I have been asked about a .38 M&P Sn: V60948X. The revolver is blued and marked as property of a Washington State police agency. Were any of these revolvers issued to police departments during the war time years, blued? What would be a ball park figure to offer if I were to buy it? Subjective of course depending on condition? I will try to get a photo or two from the party that has it. Thanks in advance.

De Oppresso Liber

It should have the black magic {look's like parkerizing} finish not blue.

It would not have been shipped as a polished blue gun during WW2, but a a dull non reflective blue finish, and could have been shipped to the Washington State Police. Only a factory historical letter will tell for sure. During WW2, sales of firearms to non-military destinations were handled by the Defense Supply Commission, who authorized such sales to war plant guards and civilian police agencies. Many times, after WW2, the war plants turned over their wartime firearms to local police units, so a gun that letters to a war plant and now has a police marking, can still be correct for ownership by the police agency. Value in average used condition of this type of S&W is around $350, or so. Ed.