I'm including some pics of a gun that's listed for sale locally, I'm pretty sure it's been refinished but I'm not quite sure what it is? The ad simply says it's a S&W .357. Looks to be a five screw model with a pinned barrel but it doesn't appear to be recessed? Any clues what it is and should I pick it up as an interesting shooter? I like the stag Magnas a lot.

Attached Images

	843158-500x375.jpg (53.2 KB, 599 views)
	938447-500x375.jpg (53.6 KB, 546 views)
	820307-500x375.jpg (49.0 KB, 476 views)
	858239-500x375.jpg (39.7 KB, 422 views)

__________________
Join the NRA today

Looks like a model 10 to me.

John

I'm just curious aboout the claim it's a .357. Guess I'll just have to go and see it in person...

__________________
Join the NRA today

STAY AWAY! If it's been rechambered to .357, it 's unsafe!
It 's a squiggle hammer pre-M-10, an M&P .38, made before S&W improved metallurgy and began using model numbers in 1957.

This gun dates from about 1948-1955. The plastic or stag grips are not original. Nor is the nickel finish.

It has a turn line so it should shoot. It is probably still a 38 & being old the stags may be real. It looks like a nice bed side gun in the photos. The stags look too good to be real? They have a good color. Let us know if they are real.

As texas star notes, it may be that this model 10 was rechamblered to .357 mag. I've run into a few old S&W's that have received that treatment. (Owned one myself for a bit too.)This was not a good or safe idea for the most part. Depending on how much use it's seen as a 357, it may be sloppy, worn or even damaged due to the weaker metals used in the 38's back in the day.

That said, with all this in mind when you view, if it appears to be tight and the timing is good, it could make for an enjoyable shooter ( with 38 specials_) Just remember it is a mutt when you negotiate a price.

__________________
Dave

It's a .38 Military & Police; if the barrel/front sight is original to the gun, it is a later five-screw gun, 1956-'58. The stag stocks appear genuine, and as you already noted it has been refinished.

S & W was making K frame .357s at that time, but this is not one of them . If it has been rechambered and used with full .357s it would not be a "buy" for me. Please let us know what you find out.

__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

"If it has been rechambered and used with full .357s it would not be a "buy" for me."

Double Ditto.

Warning Will Robinson! Warning!

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Can the M&P cylinder accommodate the 357 cartridge? I think it's an error by seller.

Stags look real to me and if they are that's at least $150 for them. If plastic the whole gun is worth about $200.

__________________
No life story has happy end.

The primary indication to look for with an amateur refinish is to look at the hammer and trigger. They were never plated and always left the factory as case colored. The stocks may be genuine stags, but also not original from the factory. They were added later, but will not significantly affect the value of the gun if sold as is.

The gun is post-war and the lack of an ejector rod knob tells you it is 1947 or later. As Alan states, the front sight indicates it is mid-1950s, but earlier guns could have had the front sight altered during the chrome bumper job some years later. There were hundreds of thousands of this post-war guns like that one manufactured, so with the finish issues, I would not pay over $200 even with the stag stocks.

BTW - this model was never offered in 357. Check the stamping on the barrel and it will tell you what it is, unless they are gone from the refinish. Lastly, let us know the serial number and it can be dated more accurately.

__________________
Gary
SWCA 2515

Those squiggle hammers narrow the date considerably. They were called the Speed Hammer by S&W and arrived about 1948 with the new short action and were gone by the time model numbers appeared in 1957.

Assuming that barrel is original to this gun, the front sight says it's a mid 1950's gun.

I think the stocks are real sambar stag.

But no way would I want it rechambered to .357, if that's possible. Saxon Pig noted that the cylinder may not be long enough for a .357 round. Take some and see if they fit. If so, the gun has probably been fired with them. That's well above PROOF pressures for .38 Special. The gun may blow a chamber or more at any time, already being weakened.

No one wants to say that the stags are genuine,so I will. They are genuine sambar stag! Period. Also agree that it's a refinished M&P. You didn't say how much the seller is asking,so how are we supposed to say whether it's a good buy or not?
f.t.

__________________
South Carolina-God's country

Seller is asking the ridiculous price of $500.00. Thanks for all the good information. I'm in agreement with the general consensus. The stags are probably worth $150.00. The gun is worthless if dangerously altered, if it's really just a .38 with the nickel(?) finish, what, maybe $150.00 without the grips?

__________________
Join the NRA today

Just wanted to add that under magnification appears to have the letter "N" on the cylinder face under the serial (hard to tell), also appears the hammer and trigger have had their case coloring polished and are bare steel not nickeled ... perhaps could be an original finish.

At most. FWIW,I'll give you $160 for the stags if you decide to buy it.
f.t.

__________________
South Carolina-God's country

I blew it up 450% and can read the serial number,but I see nothing that looks like an "N". Also,the extractor star has been nickeled.
f.t.

__________________
South Carolina-God's country

I think I'll pursue the stags, I have a nice pair of Magnas or some Herrett Shooting Stars that I could offer in trade with some cash... My Pre 17 K22 Masterpiece would be more deserving of those stags don't you think?

__________________
Join the NRA today

It isn't the stock finish, but the nickel looks to be done well and in good shape. I'd go take a look at it and see what the lettering and logos look like anyway.Worth perhaps $300-$400 with the stocks, at least to me ( if the cylinder hasn't been re-chambered for 357 ). If it has, I'd pass on the gun, but offer to buy the stocks. I'd go so far as to offer buying them and giving him a replacement set of magnas.

__________________
1st smiles,lies.Last,gunfire.

Aside from every thing else-- Stags are without a doubt REAL -- I would put them in the $225.00 to $285.00 range-- just saying-- Sambar Stags they are. in a quality that is hard to find these days.

Agreed, fine looking Sambar Stag on that one! Pricey stuff these days for nice ones.

__________________
C & L

"But no way would I want it rechambered to .357, if that's possible. Saxon Pig noted that the cylinder may not be long enough for a .357 round."

A .357 case is 1/8" longer than a .38 special case. Yes, a .357 would fit in a rechambered M&P cylinder.

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

The Stags are real, and around here they would bring around $350.00 or more. If you could get it cheap enough I would buy it just for the grips I don't think India is exporting any Sambar Stags at the moment, and those are aged and very desired..................................M*

I contacted the seller and offered cash and or stocks in trade for the stags but he said he needed to keep the stags on the gun to sell it. I'll give it a day or so and take another run at it. I'm not sure I want to deal with the "mutt," as Wee Hooker referred to it, just to score the stags, although they do appear to be gorgeous.

__________________
Join the NRA today

Are you sure that the gun in question is actually a .357? If not, that would explain cylinder not recessed, as it was not done to .38's. Bob

Probably why he bought it in the first place and has too much in the gun. Doesn't want to sell at a loss. I don't much like sellin' one at a loss myself. I'd wait him out 'cause I don't think it will sell for what he's askin',at least to a somewhat knowledgeable buyer. If it does,so what? There's a WHOLE BUNCH more out there!
f.t.

__________________
South Carolina-God's country

I think very much so!!

Well, before I could call and arrange to see it some intrepid soul has bought the nickel plated five screw M&P. The stags are gone... But wait until you see what I bought for my 13-2, 3" shooter. I'll post as soon as I take delivery.

__________________
Join the NRA today