This is the first handgun I was given at 14 years old. My grandfather's personal handgun he entrusted to my care. The wood grips are the originals and unnumbered. The sight was knocked off when the gun was 'borrowed" by a family member who also damaged the grips and put the scratches on the cylinder and barrel. I put the MOP grips on because the damaged originals bothered me. I foolishly put the white into the stampings when I was 16. Long time ago. I would love to find a correct period sight to replace the missing one. The width of the base is 2mm. Length seems to be 15mm. If someone has one or has any ideas, I would be grateful. It's been missing for over 50 years! I would also like to find a set of the same wood grips from this vintage in nice condition without the damage mine have. I would also like to know anything about the DOP from the SN# and other features, the use of the small font S&W on the left, single line USA. When that came to be. I believe my Grandfather bought it new after 1936 when in a house fire he lost his gun collection but that is only a guess. The holster is his original. He carried this gun around our family farm and taught me how to shoot with it and learn gun safety. I know its not a rare model but has great sentimental value to me. This revolver sparked my love of Smith and Wesson. Appreciate your comments.

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Next photos: I also need the pin to secure and any advice about installing the sight and pin. The holster has no markings that I can find unless they are under the belt flap.

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Very nice old revolver. Looks well-cared for! Someone here will probably be able to help you with the front sight & pin. Either a spare you can have/buy or know where to find one. Worst case...making a sight and pin shouldn't be too hard to do. Someone can measure their's for you.

Hello
This revolver comes from the 1920s, not the 1930s. It surely could have been acquired in the 1930s, but it was not new at that time.
The Made in U.S.A. legend was added in 1922. The mushroom shaped extractor rod knob was discontinued about 1927. Based on those brackets and on known nearby serial numbers, I would estimate that this revolver left the factory sometime in 1926. I know that a .38 Military & Police revolver with serial number 5315xx was shipped in February, 1926. That gives you a point of reference.
The stocks are what we would expect to see on a revolver shipped in the 1920s. It is too bad about the damage to the right panel, but you should hang onto them - they are what your grandfather carried.
What I find interesting about the stocks is the absence of an impressed serial number. By 1926, it was common for the serial number to be impressed into the wood on the right panel. Earlier stocks had the number written with a pencil. I've been trying to develop a list that will narrow down the period in which this took place and so far it seems the transition started a couple years before your gun shipped. It also appears that some fitters went to impressions sooner than others, because there is a lot of overlap. You might want to look very hard under a bright light and see if you can see the pencil marks.
Replacement stocks can be found. You can try the WTB forum here or Gun Broker or eBay. I recently bought a decent pair off eBay.
Thanks for sharing this gun with us and for posting all the nice photographs.
Jack

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Dawn Patrol welcome to the forum, nice looking M&P revolver,

From the SN, later 1920's, likely 1927-28. If the damaged stocks are original, they would be of the correct type for that period. They can easily be repaired/restored to factory-new condition for a relatively nominal cost, and it would be good to do so. Those 20s-30s M&Ps are my favorites.

I agree . . . restore them if they are the original fitted stocks. We are fortunate to have a Forum member (DWFan) who does outstanding stock repair and restoration. Send him a PM (private message) and he'll guide you from there.

That's an outstanding family heirloom . . . you can be very proud.

Russ

Someone in the past has altered the front sight, as the original half moon front was forged intergral with the barrel.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Good catch, Muley Gil! I just reached into the safe to check mine that has a serial number just a few thousand lower than this one and sure enough, the front sight is forged with the barrel, not pinned.
Jack

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Thanks everyone for the nice comments and the welcome. It is very interesting to me that the gun is a decade earlier than I thought. As mentioned, my grandfather's home burned down in 1936 while he and his wife and my dad(then a teenager) were on a fishing trip in the high sierras. I had heard he lost all his guns in the fire. Now I am thinking he probably had this gun with him as he carried it camping. I am pretty sure he bought it new. He was a master machinist and had a lathe. I have no doubt he did that sight modification himself. He loved to work on his guns. I inherited 3 others of his. So maybe that makes it a bit tougher to find and replace. I wonder how the sight base was put on without damaging the original blue? I will put an ad up in the wanted section for that and I would absolutely like to restore the original stocks! You can see I tried to use some wood putty when I was a kid which comes right out. At least the checkering is undamaged. I will look in bright sunlight for the penciled SN. I will PM DWfan and see what we can do. It would be great to get her back in business and get those fancy gambler grips off there which are not a good fit anyway. You fellows made my day! I am glad I pulled her out to show.

