Any help with this I don't collect much but for the price I couldn't pass it up. What I THINK I have is a S&W .38 M&P fourth change with a 2" barrel. Serial # 6767## is on the frame, barrel and cylinder. Hammer is removed because the firing pin is missing. Any help with age and range of value would be appreciated.

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S&W .38 M&P.jpg (16.3 KB, 90 views)

From the looks of it, you may have one of the comparatively rare pre-war 2"barreled M&P's. The serial indicates it would have shipped in 1940 or a little earlier. Since serials on the important parts match, it's reasonably likely it's original. The stocks are period-correct, too; how about a matching serial on the right panel backside?

It's a little tough to accurately date a pre-WWII M&P snubby without a factory letter because the SNs are often much lower than would otherwise be expected for their shipping date. About all that can be said is that it is from the late 1930s. I hope you have that missing hammer. These 2" S&W K-frames can be very desirable and worth considerable sums as only several hundred were made. Some better pictures would help in value estimation.

I have a hammer that I think may be aftermarket so it was used double action only. I'm going to send for a factory letter tomorrow. If it really is rare I might look for an original hammer. I guess I'll wait for a factory letter before I go beyond replacing the missing firing pin.

With a letter or not it's worth finding a long action hammer that already has the pin already installed just to get it back to factory, firing condition.

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Get off my lawn!

It should not be too difficult to find a period-correct hammer with firing pin at a reasonable cost. In the 1930s, some hammers had a patent stamping, and this one may well have had one of those. This is one of those cases in which the expense of a letter will probably be worthwhile. Look at this old thread regarding the patent stamping on the hammer. Question on REG US PAT OFF Hammer/Trigger markings

Welcome to the forum. Good luck on your search.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

TM,
It looks like a pre war 2" M&P square butt which is more uncommon than the black hard rubber gripped round butt. They are all uncommon and value depends on condition and originality of finish. It's too difficult to tell from the one poor photo. Prices could range from $300 to 400 for a rough shooter grade to $3000 and up on a 98% collector grade. I've posted mine quite a few times but this is what a collector grade looks like. DWalt is correct about the serial numbers being all over the place. My gun is serial #625400 and is the first known shipped 2" M&P shipped November 1933.
Bill

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DSC02940 (2).jpg (65.5 KB, 37 views)

Found a hammer today and ordered it.
Thank you

Bill,
That is a treasure for sure! Love the round butt with the black grips!

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

I can't tell very much about its condition from the single low-quality picture posted. That's why several very clear close-up pictures showing it from all angles are necessary to assess its condition. But I'd think it could easily bring several thousand. And possibly that is conservative. I do show several M&P snubbies in the low to mid SN 67xxxx range which shipped in 1938-39.

Not all RB snubbies came with black rubber stocks. This one lettered with wood stocks.



This SB snubby isn't numbered in the same range as the RB guns.