Curious as to time frames for the 5, 4, ....screw M&P 10, 38 special. Such as when did one start and stop.

I'm looking at one, actually 2 but one in particular. It's cheap at under $200 but it has weird patches of missing bluing. It is about 85% blued and still that dark, almost black bluing however, the bluing is completely missing down the rear U notch sight (the gutter) looks like it flaked off, not even. The bottom of the grip where the S# is, a fingernail size of missing bluing underneath the trigger guard and on the inside of the trigger guard where the bottom of the trigger would be. Also some minor spots here and there high on the left side. The cylinder is fine. The hammer has a very small spur with not much serrations. Functions normally. The grips look good and seem original

5-screws: serial 1 (model of 1899) through 999999 (about 1940).
V1 through V819XXX) WW2 Victory Models
S820XXX (or so) through S999999 post-WW2, about 1946 or 1947
C1 through C?????? post-WW2, about 1955

4-screws: C?????? through C??????
3-screws: after that to the present.

The C-series are the fixed-sight M&P's .

For target revolvers post-WW2:
5-screws: K1 through K250000 about 1955
4-screws: K250 through about K350000 or so about 1959
3-screws: after that.

Mike Priwer

Sounds like it might be a re-blue with poor metal cleaning and prep.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

There were no letters in front of the S#. I do know about the V and it didn't have one.
Quite possibly because there doesn't seem to be any patern to the missing bluing. if it layed on one side it would be obvious but a little bit everywhere. ...

If it's an M&P, and has no letter prefix, it's from no later than early 1942. What's the SN?

Without prefix letters it can only be pre 1942, and if it's a 4 screw, not a 5 screw, it's pre-1905 but there were no 2" barrels from the factory that far back.

What's the partial serial #?

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Jim
S&WCA #819

I wish I did.

It's a 5 in barrel

Looked like this, including the grips

Blood splatter?

Well that's a 1920's - pre 1923 vintage M&P 5 screw, if that helps. Became a 4 screw in 1955.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

I'm gonna have to make a call to the store this morning for the s#

Jim, I think that one is from 1906-1910. The stock tops are medallionless, to be sure, but they are also the early dished type. There is also a chronological hint in the presence of the logo on the sideplate. I'm thinking 1905 first change or second.

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David Wilson

Indeed the grips look like a pre-1911 style. But of course, they may not be original, and the revolver is certainly pre-1928. I'd guess the SN will be below 150000.

No Made in U.S.A. either, so probably earlier than that. I think I'd line up with David and suspect this one dates to sometime before 1911.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Blotch bluing is many times a result of blood so I will second arjay's vote for blood damage.

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James Redfield
LM #497

Well blimey and blow me down, you are so right. I should have blown it up, clearly concave stock tops when I do. Thx!

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Jim
S&WCA #819

With all due respect that's true in general, but with exceptions: currently the 500 Magnum X frames are '4 screws', and less recently, the Heritage model and several of the "Classic Line" models were '4 screws'.

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Jim
S&WCA #819