So are we!
Let us know how things go with the restoration.
Jack

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Dawn Patrol you will have to have a front sight made to fit. The sight base is actually what is left of the original sight. The base portion of the sight was wider than the rest of the blade. Someone (probably your grampa since he was a machinist) milled it out for a different blade. Nice old revolver, I would put the original stocks back on as they would have been on it when he owned it. A little wear and tear doesn't bother me, it's part of the history of the piece.

Will do Jack. Already sent the PM about the stocks. Thanks!

Desi2358: thank you for that information re: the sight base. Does anyone who has this vintage M&P could please post a photo of what the original sight looked like in the 1927 era? There is a good gunsmith nearby. I will take it to him and see about having one made to fit. I am wondering why my grandfather did this, if in fact he did. To improve sighting I guess. So the original was cut off and the base grooved to take the new blade? This is really helpful information. Re: the grips. Because the damage occurred when the gun was taken from me years ago, It has always bothered me no end. You know how it is when something happens on your watch. I am lucky the person that did it didn't shoot someone with it and that I got it back.

Here you go, Dawn Patrol.
This is the one mentioned earlier that shipped in February, 1926. Serial number is 5315xx. Not a much lower number than yours.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Now I get it. Thank you Jack for that. One more thing. Can you measure in MM from the edge of the lower base to the top of the arc of the sight so I can give that to the smith to get the height correct?

I'm not sure I can do "millimeters." I'm an old guy. I think in parts of an inch!

But I'll try, if my calipers provide such things!!!

Jack

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Hey, I'm an old guy too. Today is my birthday so I feel even older. All this dialogue about the family S&W was my B-day present. Parts of an inch are fine. Don't go to any trouble though.

Neat old family gun and some good info here.

If you want to remove the white stuff in the lettering acetone should take it right off and it won't damage the blue finish.

Hello,
Very nice family heirloom, and a great story. Good luck with it and hopefully it can be passed to the next family member to cherish as you have done. Happy B-Day BTW.

I can't add anything of any value as far as the repair / restoration of your Smith, but I just wanted to say thanks for sharing the story and pictures of your Grandfathers, and now your gun.

I think it's great that you are putting the time, effort, and money into putting your family heirloom back into its' original condition. I'm sure your Grandfather would be very pleased to know you how much appreciate his old gun.

Thanks again for the friendly support and advice. 1blindref; your last line means a lot to me. This whole conversation has brought back great memories of all that he did for me growing up. He was quite a special man. I am sure many of you have similar memories of those mentors along the way that guided us. Regarding Jacks post #4 about the serial number question on these stocks: I did find the penciled serial number today in the sunlight. All there, just faded into the dark patina of the wood. Good advice too for the removal of the white material with acetone and a soft brush. Will update the results as I get these issues addressed one by one.

This is probably obvious, but when you use the acetone be sure to take the grips off. Any acetone that hits those will take whatever finish there is right off.

I think I would look for a King's, Lyman, or Marbles' front sight instead of faking up a plain round stock blade. I bet Grandpa liked a bead.

That is a great idea Jim. Your right, he would have and so would I..Thank's for the suggestion.

So, Dawn Patrol, does that mean you no longer need the measurement? I had to go into the city yesterday, but was planning to dig the gun out of the safe and get out the calipers today. Let me know.
Jack

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Jack, I would sure appreciate knowing the original stock height of the sight whichever way I end up replacing it if not too much trouble. Thank you!

Okay. I'll try to get to it this evening.
Jack

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Dawn Patrol
Using my vernier calipers, I come up with .4", right on the dot. That's from the base of the sight (barrel surface) to the top of the blade.
Good thing this is okay, because my calipers don't read out in millimeters . . .
Jack

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Perfect! Thanks for taking the time to do this Jack. Sure appreciate it. I hope to take the M&P to a good gunsmith next week with your information. Have a great weekend!