S&W 5 Screw 5" Questions???

jackserv · #1 03-11-2014, 08:03 PM

I would like to know if the trigger and hammer should match the frame finish so closely or maybe refinished? These don't have the case-hardened look but maybe that came later. With a serial # of 2978xx, any guestimate on it's birthdate? Value?

The last patent date is December 29,14

As I understand it, this is called a .38 special M&P or is Hand Ejector more accurate?

I will attempt to post some pics. Noticed this is my first post after lurking for 2 years. Hello Everybody!!! from N. TX.

Appreciate any help and Thanks!

jjbrewst1 · #2 03-11-2014, 08:05 PM

Most likely the Hammer and the Trigger were Blued when the Revolver was ReBlued...I see this alot...

murphydog · #3 03-11-2014, 08:13 PM

It's official name is a .38 Military & Police. A typical sign of a refinish is a wide sideplate seam, which occurs when the two are not (re)polished together. Best guess on a ship date would be the late 1910 decade; the stocks are from a later gun.

jsfricks · #4 03-11-2014, 08:26 PM

Since it has been refinished it really doesn't have value as a collector but would make a nice shooter. Ballpark price $300-$350 maybe?

DWalt · #5 03-11-2014, 08:31 PM

Yours would likely have shipped in 1919, but 1918 is possible. The US government took over S&W during later 1918 and into 1919, so things got a little confusing during that period when nothing was being made except M1917 revolvers. In any event, S&W did not perform steel heat treating when yours was made. That did not start until SN 316648. So only standard loads or light target loads should be used in it. Regarding the appearance of the hammer and trigger, I'd say it's possible the revolver could have been re-blued at some time and the hammer and trigger were thrown into the bluing bath. Your grips are Magnas, probably from the late 1940s to early 1950s. It's completely correct to call it simply an M&P. Value is as earlier stated.

jackserv · #6 03-11-2014, 09:26 PM

Thanks for the info and I will be looking forward to running some lead through her soon.

linde · #7 03-11-2014, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackserv

. . . As I understand it, this is called a .38 special M&P or is Hand Ejector more accurate? . . .

Quote:

Originally Posted by murphydog

It's official name is a .38 Military & Police . . .

Just to help expand on and hopefully clarify terminology for those of us still on the learning curve . . .

Hand ejectors are a broad class of revolvers where the cylinder swings open to load & unload cartridges and spent cases must be ejected by hand . . . thus the name.

The Military & Police is a specific model of hand ejector with fixed sights.

And .38 Special is the chambered caliber for most M&Ps.

So putting it all together you have a .38 Special Military & Police hand ejector . . . but most of us just call it a .38 M&P for short.

Russ

P.S. barrel length appears to be 6" rather than 5" . . . measure from the front face of the cylinder to the tip of the muzzle.

P.S.S. Welcome to the Forum . . . we're glad to have you.

jackserv · #8 03-12-2014, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by linde

Just to help expand on and hopefully clarify terminology for those of us still on the learning curve . . .

Hand ejectors are a broad class of revolvers where the cylinder swings open to load & unload cartridges and spent cases must be ejected by hand . . . thus the name.

The Military & Police is a specific model of hand ejector with fixed sights.

And .38 Special is the chambered caliber for most M&Ps.

So putting it all together you have a .38 Special Military & Police hand ejector . . . but most of us just call it a .38 M&P for short.

Russ

P.S. barrel length appears to be 6" rather than 5" . . . measure from the front face of the cylinder to the tip of the muzzle.

P.S.S. Welcome to the Forum . . . we're glad to have you.

Ha, you made me check again and I know how to measure barrel length. 5" for sure. Can my wife borrow your glasses?

Hondo44 · #9 03-12-2014, 08:34 AM

Welcome to the forum.

Clearly a non-factory re-blue that lacks the bright blue mirror finishes of the period. Factory protocol was case color hardened hammer and trigger.

JSR III · #10 03-12-2014, 11:46 AM

Welcome to the forum. That is a nice looking M&P albeit refinished and done incorrectly with hammer and trigger blued. Still a S&W and very well built in an era when men were men and guns were guns. (no plastic, scandium, tandium or candium)

Will make an excellent shooter and for many folks, the only intended use for a firearm...

Engine49guy · #11 03-12-2014, 11:52 AM

Appears the serrations on the trigger were smoothed at some point as well although I prefer the smooth trigger face on a shooter as it doesnt blister the finger.