Ain’t no doubt about it-

This gun got some BLING!


A 1902-1st/1905 38 M&P Target, Factory Engraved, Checkered Trigger, Blue with Nickel Cylinder, 6-1/2 inch 38 Special, Aftermarket Checkered Pearl Grips. NOTE that it is one of the very few, very early square butts that do NOT yet have the trigger guard screw.

View the pics and comments below, but when you have time, I would suggest perusing the pics in the album because they are VERY LARGE there. Click- The Mother of All 38 Targets!

I believe the engraver is Oscar Young, but I am no authority on factory engraved guns. I DO know quality engraving, and this is a good chance for you to examine engraving done by an artist, and not just a craftsman. Note that a really fine engraver cuts round scrolls with no corners. This cutter was a Master!

WARNING-
Once you carefully examine Masterful engraving of this quality, you will find yourself unable to be excited by the mediocre work often seen today!

Enjoy!

Pic #1


Pic #2


Pic #3


Pic #4


Pic #5


Pic #6


Pic #7


Pic #8


Pic #9


Pic #10


Pic #11


Pic #12


Pic #13


Note the engraving across the yoke/frame seam, almost like one piece of steel-

Pic #14


Pic #15


Pic #16


Pic #17


Pic #18


Pic #19


If you view the album, look closely at the details in the scrolls, and in the background and filler cuts. Remember that you are viewing them magnified many times!
Look at the detail in the monogram.
Amazing!

Pic #20


Pic #21


Pic #22


Pic #23


Pic #24


Plain on the bottom, but that is not uncommon for the day-

Pic #25


Remember that triggers were smooth in this era, but checkered triggers could be special ordered-

Pic #26


The pearls are as seductive and enchanting as the mythical sirens, enticing one to roll them in the light and gaze ever deeper into their luminescence.
I’m sorry that photos don’t truly capture the mesmerizing depth these have-

Pic #27


Pic #28


Of course the barrel and cylinder are serial numbered-

Pic #29


Pic #30



The Nickel parts are:
Cylinder and Ejector Rod
Every Stud
Every Pin (except front sight)
Every Screw
Including the elevation screw which is actually UNDER the rear sight-

Pic #31


The assembly number has a dot after it.
I have never seen that before-

Note that the assembly number (dot included) is used on Target Sights in this era.
In later decades, you will see the serial number instead.

Pic #32


Here is where you should also note the 'domed' hole for the elevation screw (Pic 31). The screwdriver was inserted THROUGH the hole and into the screw in the frame. The sight sat flat in its groove till you jacked it up with the screw.

Pic #33


Even sight blades were numbered!
Note also the round ‘slide’ along the bottom of the rear blade on these early sights. Hard to lose one of these!
(the Magic tape is to keep the tweezers from scratching)

Pic #34


The Front Sight is a Lyman Ivory bead. Believe it or not, the front blades were numbered on these early Target guns, and for quite some time after.
This blade lacks a number.
The pin for it is the ONLY pin on the gun that is not nickeled.
Therefore I’m quite certain that it was replaced. I’m not surprised, since I’ve often said that target shooters are notorious tinkerers. Perhaps the original bead was broken, or perhaps he wanted a different style. This gun shows much shooting- it was not just a showpiece.
Small punch marks are visible, so I do not think the factory did the work. I’ll bet he lost the original nickeled pin!

Pic #35


Pic #34


Pic #35



The gun shows a frame date of March, 1915.
There are NO other service marks- no stars, no diamonds, no nothing.
I cannot say what work was done, but it is probably not a refinish.

Pic #36


I have to wonder if it went back for a new extractor.
This extractor is NOT numbered to the gun, and it DEFINITELY should be in this era.
It has never had a number.
I am also not certain that it was ever blued!

Pic #37



Remember that engraving that crosses the frame/yoke joint?
Look Closely and you’ll see a couple of punch marks that cut both pieces at the same time-

Pic #38


Pic #39


Now I’ll show you the most perplexing and astonishing anomaly I have ever seen on an S&W.
The yoke assembly number and serial number do not match the gun!!

Pic #40


Pic #41




So, what the hell is going on there?!?!!
I can only envision two possible explanations, because this yoke was positively engraved with this frame-

1> The yokes were accidentally swapped at the factory before the gun was engraved.

2> Both guns were being engraved at the same time, and the engraver swapped them! I realize that they are almost 4000 numbers apart, so 58202 would probably have to have been sent back for engraving and refinish for this scenario to be likely.

We’ll never know!

So, don’t tell me they never made a mistake or had a flaw back in ‘The Good Ole Days’!
Having been fortunate enough to handle more guns than most folks, and having opened many and many, I can positively tell you that humans made the old guns and they were not wrought as Perfection by the Hand of God.

I still love ‘em!




