This thread started by new member Nlpmacko pacificcanvasandleather.com Has a photo of a 2" M&P with the early round front sight. opoefc posed a question about whether the frame was alloy or steel and the OP replied that it was steel. But it raised a second question, and that is did the Airweight M&P ever have a round front sight, or were they always ramped? Since the round sight went away in 1952, and the Airweight was introduced the same year it follows logically that the Airweight always had the ramp sight!

Does anyone know for sure? This would be an interesting identification point for distinguishing steel guns from Airweights.

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Gunsmithing since 1961

I dont know for sure but have never seen an M&P Airweight with a half penny front site and that includes several early 5 screw versions with aluminum cylinders and High Speed hammers.
BTW the M&P Airweight has a shorter forcing cone and longer cylinder than the Model 10 so those parts do not swap.

Also wanted to comment that the half penny FS hung around a bit later than 1952 as evidenced below, (Left to Right) Model 12 four screw Serial C 475544 Shipped July 1960, Pre Model 10, 38 M&P, Nickel 4 screw Serial C 432560 Shipped Sept 1958 and .38 M&P 5 screw, blue, Serial C 328518 Shipped June 1955.


AS an interesting aside the M&P Airweight was the only K frame that Im aware of that shipped with a flat latch.

I've found that to be true as well.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

No Airweights are known to have been shipped with the round front sight. Having said that, it is known that S&W gradually phased out the remaining round sight barrels, as noted in the photos posted above. However, should you run across an Airweight with a round sighted barrel, I would expect it to be a barrel replacement and not numbered to the gun. Ed.