1905 M&P .38

[walkcubs]

Just acquired this .38 M&P Model 1905 1st Change. I just wanted to show it and confirm the barrel WAS replaced. Small "B" under barrel before the serial number.
Gun was refinished. Not by factory. See small stamps under grip. "E" and "B".
Any help appreciated.

[Muley Gil]

It looks correct to me. Does the serial number on the butt match the one under the barrel, minus the "B", which indicates it shipped with a blue finish?

[19leben]

I'm curious to know why you believe the barrel to have been replaced? Gun looks good to me as well, and as Muley Gil has stated, check the SN on butt for match.

Also, the stocks​on this one are in amazing condition.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

[Alk8944]

Why do you presume this gun has been re-barrelled? All the "B" means is the gun was originally blue when originally issued.

The clean, straight, SN under the barrel makes it almost certain it is original. If it had been replaced by the factory there would have been a "re-work star" either after or under the SN on the butt, a date code in the form of 4.24** on the lower left edge of the butt front strap, and a diamond <> on the barrel flat. The SN would most likely be hand-stamped and somewhat irregular.

** 4.24 would indicate April 1924.

[Targets Guy]

Very nice. Not bad for a 110+ year old gun.

[Aircrewman]

I really like your revolver! Beautiful. I have an opportunity to acquire a similar model built c. 1906/08. I am contemplating starting a collection of M&P revolvers. The revolver has similar barrel markings. Unfortunately the barrel is pitted a bit and the overall finish is ok but it is original. Grip panels are original. Overall I believe it would be a good start if only because it has the barrel markings showing the "US Service Ctg." noted below the "38 Smith and Wesson Spl.Ctg" inscription.

Am I correct in understanding that the U.S. Service cartridge around this time was the 38 Long Colt round used in the Colt revolver that was selected as the service revolver for the United States military...?

[Muley Gil]

"Am I correct in understanding that the U.S. Service cartridge around this time was the 38 Long Colt round used in the Colt revolver that was selected as the service revolver for the United States military...?"

That is correct. The .38 special cartridge is a stretched .38 LC with more powder.

[Aircrewman]

Thanks Muley Gil! Thought so but wanted to make sure. Appreciate the quick reply! You're the man!

[DWalt]

"Am I correct in understanding that the U.S. Service cartridge around this time was the 38 Long Colt round used in the Colt revolver that was selected as the service revolver for the United States military...? "

Indeed it was, in use by the Navy since 1888. It is properly called the Cal. .38 Ball, U. S. Navy. With some changes, it was adopted by the Army in 1892 as the Cal. .38 Ball, U. S. Army. The civilian name was the .38 Long Colt. The load was 17.85 grains of Black Powder, 150 grain bullet, 10 shot average muzzle velocity 723 ft/sec (@25'). The .38 Special was developed as a ballistic improvement over the .38 LC, as the case was made slightly longer and would hold a few more grains of black powder. The .38 LC was reportedly inadequate in stopping the Moros during the Philippine campaign, prompting the development by S&W of a more powerful cartridge. Many are unaware that the .38 Special cartridge was originally designed as a black powder cartridge, and continued to be available in a black powder loading well into the 1930s. The .38 LC cartridge and the .38 Colt revolver actually saw a little use by rear-area American troops during WWI, and even by state guard troops in the early years of the post-WWI era.

[jmace57]

Gorgeous stocks!

[walkcubs]

The serial number under the butt is without any marks. Thanx for reminding me about the star. Another of my .38 M&Ps has this and it was refinished. The gentleman who owned this revolver stated he researched this forum and thought the barrel was replaced. No dates stamped anywhere.
Which brings up another question. Wouldn't a gun from 1906 have the hard rubber grips??? The grips on this do NOT have any serial number written on them. I have an M&P .38 Model 1902 that has these hard rubber grips. I guess the option was available 110 years ago. I have other 1905 M&P .38s with various forms of wooden grips. Different medallions.

[walkcubs]

I attached a photos of my other .38s. This does not include my Model 1902 or the 1905 1st change. The oldest starts upper left and newest is lower right. This includes 2 BSR (British Service Revolvers) and 4 Victory models.

[jmace57]

Rubber stocks...Or wood ones like you have are correct.

[bruce5781]

Originally Posted by DWalt

"Am I correct in understanding that the U.S. Service cartridge around this time was the 38 Long Colt round used in the Colt revolver that was selected as the service revolver for the United States military...? "

Indeed it was, in use by the Navy since 1888. It is properly called the Cal. .38 Ball, U. S. Navy. With some changes, it was adopted by the Army in 1892 as the Cal. .38 Ball, U. S. Army. The civilian name was the .38 Long Colt. The load was 17.85 grains of Black Powder, 150 grain bullet, 10 shot average muzzle velocity 723 ft/sec (@25'). The .38 Special was developed as a ballistic improvement over the .38 LC, as the case was made slightly longer and would hold a few more grains of black powder. The .38 LC was reportedly inadequate in stopping the Moros during the Philippine campaign, prompting the development by S&W of a more powerful cartridge. Many are unaware that the .38 Special cartridge was originally designed as a black powder cartridge, and continued to be available in a black powder loading well into the 1930s. The .38 LC cartridge and the .38 Colt revolver actually saw a little use by rear-area American troops during WWI, and even by state guard troops in the early years of the post-WWI era.

These are loaded with "semi-smokless". Never heard of such a thing.



Regards,
Bruce

[Muley Gil]

The square butt revolvers had wood grips standard and mother of pearl and ivory as options. The round butt revolvers (1902 models) usually had hard rubber grips, with the same options-wood, MOP, ivory.