Picked up a pair of smiths. What are they

[zebcotia]

I purchased these two revolvers. The owner was not sure what they are and I am not either. I have checked the other posts and I am still confused.

Can you help me ID and date these two?

Here's the skinny on the first one with the white\yellow grips.

Serial number is C 2235XX It has a 5" barrel. Some wear and tear as you can see. Gun is solid and locks up nice. Smooth action.








Second one Serial number is S 8865XX This one has a 4" barrel. Little to no wear except at the end of barrel. No drag marks on the cylinder, no burn rings on face of cylinder. I noticed the hammer has a different type of checkering.
There is writing on the barrel of this one. The right side only has, "made in USA" stamped on the side plate.

Hope I didn't pay too much for these. Thanks for your help.
This is a great forum. Can you also reccomend a couple of good refrence books for Smith and Wesson. thanks









Thanks again.

[crsides]

the first one is from mid 50's and if those grips are real ivory, there worth more than the gun, maybe both guns. It is a M&P, later to be known as the model 10.

The second is the same model gun, only earlier. Could be pre-war, but my guess is 1947 or earlier. Nice pick ups.

Value is what you paid for them. $300 each would have been a good buy, plus the grips ... maybe ????


Charlie

[diamonback68]

They are both known as the Military&Police model which later became the model 10 after 1957.
As Charlie said, about $300 each. Those white grips look to be recent faux ivory, the diamond wood grips on the other one are worth more.

[glowe]

Both are post-war 38 Military & Police, or Pre-Model 10s. As I can guess from your pictures, the condition of both looks high. In today's market, I think $300 is very low and would put a retail gun store price at $500 each. I am guessing that you have Franzite grips (plastic) and not ivory, which could lower the value some. Original wood grips are readily available via ebay or Gunbroker if you want to change them out. I think the original grips you should look for on your 50's gun are the same style as on your 40s M&P.

[Texas Star]

Do the white grips have Franzite written on them, maybe inside? I doubt they're real ivory. Look at the checkering and diamond, rare on real ivory.

Neither is intended for Plus P use, but people use that ammo and report no problems. But the factory recommends not firing Plus P ammo in guns made before they began marking the frames with model numbers.
That was 1957-58.

"Made in U.S.A." is not stamped "on the sideplate." It's on the FRAME, ahead of the sideplate, which is removable. Early M&P's didn't have that there. (The marking.)

[murphydog]

The beige stocks look to be plastic; I think I have a similar pair floating around the box of stocks.

The Standard Catalog of S & W 3rd edition is the most current reference. S & W 1857-1945 by Neal and Jinks and History of S & W by Jinks are the other standard books.

[mtime7]

standard catolog of smith and wesson is a good referance

[Jack Flash]

The five incher seems to have some freckling on the top strap and elsewhere. It may clean up ok or it may be part of the finish now. Probably from being stored in a holster or the like. That should not affect its functionality but may lower the selling price a little.

I can't make out the caliber designation on the barrels. Note that ".38 S&W CTG." is not the same as ".38 S&W Special CTG"?

The other one looks like it was stored a bit better. Both are fine handguns.

[Texas Star]

Originally Posted by Jack Flash

The five incher seems to have some freckling on the top strap and elsewhere. It may clean up ok or it may be part of the finish now. Probably from being stored in a holster or the like. That should not affect its functionality but may lower the selling price a little.

I can't make out the caliber designation on the barrels. Note that ".38 S&W CTG." is not the same as ".38 S&W Special CTG"?

The other one looks like it was stored a bit better. Both are fine handguns.

The five-incher has the squiggle hammer. Is prob. in .38 Special.

[zebcotia]

Thanks for the great info!

You are dead-on about the white grips. It has Franzite on the inside.

Yes. They are both .38 special.

The wooden grips on the 4 inch model have the correct serial number stamped on the inside.

I will try to find the proper grips for the 5 inch model. I just think they look better.

Where can I find the books you mentioned? Does Krause normally sell them? I am tired of being a blind hog. I have passed on a few that I should not have.

The first estimate of value is what I actually paid for them. I don't think I got hurt in the deal.
thanks for all of you input.

[glowe]

Just search Amazon and I think both are available. Jinks book has a few printings and if you are not a book collector, the 1996 printing is the most reasonable. Be aware that your M&Ps will not be in the Jinks book since it ends with 1945 non-numbered models.

[Jack Flash]

Originally Posted by zebcotia

... Yes. They are both .38 special. ...

Just wanted to verify that.

They should both be excellent shooters. If done with reasonable care, I don't think shooting them would hurt any collector value they may have, at least not much.

I'd love to have the five inch one, Franzite stocks and all.

[KJM]

If you paid 300 a piece for them as I think you said.... KEEP THEM.
They are not going down. The 5 inch gun is nice. Swap out the stocks if they do not number to the other gun....