.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

really nice example of craftsmanship. with the magnified close ups of the engraving I am wondering what todays or later examples of hand engraving looks like under the same magnification and lighting. I dont doubt its not in the same league but is it even in the same sport?

Super nice revolver, Lee. Will it be in Columbus next week?

Bill

Great gun! Too bad someone scratched it all up! Maybe when you send it to get refinished they can fix the scratches.

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Tom
NRA Pistol Inst

Lee, Great gun. As far as the engraving goes, I don't think it's good enough to be Oscar Young. Could it possibly be some very early work of Harry Jarvis? I believe Jarvis started with Smith & Wesson in 1905 and retired sometime in the mid to late 50's. I think it resembles his work. Just my two cents. I would be very interested in hearing other opinions.
I bet that was one proud shooter who owned that gun....

Chad Gripp

Lee, Fantastic, enjoy Thanks Bill

That's beautiful. here is a link to a ce heath from Boston that was a target shooter in that era. there is a Endicott collage there as well. Lower right-hand column. Forest and Stream - Charles Hallock, William A. Bruette - Google Books

Chad,
I don't think it is Jarvis. Just doesn't match his style, while it definitely does match Oscar very well on guns known to be done by him.

On the quality-
don't forget how magnified these pics are. Magnifying the best engraving out there will show some imperfections.

Yes, I'll have it in Columbus.
Maybe Roy and David Carroll can nail it down.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

Hey Lee, does HE stand for handejector? Made for you before you were born!

Seriously perfect that, one in a million or more.

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Halfway and one more step

magnify a pic of the latest hot celeb that much

You are right, that is definitely a blinged out mother!! Great gun!!

I know that sometimes when Roy letters a gun, he will include what the gun was billed at when shipped. I would love to know that number!! I also wonder how many engravers S&W employeed at that time. The pool of possibles might not be too large.

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

Since this is a target model, and since it has been shot, where the heck are the photos of recently shot targets? This string simply has no meaning to us without those.

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NHI, 10-8.

Superb and rare gun!
I've never seen checkered pearl grips before.

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John

That is a very impressive revolver, a fine example of “old world craftsmanship" at its best.

Only one question, can you run +P ammo through it?

Thanks Lee!!

I now have Engraved Gun Envy to add to the list!

Man that is pretty. I don't think there are any artisans out there that could duplicate that in this day and time. That engraving is sure enough art.

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James
On the Llano Estacado

Lee,

Thanks for showing us that one and a great study of the details with excellent photography. It's an amazing gun and anomaly at the same time. I presume the MOPs are not numbered to the gun or you would have mentioned it. I think the checkering of the escutcheons is novel and just adds to the bling. I too can appreciate the engraving skill in those perfectly cut scroll curves w/o the typical 'kinks'.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Super. I really like the fact that it shows use. Any info on the original owner, like what he did, who he was? May be tough since Roy can't positively confirm the last name.

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No life story has happy end.

The work looks like that of Oscar Young. Although Harry Jarvis started at S&W in 1905, I don't think it was as an engraver.

Bill

Lee and Bill, I agree with you 100%. I just got home and looked at my Oscar Young engraved M&P. The style is definitely a match. I had to get out a magnifying glass to tell... Lee, it looks a lot rougher under magnification, just as you said.

Lee, don't hold it against me I thought your gun wasn't a Oscar Young gun. Heck, I was at the Louvre in Paris, France and told them I was sure Leonardo da Vinci didn't paint the Mona Lisa. I told them it was done by Jarvis....

Chad

Thanks, Bill. I was fairly sure, but haven't seen an Oscar in a couple of years.
Chad- no problem. I saw Mona Lisa in the 60's. She was behind bullet proof glass back then. A gendarme with a subgun was standing beside her, looking rather serious. He would have shot you for that.
True story.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

Wow, I can't tell you how much I have enjoyed this thread with these pics. I really love me some checkered triggers. Maybe one day I'll have one in my stable. Your pictures really made the story so much better. Most excellent detail. I was going to compare the pics to my Oscar Young engraved guns but ran into a real obvious problem as you might imagine.
That's a sweet shooter there!

Thanks, Roger

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Eph 2:8-9

In picture # 32, there are grooves where the pivot arm of the yoke fits into the frame. I have never seen that before, as all I have looked at were smooth from the reamer. Is that unique to this gun, or was it common during that time frame?

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Tom
1560

Words cannot describe how much I admire that gun. Stunning is as close as I can do for a desription.

Lee:

I love the simple flowing design engraved on the gun. A perfect example of "less is more". "Elegant" would be the word I used to describe it.

Thanks a ton for taking the time to shoot the photos and sharing them with the rest of us.

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Amazing gun. Super Photos. A gun like that will never find its way into my humble collection, but it's cool to examine the finest of examples of the carver's art.

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Why, I aughta.....

What a pretty gun! I'm usually not one for engraving on most "modern" DA revolvers, but this one is most certainly an exception. Unbelievable, what a treasure you have!

