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S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 All 5-Screw & Vintage 4-Screw SWING-OUT Cylinder REVOLVERS, and the 35 Autos and 32 Autos


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Old 04-24-2017, 04:12 PM
fourb20 fourb20 is offline
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Default S and V prefix?

Local gun shop has a 5 screw M&P .38 pre-model 10 with what looks like a 5" barrel. The s/n on the butt starts with a S then a V and the numbers 810xxx. I don't recall seeing that before, is it unusual? what year was it shipped?
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Old 04-24-2017, 04:15 PM
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I think it is a Victory model (V prefix) with a safety block added (the S).
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Old 04-24-2017, 04:18 PM
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While we're waiting for the expert explanation from Jack (JP@AK) :

In short, these are from 1946 and represent a brief transition period between the wartime Victory model with V prefix and the post-war S prefix. There are not a lot of these, so in good condition they can be desirable to collectors of the type.

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Originally Posted by jmace57 View Post
I think it is a Victory model (V prefix) with a safety block added (the S).
They are not actual Victory models, but usually commercially finished and, like apparently this one, with different barrel lengths; .38 Spl. Victorys were not made with 5" barrels.

Last edited by Absalom; 04-24-2017 at 04:21 PM.
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Old 04-24-2017, 04:55 PM
hivel37 hivel37 is offline
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I have SV 774625, another 5 incher. Mine went back to factory in March 1949. Pretty nice blueing.
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Old 04-24-2017, 05:30 PM
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The SV series M&Ps come in two flavors. First, the military version shipped with a phosphate finish. Second, the postwar civilian style. At war's end in August 1945, S&W had some quantity, the exact number being unknown, of unshipped military frames in inventory already serial numbered. Late in 1945, these were assembled and finished as complete M&P revolvers for civilian sale, with a blued finish and Magna grips. The lanyard swivel hole was typically plugged. If this one has a blued finish and Magna grips, it is probably one of those made up for civilian sale. For the most part, those were sold through S&W's commercial sales channels during the first three months of 1946. As you may know, the S in the prefix means it has the improved hammer drop safety first incorporated into production in early 1945. The highest serial numbered SV-series revolvers are in the neighborhood of mid-SV813xxx. Thereafter, the letter prefix of "S" alone was used until S999999.

Last edited by DWalt; 04-24-2017 at 05:41 PM.
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Old 04-24-2017, 05:53 PM
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Mine falls into the latter category. I bought it knowing little about
the SV line. It looked worthwhile.
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Old 04-24-2017, 05:58 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fourb20 View Post
Local gun shop has a 5 screw M&P .38 pre-model 10 with what looks like a 5" barrel. The s/n on the butt starts with a S then a V and the numbers 810xxx. I don't recall seeing that before, is it unusual? what year was it shipped?
Not particularly unusual, but the number produced was relatively low. Revolvers in the SV810xxx serial range were shipping in March, 1946. All of those that I've so far recorded were shipped to civilian distributors. Both 4" and 5" barrels are found on the SV guns in the SV810xxx range.

The highest SV serial number that shipped to the Navy was SV802722, on August 13, 1945. There were some SV771xxx revolvers that shipped to the NYPD in March, 1946, quantity unknown.

The lowest S serial number (without the V) is S811120 and that gun was assembled on September 12, 1945. I don't know when it shipped (if ever). However, there are guns with the SV prefix and serial numbers higher than that gun. S and SV guns are mixed together all the way up to the SV813xxx range. I've not found any SV guns higher than that. Also, the latest ship date I have found on an SV marked gun is April 4, 1946. The vast majority of them left the factory in March of that year.

If you end up purchasing it or can otherwise obtain photos of it, I would appreciate more information about it so I can get it listed in my database of these revolvers. I particularly would appreciate having the full serial number, the length of the barrel and the type of stocks it is wearing (if they are correctly numbered to the gun).

What is your LGS asking for it? It may be worth picking up if you want a less common gun with a bit of history.
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Old 04-24-2017, 08:05 PM
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The price seems high to me, $800.00 It is in excellent shape, it does not have diamond grips so perhaps they are not original?
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Old 04-24-2017, 08:19 PM
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Quote:
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The price seems high to me, $800.00 It is in excellent shape, it does not have diamond grips so perhaps they are not original?
Yes. This revolver would originally have had one of two style Magna stocks. They would be either the prewar style Magna with sharp shoulders and the prewar extensive checkered pattern including the diamond, or the early postwar style with sharp shoulders, the more limited checkered pattern and the diamond at the screw locations. With no diamond, the Magna stocks would be no earlier than 1967 and probably later than that.

I agree that $800 is too high. Even one with original everything and with 98% of its original blue should not be priced that high for the gun alone. Maybe, if it was 98% plus and had its original maroon box, HH and tools, it might go for that much. As it is, I suggest you just "walk on by."
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Old 04-24-2017, 08:21 PM
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However, if you could secure the full serial number for my research, I would be very grateful!

Thanks.
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Old 04-24-2017, 08:32 PM
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Just for the fun of it, here are some pictures of an early S prefix 5" revolver (serial number S814325). It wears the prewar style Magna stocks and sits in its maroon box with the HH. The stocks number to the gun and the package left the factory in March, 1946.




Here is the same revolver (top) with a slightly later S prefix 4" M&P that wears its numbered postwar style stocks.
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Old 04-25-2017, 07:15 AM
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Jack, I will attempt to obtain the s/n, the shop is an hour from my house and I don't know if they will provide s/n over the phone.
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Old 04-25-2017, 12:45 PM
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Thanks fourb20. I appreciate the effort.

It might help if you tell the guy it is for a research project for the S&W Collectors Association Journal. The information will be used for statistical purposes and the source will not be noted.
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Last edited by JP@AK; 04-25-2017 at 12:47 PM.
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Old 04-25-2017, 05:39 PM
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Jack.....SV810549 There you are
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