Pre model 10 serial 261*** It is a 4" barrel, nickel finish, it has the original grips that number to the gun. Excellent shooter. I'm happy with the purchase price of $270. I'll post pics when I get them uploaded.

Sounds like a .38 M&P, model of 1905, 4th change. Is there a prefix to the serial number? If the nickel finish is original it could be a gem. Looking forward to the pictures.

As stated above, your revolver pre-dates the Pre-Model 10 by many years. With your serial number, the gun was shipped from the factory in 1917. If you have a round butt, you would have a Model 1902 and if it is a square butt, S&W classified it as a Model 1905 in their catalogs until the early 1920s.

serial number on grips

only wear on the finish I can see

Previous owner said it belonged to an army officer in WW2

That's a nice old .38. I like it. I know those who know more than I, like glowe, will tell you more after seeing your pictures. Thanks for posting the pictures.

That is a nice shooter grade Model 1905, 4th Change you have there. It could have been carried in WWII, but it also could have been carried as a private purchase in WWI as well.

I would guess that the gun has been re-finished and looks to retain 100%. The reason I suspect a refinish is, first the stocks are very worn, not matching the finish and sccond the S&W logo edges look buffed. A solid job that retains the correct case hardening of the trigger and hammer. Many refinished guns blued or nickeled eveything. I would also say there look to be some soft edges in the flutes of the cylinder and elsewhere, but you paid a fair price for the gun, so go out and shoot it. With a revolver of this age, keep your loads mild. Standard 38 Special ammo should be fine, but I usually reload down to 125 grain bullets and shoot around 650 fps to be on the safe side. After all, it will be 100 years old in a few years.

As late as a couple of years ago, these guns would have sold for under $200, but now it is tough to find one for under $300 in any shape.

Copper flashing under the nickel????

It appears that the trigger may have traces of nickel plating, and if so that would brand it as being a re-plate. I also agree the S&W logo is a little soft. Note that S&W did not heat treat their steel parts at that time, so using lighter loads is recommended should you plan to fire it. It is not military issue. Back during WWI and WWII (and even through Vietnam) many military personnel in combat areas brought (or were sent by Mom and Dad) something from home. A good example is Patton's battery of a Colt SAA and a S&W .357, neither of which were GI. That practice (at least in the US military) is much more difficult now under current regulations.

When General Patton and his Third Army liberated my dad (a downed P-38 pilot who spend 9 months as a guest of the Germans) he was standing up in his tank and dad saw the Colt SAA in its holster clearly. It was one of the scenes from that day he never forgot. In one of my last conversations with him, he mentioned it (not for the first time).

On carrying personal weapons to the front, I agree; it seems to be much more difficult if not impossible today. We did it in 'Nam. Although I did not have any personal weapons with me over there, I knew lots of guys who did. Sometimes I wish I had taken one with me, but I left them all at my dad's house for two years while I was over there. The Air Force was kind enough to lend me a Model 15, so I was content.

Jack

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Skeeter Skelton wrote of taking a brace of M&Ps with him when he went overseas at the end of WW II.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

The front sight looks modern, I think the barrel has been replaced. I have three guns in the 200000 range and none have a FS like that.

All it takes is a file and yours can look just like that. I had forgot to mention that in my original post, but the back of the half-moon sight has ben filed flat to form some sort of ramp. It was not uncommon to find altered front sights on these old guns.

Yes. And the rest of the story is that his lieutenant found out while they were on the troopship and made him "dispose" of them. He sold them to a sailor. I wonder where they are now?
Jack

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Patton was something of a gun nut. In addition to the SAA .45 and the S&W .357, he had, and carried, numerous other handguns. One of his favorites was a Remington Model 51 in .380 that was factory refurbished and presented to him by a friend. There are several websites that relate stories about Patton's pistols.