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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 07-18-2017, 04:48 PM
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Thirty-Nine Years Later An M&P .38 Spl. Returns (UPDATE post #10 range report) Thirty-Nine Years Later An M&P .38 Spl. Returns (UPDATE post #10 range report) Thirty-Nine Years Later An M&P .38 Spl. Returns (UPDATE post #10 range report) Thirty-Nine Years Later An M&P .38 Spl. Returns (UPDATE post #10 range report) Thirty-Nine Years Later An M&P .38 Spl. Returns (UPDATE post #10 range report)  
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Default Thirty-Nine Years Later An M&P .38 Spl. Returns (UPDATE post #10 range report)
The attached photos show Smith & Wesson post-war (1947/48) M&P .38 Special # S 9348XX after a long overdue thorough cleaning. The 6 inch Oops 5 inch! square butt revolver has a long and somewhat convoluted history with my family. Now mine to shoot and enjoy after thirty-nine years away. The finish challenged old revolver sports a perfect bore, chambers and action with just a hint of play in the cylinder lock-up. I added a set of period target stocks from a 1954 K-22 I sold years back. Much better than the beat-up original stocks!

Our subject gun was purchased by my mother's uncle, a WWII US Army veteran a couple years after his discharge in 1946. Great Uncle John had traveled many places from his former typical Western PA mining patch hometown, finally settling in Nebraska. His army experience landed him a job on a village police force where he was required to have his own sidearm.
The M&P rode John's hip for several years until his marriage. He left law enforcement to become a shoe store manager, and eventual owner.

About this time my grandfather took a job to supplement his coal miner's income, working as a reserve deputy game warden. John decided grandad could have his sidearm, rather than purchase a new one, so he shipped the S&W from Nebraska to PA. Grandad carried the revolver on his rounds for nearly twenty years. When my mother moved to Baltimore, MD for a nursing internship in the mid 1960's, grandad gave her the S&W for protection.

A couple years later, my dad married into the family and mom gave him the revolver to keep around the house. My dad favored his Model 36 so the old M&P sat in a drawer until our town had a big 150th anniversary celebration. Men were to grow beards during the month long festivities. Those without beards were considered to be "Turkeys". A "Turkey Patrol" police force was formed. These guys dressed in semi-western attire and carried empty weapons. My dad was a member of the patrol, a good thing since his attempt to grow a beard was pathetic!

Dad had a complete custom western-style leather holster and belt made for the 5 inch M&P. Tan with a very nice oak leaf and acorn pattern rendered in medium brown, the rig was far flashier than the old cop gun. I was only nine years old, but dad let me shoot a few rounds from what he called "the big gun". Only the second gun I'd ever fired, the first being dad's Chief's Special.

My mom was a mean alcoholic. Finally dad had enough and they divorced. She moved out and took "her gun" leaving my dad with a holster he never did fill again. Mom moved way out west for several years before returning to the area to live with an aunt. She brought the gun home and returned it to her dad.
Not long after, she passed away due to complications from years of excessive whiskey drinking. A few months later my grandad passed on too. All the guns in grandads house went to my uncle. He had some money woes at the time due to a recent divorce. My uncle sold the entire lot. Except for the old .38, which he kept for protection, and killing garden raiding groundhogs!

Now, over thirty-nine years later I am the owner of that old, well traveled Smith and Wesson. I'm the last in the family line. Not sure where it will go when my time with it is done, but I guaranty it will be shot, and enjoyed!
Attached Images
File Type: jpg MPleft.jpg (116.9 KB, 173 views)
File Type: jpg MPright.jpg (102.4 KB, 163 views)
File Type: jpg MPcyl.jpg (90.5 KB, 141 views)
File Type: jpg MPbbarrel.jpg (221.0 KB, 103 views)
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Last edited by steamloco76; 07-22-2017 at 08:33 AM. Reason: Update with photos
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Old 07-18-2017, 04:57 PM
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Originally Posted by steamloco76 View Post
The attached photos show Smith & Wesson post-war (1947/48) M&P .38 Special # S 9348XX after a long overdue thorough cleaning. The 6 inch square butt revolver has a long and somewhat convoluted history with my family. Now mine to shoot and enjoy after thirty-nine years away. The finish challenged old revolver sports a perfect bore, chambers and action with just a hint of play in the cylinder lock-up. I added a set of period target stocks from a 1954 K-22 I sold years back. Much better than the beat-up original stocks!

Our subject gun was purchased by my mother's uncle, a WWII US Army veteran a couple years after his discharge in 1946. Great Uncle John had traveled many places from his former typical Western PA mining patch hometown, finally settling in Nebraska. His army experience landed him a job on a village police force where he was required to have his own sidearm.
The M&P rode John's hip for several years until his marriage. He left law enforcement to become a shoe store manager, and eventual owner.

