Went to the gun show yesterday.

Picked up a M&P 5-screw shooter. Serial is 905xxx. Has opening for lanyard. 4" barrel and grooved trigger.

Finish is rough.

How likely is this to be a DSC gun?

Also, in it's current rough shape, is it worth having it lettered?

The grips are late K-frame. Should the original grips have had a medallion?

Welcome to the forum. I am assuming there is no letter prefix to the serial number (it would probably be an S, if there is one). If that assumption is correct, then the gun probably dates to early 1942, which I think means it could indeed be a DSC gun. Do you see any military markings or government ownership marks on it anywhere?

Pics would really help if you have any and can post them. Those sound like the wrong stocks to me, but others here know the wartime Victory and Pre-Victory models better than I do.

It's possible that one of the wartime revolver specialists here can tell you where your gun would have shipped, so there may be no need to spend $50 on a letter.

Just to confirm, the barrel is stamped .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG, right? Not 38 S&W CTG? The four inch barrel makes me think it would have been for US consumption; the commonwealth guns, which used the shorter and older round, usually had five-inch barrels and some pretty distinctive stamps.

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David Wilson

You're assumptions are correct.

No Prefix. Serial number is placed so that a lanyard could be attached. Lanyard is long gone, but pin and hole are present.

Grips are definately not stock. They are the Late K-frame grips.

No military proof marks of any kind.

It is indeed 38 S&W Special.

I'd take pictures, but it's so ugly it'd break the camera.

Shot it today and we were able to hit a walnut at 25 yards.

What's everyone's feelings on having S&W re-blue something like this?

Welcome to the Forum.

S&W generally won't work on any gun that is not model marked (approx 1957 and newer).

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

They won't touch it. Its too old, they don't have replacement parts if something should need it. Generally a first rate refinish will exceed the value of the gun. You lose what you put into the refinish work.

Save your money. Enjoy the gun as it is, rough or not.

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Dick Burg

Kind of what I thought. Thanks.

i have a s@w 38 serial number v100639. I can see the barrel has been cut, also it has been nickel plated. I thought it was a model 14 at first because that is stamped on it.It is still chamberwd for the 38/200 or 38 s@w. Would this be worth 50 bucks to see what Smith and Wesson would have to say?

Sounds like you have a late model pre war M&P like this one?

tlh454

Surf up: Bad Guns, chopped K-200

No, it's value is nominal to nil

Save the money; that gun is simply a modified and refinished British Victory model. The letter would give you some general information that you can get at no cost from public sources, a specific shipping date, and a destination. You already know that it would have gone to a designated receiver for trans-shipment to Britain, and that serial number would have shipped in mid- to late 1942. There is not much value in getting more precise than that on military contract revolvers.

Where does it have the MOD 14 stamp? That makes no sense to me, as model-numbered S&Ws didn't even come into existence until 15 years after that gun was made. The only place a model number should be found is on the frame surface that becomes exposed when you swing out the cylinder. The true Model 14 also has adjustable sights.

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David Wilson

Yes, less 80% of the finish.

I'd saw that some had lettered the later serial #'s to the DSC. I just thought....

There is a 14 stamped on the frame when you open the cylinder. It is above another number I assume is an assembler number. Thanks for all the information.