My new (to me) M&P postwar 5" DOB???

[tom turner]

Hi,

Here she is . . . and my first five screw. Bright, shiny, like-new bore, pretty nice Magnas serial numbered to the gun . . . and the gun is in great shape all over, IMHO!

These are just quick photos, with no additional lights except the chandelier over the dining table . . . and the camera braced on the top of a chair . . . and thus minimal depth of field. I'll set up the homemade light tent, haul out my lighting, put the camera on a tripod and trigger the camera via a remote soon to get sharper photos. These will suffice for now.

WHEN WAS IT MADE? 1949 maybe? I was hoping for my birth year (1951) but this one is probably a little older. Can someone say for sure. The five digit serial number is C 960xx.

Thanks! Tom

[mikepriwer]

1951 might be a push, but its really a very nice example. Everything
is crisp, and sharp. I'm going to guess 1950.

Mike Priwer

[Art Doc]

Sweet.

Like it.

Want it.

[diamonback68]

I'm placing money on 1950. This is what I am now consentrating on is 1950 and pre-1950 guns. Simply beautiful.

[tom turner]

Thanks guys! It may not be rare, but I truly appreciate the history and workmanship of this nice revolver.

I fear this is gonna be addicting to get into the 5-screws!

T.

[JSR III]

The M&P was changed to the "C" serial sequence on March 22, 1948. I would guess that your gun was shipped in November or December of 1949. That is a great condition piece. Any signs of refinish? How about the story of how you found it?

[tom turner]

Hi,

zero sign of refinish. It appears to not have been fired much at all and the bore is nice, bright, crisp and shiny. The recoil shield also is evidence the gun was not shot much.

It came from the collection of a long-deceased area pawnshop owner. I hear he had a story for every gun he chose NOT to sell, but to save for himself. He died about ten years ago.

His daughter finally decided to sell off the collection and another pawnshop owner bought the collection for 40K and has slowly liquidated the collection himself. Like its prior owner, the new owner put a very few guns aside to keep himself. Some things never change!

I hadn't visited that shop for many months and a lot of the stuff had been sold (shotguns, long guns and pistols), but I found a couple of Smith handguns I HAD to have. Neither are rare, but both are nice, vintage guns.

I wish I knew the story of how this particular M&P came to be a "keeper!"

BTW, back in '95 I actually bought an early (1973) Remington 700LH in .270 from the old pawnshop owner. He had a reputation for being peculiar and sometimes you could buy from him and other times you couldn't. On some days I got to see some of his closely kept secret guns, including a pristine civilian model of the old Colt 1911 made in 1918.

It was an interesting old pawnshop . . . crammed full of desirable guns but . . . the kind of shop that I called a "museum" due to typically high prices and an owner not that motivated to sell guns that had taken on too much meaning to part with.

Lots of old pawnshops and gunshops like that once dotted America . . . where you could see NICE vintage guns in great condition . . . but that owners wouldn't sell or had breathtaking prices that were far out of line.

Alas, most of these mom and pop shops are now gone . . . and their closely kept "treasures" auctioned off or sold off later by heirs not interested in guns like the owner was.

This time . . . I got one of "ol' Joe's" guns . . . and I'm gonna keep it in great shape just like he did! I think he'd be happy about that.

I still have that Remington 700LH too . . . it is my main deer rifle . . . and made in the exact same month when my wife and I got married back in 1973. That makes it even more special! (BTW . . . on that day in '95, "ol' Joe" gave me a screamin' deal on that Remington too . . . the only gun I could ever get him to part with!

Ahhh . . . the memories!!!

T.

[Duster42]

Nice one.
I have C156223 .Shipped on March 8,1951

[tom turner]

Oh Duster42 . . . you're killin' me!

Anyway, I've got a "keeper" in the one I got . . . fer shure!

Maybe I'll find one made in July or August 1951 someday . . . a K-frame .22LR would be nice . . . or a 1950 Target in .45ACP!!!

Tom

[semperfi71]

Very nice.

I recently bought a Detroit PD nickel plated 5 inch M10. I personally like the 5 inch barrel in the M&P/M10 revolvers.

[Vulcan Bob]

Wow! Just plain old wow! That is one beautyfull revolver, nice find. You and old Joe should both be proud.

[j38]

What a gorgeous revolver! Thanks for the pictures & post,

Jerry

[OIF2]

The 5" M&P is my weakness. That one is gorgeous. More photos!
Bob

[nutsforsmiths]

Very nice. I have C138590 that shipped December 1950.

[DWFAN]

C 7011

[andyL8]

C 1032XX, i guess they ran out of nickel