Just got back from the local gun show. It was packed and difficult to see all that was there.

I saw quite a few older S&W's, but nothing caught my eye but the one below. It is a bit out of my comfort zone as I like N frames and 1970-80's K frames. I took a chance on this one because it was in very good condition, for its age.

I believe it to be a pre-model 10, M&P, five screw, serial C 164030 with a two inch barrel. SCS&W puts the gun in the late 1940's or perhaps 1950. There is a turn line and a couple of small scratches and there is a small imperfection on the left side of the sight as if the gun was dropped sometime in its life, I tried to photograph these imperfections as best I can. Over all the finish is excellent for a 65 year old gun. All numbers match except the grips, which I believe are period correct but number to about 1954 - 55. They are magnas and seem to have a higher shoulder than I am used to seeing. They have the rounded bottom edges and I believe some call them the "plain clothes magnas."

In the photos one can see that the barrel is a bit of a different color than the frame. The barrel numbers to the frame and there is no diamond or other indication on the barrel that it has been replaced. There is no star on the frame and no numbers or markings to indicate it has ever been back to the factory. The barrel has "Smith and Wesson" and "38 S&W Spc Ctg" on one side and no markings on the other. On the crane there are the usual internal factory/inspector markings; however, this one has an ampersand stamped on it. I have never seen such a mark on the crane before.

I believe it to be original, with no evidence of a refinish and no indication that the side plate has ever been off or any of the screws have been turned. It locks up like a bank vault and by general appearance looks to have been fired and carried very little in its lifetime.

The hammer and trigger have excellent case color remaining and appear as new.

As I said I am out of my comfort zone with older K frames in general and the M&P in particular. I am coming to the forum to get an education about this particular gun, i.e. condition, value, etc, general comments and impressions.

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Bill

Numbers on the barrel match? Reading on I see they do. I would say in its condition 400.00

C56xxx and C58xxx shipped in mid 1949 so I think C164xxx would not be in the 1940s.

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No life story has happy end.

Thanks, Just guessing based on SCSW as it only gives a range of 1948 to 1951. Should be before 1952 as it has the round sight.

I have C240xxx which is from 1953 and it still has the round front sight but it is a 4 inch. I think they used up the round front sight barrels for a number of years and some 2 inch guns from the late 1950s still had the round sight. C164xxx probably dates to 1951 or so.

Hope this helps.

Steve

Thanks, I am still learning about older K's.

Bill

C1639XX shipped in 1950 so yours is likely 1950 also. Nice looking gun.

I must be in the minority here. My C 169886, was shipped 6-1952 and has no XXX's. It is identical to yours and I paid $375 for it at the Reno gun show. Very accurate with +P's at 15 yards and it shoots to the point of aim. I have a CC permit and when I am not carrying my Sig P220 45, I carry this one. This Sig is my favorite hideout pistol. Big Larry

C 164xxx probably shipped no earlier than early 1951 from observation of others with nearby SNs, and possibly somewhat later than that, as noted above for SN C 169886. I agree that the grips are not correct for that period.

The grips number to about 1954 or 55. What type of grips would be correct for this gun? The grips on it are "PC Magnas."

Thanks in advance,

Bill

The postwar two-inch M&Ps enjoy a value boost based on their scarcity and appeal. There are still geographical zones of pricing variation around the country, and I would place your gun in the $400-500 range depending. I don't doubt that here and there you might find one for $350+/-, or be forced to pay $525 or more for one you really wanted but whose owner would not dicker.

The radiused PC magnas were available from, I believe, 1952 or so. They are not necessarily wrong for the gun, though I suspect yours probably shipped with standard magnas a year or two before the PC magnas became available.

That's a really nice revolver. Congratulations on the score. Whether you bought it as an investment or as a shooter, I suspect its value will increase at a faster clip than for a four-inch or five-inch M&P of the same era.

A couple of years ago or maybe three I paid $430 for a long-action 1947 snubnose M&P in high-90s condition, which was kind of at the leading edge of pricing at the time. I wouldn't sell it for less than $500 today. The long term trend is up for postwar two-inch five-screw K-frames with either long or short actions. You have a good one.

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David Wilson

In the interest of accuracy it should be noted that the term PC Magnas was never used by S&W. The factory called them Modified Magnas.

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No life story has happy end.

The earlier postwar diamond Magnas can generally be distinguished by a sharper edge on the curved area of the "horn" on top, almost a shelf. The later diamond Magnas are more rounded, as yours are. I don't know exactly when the "PC"-type rounding on the butt actually started, but I couldn't deny the previous 1952 date (or any later date) given.

Thanks,

I looked at a post war transitional gun today and it had grips exactly as you described on it. They were interesting and beautiful as was the gun which is about 98% and looks to have been fired very little, if at all since it left the factory about 1947. Unfortunately the owner is very attached to it.

Bill

Here is C 160161 and the grips number to the gun.

Stu

Attached Images

Pre M10 full left.jpg (71.9 KB, 164 views)

I have one, SN C303880, that looks just like the one above. I bought it for about $175 several years ago from a police distributor, and he said that he had a box full of them that he had taken in trade from a police department.

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Tom
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