I bought a S&W hand ejector 5-screw 38 special with no model number.

I'd love to know when it was made.

S/n on the butt: 580857

It's called an M&P. Someone will be along to date it for you but model numbers started in 1957 so it's at least older than that

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If your M&P's SN is 580857 and without any letter prefix, it probably would have shipped from the factory in the 1927-28 period. The closest SN I have listed is 5770xx which shipped in 12/27. That is about 20 years prior to the use of model numbers.

He means 30 years . . .

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Congratulations on your first! Classy way to get started.

We like pictures...

Wow that old? That's awesome!

WOW, now I do feel old. I bought my first revolver 45 years ago.

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James Redfield
LM #497

It was kind of love at first sight

What took you so long to get one?

Nice revolver. One thing you need to know is that it was probably refinished, due to the nickel plating on the trigger and hammer. I have a 1905 M&P, 3rd change model that had the same thing done to it. My very reliable sources (on this forum) have told me that S&W didn't plate those parts, although nothing is totally out of the realm of possibility. Be careful of your ammo choices. High powered stuff is a no-no in those old ones. I only shoot standard velocity 148gr. wadcutters in mine. One last thing, if those are real mother-of-pearl stocks, and not plastic, they're fairly delicate and you might want to substitute something else when you shoot it. Enjoy that "new" revolver.

Thank you. I was wondering about the plating. Looks like it had some good use as it's not uniformly shiny.

The stocks are definitely not plastic. I love the look and feel of them. Actually I was planning to use it for target shooting - how complicated would it be to get replacement stocks and is it something I could change myself? What material would be available? I hate the feel of plastic grips, very slippery.

Any square butt K or L frame stocks should fit. There are plenty of them for sale. Lots of them come up for sale on this forum. Also on eBay. BTW, you can shine up that nickel with a very mildly abrasive polish. I use Flitz without using too much elbow grease. You don't have to rub too hard. After that you can use wax to maintain that shine. Flitz makes a wax also, but almost any kind will do. A lot of guys use Renaissance wax.

The grips on your gun appear to be pearls. If they are real, they are worth about $100-200. You should be able to find some fine wood grips at that price. I recommend target grips but you may have smaller hands. Just for shooting comfort, you can't beat Hogue or Pachmayr rubber grips. They're ugly but functional .

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

Congratulations on a very nice acquisition and welcome. There is much you can learn about that revolver - take the grips off and post pics of both sides. There may be significant markings there that can give some clues. I *think* the ejector rod knob is something different (a LERK, Large Ejector Rod Knob?).

Above all, shoot it and have fun!

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Just Say No - To Social Media

Welcome to the forum!! That is a great way to start out. As was noted earlier, those appear to be real Mother of Pearl stocks (or grips). They are fairly scarce today. There are experts here who will probably opine on whether or not they are S&W made, but even if not they are valuable. It's just me, but on a period revolver like that, I would want to install some period stocks, if you want to replace the pearls.

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

That's a nice revolver, refinished or not!

I have a re-nickeled M&P that dates to 1940, and it's my smoothest K-frame.

Anyway, greetings from the Oregon Coast!

And this thread was a great entrance!

That pistol definitely has some vintage/funky/cool going for it !! Looks like something that might have been toted by Al Capone or Bugsy Siegal !!

[QUOTE=mrniceguy;139367969]It was kind of love at first sight

I know what that's like!
Nice gun.

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Mike, AmVets Member, Navy Vet