My very 1st 3rd mod 4th change 1905

newellj · #1 10-17-2013, 11:26 PM

A special thanks to all of you for your kind and generous digital tutelage, for without it, I would have never had the confidence to buy this gun. This forum has been a place of discovery and an incredible resource for a slowly maturing collector of 1930 – 1970 S&W wheel guns. My wife also would like to thank you for giving me the skills and abilities so that I can toss every bit of “our” disposable income into and I quote “old guns that you just clean and never shoot”. Well, I guess she has a point, because here is a picture of a gun that “in fact” I will probably never shoot.

.38 M&P 1905 4th. #6499xx
Square butt target
Grips number
Very little muzzle wear
A few scratches
No box
Oh, and I’m not sure it has ever been shot? I’m going to need your help to figure that out.

Looks like it should have shipped around 35’ and there is definite, possible, unconfirmed rumor from a notoriously good truth avoider that Roy G. Jinks “himself” thought it possible that this gun may have sold at the Camp Perry national’s in 1935. Provenance confirmed, sort of. haha

I’m going to letter it just to make sure, LOL.

I will get some decent pictures up in the near future, but here is what I have for now.

DCWilson · #2 10-17-2013, 11:38 PM

That's a beauty. Congratulations. I think you should shoot it at least a few times.

I happen to have a 1905/fourth change target that may have been assembled on the same day yours was. This is 649954. It was shipped June 7, 1935 to Harper-Reynolds Co. in Los Angeles, one of three such guns in the shipment.

It came to me with a prewar K-frame grip adapter on it, but the letter says it did not ship with the adapter. I had a K-frame humpback hammer that I put on this gun to see how I liked it (I sort of do), but I still have the original hammer to put back on it if circumstances require. This photo shows the original hammer. The K-frame HBH did not become available until 1938.

Mine is in decent condition but has a slightly splotchy finish. Yours is better. Nice!

newellj · #3 10-17-2013, 11:50 PM

same day? 959 only 5 apart... I had read in the SCSW that the target was worth 2x and that the square butt was rare, but then i learned here that that was a typo. Thanks for the picture and info.

JP@AK · #4 10-17-2013, 11:54 PM

Very nice looking M&P Targets, both of you!
Thanks for sharing.
Jack

Kansasgunner · #5 10-18-2013, 09:13 AM

Both guns are very nice. You both did well!