plated and this is the sure sign of a cheap refinish. These parts are never plated by the factory.

Avoid "hot" loads in a gun of this vintage. Steel tempering wasn't an exact science prior to the 1930s.

Serial is on the butt. On the crane are assembly numbers of no use to us.

I would say it is a .38 Hand Ejector M&P mfg between 1915 - 1942, probably in the late 20's. It has been replated in nickle or chromeplated and not by S&W at some time. The grips look correct. The hammer & trigger have also been plated which they should not have been, they would have been casehardened.

Nice looking old piece.

Should be 1922 - 1923 . Lots of indications about the refinish(s).

Later, Mike Priwer

Hello,

It seems to me that the type of extractor rod knob would put it late 1920s at the earliest. According to Neal & Jinks, the order to switch all Hand Ejectors to that style of knob wasn't issued until January 1927. Also, if the grips are original to the gun, it would date after early 1929.

Take care,