Saw an older pre model 10/ M&P today in a store in TX. Not really looking for one, but pretty nice shape, very tight. 6" barrel. This one had non relieved target stocks, I did not ask to remove them so i didnt check a serial number. Shop owner said 1930s. Does this seem like a $500 revolver? When were non relieved targets available?

I have an older 1905, but i do not have a nice M&P, so maybe. Thanks

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

It is very unlikely the target stocks are original. For one thing, fixed sight revolvers were not normally shipped with targets - they came with Magna stocks and by the mid-1950s they would have been "Modified Magna" or "PC Magna" stocks.

If it is a "pre Model 10" it should have a C prefix or possibly a very late S prefix serial number. With what you've given us, we really have no idea what gun you were looking at.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Depends on how far back you want to go to call a K frame a pre-model 10. SCSW says that would be the .38 M&P 1st Model back in 1899. The revolver referred to in the SCSW as a "pre-model 10" is the .38 Military & Police (Postwar) - Pre-Model 10. It began manufacture in 1944 according to some, 1945 according to others and 1946 according to even more others.

On page 143 there is a paragraph that says on Apr 7, 1948 s/n S990184 introduced the short throw hammer action, becoming the now familiar Model 10 in 1957.

If they are factory original non-relieved Targets from the 1950s the stocks are worth $200-$250 by themselves.

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No life story has happy end.

I'll call the dealer and ask him to remove the stocks and give me a serial number. .this was definitely a pre model 10 in my opinion, but I'll get an sn and a photo.

I was pretty certain the stocks were not original to the piece....I'll get more info

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

Whether you call it a "pre-Model 10" or not is completely irrelevant to the question at hand, since that by itself adds or detracts nothing regarding the posited $500 price. As said above, we need the serial to determine the vintage, and I'd not presume to comment on the stocks beyond saying that target stocks on a regular 1930s M&P would be highly unlikely to be factory-original. Pictures would be nifty.

(As always, this opinion comes with an unconditional money-back guarantee, should I be proven wrong )

You will save yourself some grief if you don't get too hung up on trying to micro-interpret the SCSW and just remember the two commonly used definitions of a "pre-Model 10":

Number 1 is the one used by many people not well-versed in S&W history and models, such as a lot of dealers and Gunbroker sellers. That one encompasses all K-frame fixed sight revolvers from 1899 to the beginning of model numbers (theoretically 1957, in case of the M&P actually more like 1958).

Number 2 is the one used by many collectors. For them, a "pre-Model 10" is a revolver produced after the adoption of the new short action in 1948 up to the same point as described under Number 1.

Knowing the full SN (with letter prefix, if any) and whether it has fixed or adjustable sights would help greatly. Non-relieved target stocks in high condition, even if not original to the gun, could probably make it worth close to $500.

Couldn't you just ask him to flop the cylinder open and check serial there and on bottom of barrel ?

Regards,
Bruce

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Regards,
Bruce

Yes Bruce, that thought came to me last night.....when I looked at it I wasn't that interested so I didn't look further...the longer I thought on it the me interested I became. Unfortunately that was 1500 miles ago....

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760