I was at Roy Jinks today doing factory letters. While I was looking for an invoice on a revolver I was lettering, I found this interesting entry.
Skiff's, Inc.
13 Market St. Feb 16, 1926 Springfield, Mass.
1 .38 M&P Revolver B 6" Sq. Target with silver bead sight made from piece of silver half dollar received-like wooden sample. Fine rear slide. Targeted. $34.82 +3.48 $38.30.
The rest of the half dollar and sample sights are returned together with a target with the revolver.
Delivered. To go to H.F. Iscacs Route 2, Castlewood, Va.
Unfortunately, it does not list a serial number. So maybe if your at a show or a gun shop down south and you find an M&P with a silver dollar front sight, it just might be factory. You'll never know until you send for a factory letter. Keep those letters coming. After January 2016 of course.

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Don Mundell

Thanks for lending a hand!

Ralph Tremaine

I've been to Castlewood. It's waaay out in the sticks.

It was probably a booming town back when coal was king.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Thanks. I'll be looking for it.

Bob

Bob
Good Luck. Years ago I bought a .22 Single Shot barrel at a gun auction. It had an Indian Head penny for a front sight. I remember it was very well done. After finding this invoice, I'm thinking, maybe I should have kept it.

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Don Mundell

Coins for front sights was a common solution as an aftermarket "in the field" fix 100+ yrs. ago. I had many examples on Colts, Winchesters, S&Ws ,etc. in the past. I think Indian Head pennies probably was the most common, although guns coming out of Mexico sometimes had a piece of a Peso attached as the front sight or added to the rear sight as a ramp shim. I think there's still a Hawken rifle somewhere in the back of my safe with a coin front sight repair. Ed.

I've seen several old top break revolvers with Mercury dimes as half moon sights.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Don

What does "fine rear slide" mean ?

Regards, Mike Priwer

Mike
I quoted it as it was written. I'm sure they meant to say sight.
I saw an entry for the Triple Locks where they wrote in the book "NEW SENTURY" and sights listed as Partridge.

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Don Mundell