Thank you for the chance to look at a fine gun, it might be the only chance I have to see this level of work and is appreciated greatly.

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Hue 68 noli me tangere

Thanks for letting us into your collection. I keep blowing up the trigger picture, the checkering is unreal.

Depending on your monitor and resolution, that pic is probably 10 to 12 times lifesize.
Use a 10X loupe on your gun, and see if you see any tool marks.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

It's just too bad that with all the engraving and embellishments, that they let the surface get rusty......

Nice photos of a great old Smith. Thanks for sharing.

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Sheriff Russell Cottle. ret

Lee

This is a wonderful gun, although you are going to have to find a correct pair of grips
for it ! Its good that the invoice could be found, so that the engraving and nickel
cylinder could be confirmed.

I think the gun is a 4-screw 1905, or saying it another way, an early 1905. With the
square butt, its a 1905 - no doubt about that. A couple of my early 1905's have
lettered as 4-screw 1905's. These configurations were made between serial numbers
58000 and 62450, plus maybe a few after that. The problem is that they are intermixed
with the round butts, in the same serial number series, so the number made is unknown.
I'm aware of at least 8 to 12 4-screw 1905's .

Here is a gun I have, that is similar to yours, but not completely factory original.
Serial number is 37577 - its a round-butt 1902 1st change target. Unfortunately the
invoice is not available, but it was a special order; the letter speculates that it was
the engraving. Further communications from the historian says that the engraving is
either Oscar or Eugene Young.

The gun went back to the factory in 1919, presumably to have the cylinder nickel
plated and the studs and screw nickel plated. Also, the extractor rod assembly was
replaced at that time.





These next pictures show details of the engraving.





This next picture, with a bit of squinting, shows the individual chisel cuts. They are very tiny cuts.



This next picture is an end-view of the cylinder. It shows the finishing replating stamp - a P inside of
a circle.



This last image is the factory letter.



Regards, Mike Priwer

Thanks for sharing as that is a magnificent revolver.

WOW!!.

Like the posts before... stunning, elegant, beautiful.

Lee,,,,,absolutely beautiful. To survive this long and still have its condition in pretty good shape is amazing too...What a history this one should have.

By the way,,,,,I need more help on my photography to get where your at. Stunning photos. Blessings, Bill

Wow, you certainly know how to"suck the air out of the room"! This forum and it's major contributors qualify as a museum.

I'm still very much loving on this gun. It's appeal is not in the intricacy of the engraving, but in the layout of the pattern and the execution of the cutting. I love how the border on the frame flows seamlessly and effortlessly into the scroll, and how all of the unengraved "open spaces" add to the design, rather than detract from it. It is an outstanding piece and this thread needs another run to the top.

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Its still beautiful! Looked at it up close once and fell into a trance sorta ! The M&P Targets are probably my favorite Smith, this particular gun added fuel to my pursuit of them for sure. Its my screensaver so I get a glimpse of it everyday, I also see a few pics in the thread of engraving closeups that I don't have. If I every get one engraved it will be a shameless copy of "The Mother of all 38 Targets"

Thanks for bringing it to the top Richard !

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kbgrips.com

That trigger checkering is exactly like my 1908 TL. Glad to get confirmation that it was a factory job.



Click to enbiggen

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SWCA #3356, SWHF#611

A very nice target revolver. And one obviously owned by a shooter since the sights have been modified. It is a personal quirk of mine but I enjoy finding revolvers that shows signs of the previous owners personality in them. Altered sights, custom stocks, engraving, custom finishing all speak to what the owner wanted. This revolver has it all.

I missed this thread the first time around. Thank you Richard for resurrecting it.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

Mr Jarrett brought this thread to my attention. Some how I missed it, and it’s certainly worth resurrecting!

Guys great gun. but Endicott, MS? Don't think so? Maryland or Mass?

While I’m not usually a fan of embellished firearms, that example is absolutely awesome.

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Some Might Say.

I could not find an Endicott, Mississippi.

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Where we go one, we go all

When the letter information was finally corrected and a new one issued, the individual it shipped to was identified as C. E. Heath, of Endicott, Massachusetts. Heath was a noted target shooter of the day who is also known as the developer of the Lyman & Ideal #429336 SWC bullet, which Elmer Keith later adapted into the Lyman #429421. As shown in the photos, Heath's initials, CEH, are sculpted in the engraving on the left side of the frame. This gun is still in a current member's collection.

David

In defense of the original writer, I just looked at the entry in the shipping records. The entry which is handwritten reads "C. E. Heath Endicoti Miss".
He wrote what he saw.

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Don Mundell

If I was a betting man….
Clarence Elmer Heath (1875-1957) - Find a Grave Memorial

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Where we go one, we go all

Don

Your comment says "Endicoti". Is that really what it says, or did you mean "Endicott" ?

Regards, Mike Priwer