About this time my grandfather took a job to supplement his coal miner's income, working as a reserve deputy game warden. John decided grandad could have his sidearm, rather than purchase a new one, so he shipped the S&W from Nebraska to PA. Grandad carried the revolver on his rounds for nearly twenty years. When my mother moved to Baltimore, MD for a nursing internship in the mid 1960's, grandad gave her the S&W for protection.

A couple years later, my dad married into the family and mom gave him the revolver to keep around the house. My dad favored his Model 36 so the old M&P sat in a drawer until our town had a big 150th anniversary celebration. Men were to grown beards during the month long festivities. Those without beards were considered to be "Turkeys". A "Turkey Patrol" police force was formed. These guys dressed in semi-western attire and carried empty weapons. My dad was a member of the patrol, a good thing since his attempt to grow a beard was pathetic!

Dad had a complete custom western-style leather holster and belt made for the 6 inch M&P. Tan with a very nice oak leaf and acorn pattern rendered in medium brown, the rig was far flashier than the old cop gun. I was only nine years old, but dad let me shoot a few rounds from what he called "the big gun". Only the second gun I'd ever fired, the first being dad's Chief's Special.

My mom was a mean alcoholic. Finally dad had enough and they divorced. She moved out and took "her gun" leaving my dad with a holster he never did fill again. Mom moved way out west for several years before returning to the area to live with an aunt. She brought the gun home and returned it to her dad.
Not long after, she passed away due to complications from years of excessive whiskey drinking. A few months later my grandad passed on too. All the guns in grandads house went to my uncle. He had some money woes at the time due to a recent divorce. My uncle sold the entire lot. Except for the old .38, which he kept for protection, and killing garden raiding groundhogs!

Now, over thirty-nine years later I am the owner of that old, well traveled Smith and Wesson. I'm the last in the family line. Not sure where it will go when my time with it is done, but I guaranty it will be shot, and enjoyed!
What a great story! That old gun sure has made the rounds in your family. I had to look close at the barrel stamping to be sure that 6" Victory was actually chambered for .38 Special. Most of the 6" guns went to the British, chambered for the .38 S&W, or as the Limeys called it, the ".380." Most of the U.S. Victories had 4" barrels.

Great read!

John
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Old 07-18-2017, 05:06 PM
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Thirty-Nine Years Later An M&P .38 Spl. Returns (UPDATE post #10 range report) Thirty-Nine Years Later An M&P .38 Spl. Returns (UPDATE post #10 range report) Thirty-Nine Years Later An M&P .38 Spl. Returns (UPDATE post #10 range report) Thirty-Nine Years Later An M&P .38 Spl. Returns (UPDATE post #10 range report) Thirty-Nine Years Later An M&P .38 Spl. Returns (UPDATE post #10 range report)  
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I think the target stocks on the gun are worth $250 +.
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Old 07-18-2017, 05:15 PM
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Thirty-Nine Years Later An M&P .38 Spl. Returns (UPDATE post #10 range report) Thirty-Nine Years Later An M&P .38 Spl. Returns (UPDATE post #10 range report) Thirty-Nine Years Later An M&P .38 Spl. Returns (UPDATE post #10 range report) Thirty-Nine Years Later An M&P .38 Spl. Returns (UPDATE post #10 range report) Thirty-Nine Years Later An M&P .38 Spl. Returns (UPDATE post #10 range report)  
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Yes, having the early target stocks without the football relief are valuable additions to the package. S 9348XX probably shipped around 9/47.
Last edited by DWalt; 07-18-2017 at 05:17 PM.
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Old 07-18-2017, 05:41 PM
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steamloco76

First, I agee with PALADIN, that your story is wonderful. Congrats on regaining possession of this family treasure.

However, it is not a "Victory" model as he suggests. It is, as you stated from the outset, a postwar .38 Military & Police. The vast majority of those in that serial range that I have recorded shipped in August or September, 1947. I do show one flier, just about 150 numbers higher than yours that left the factory later, in December, 1947. One can never be sure without a letter.

Also, I don't believe your revolver has a 6" barrel. There isn't enough space between the patent dates and the front sight, nor between the front locking lug and the muzzle. It definitely looks like a 5" to me. You should measure it.

Also, would you please send me a PM with the complete serial number, so I can add this to my database on the S prefix M&P revolvers? On the cylinder, I can make out all but the 5th digit.

Regards!
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Old 07-18-2017, 06:12 PM
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steamloco76

First, I agee with PALADIN, that your story is wonderful. Congrats on regaining possession of this family treasure.

However, it is not a "Victory" model as he suggests. It is, as you stated from the outset, a postwar .38 Military & Police. The vast majority of those in that serial range that I have recorded shipped in August or September, 1947. I do show one flier, just about 150 numbers higher than yours that left the factory later, in December, 1947. One can never be sure without a letter.

Also, I don't believe your revolver has a 6" barrel. There isn't enough space between the patent dates and the front sight, nor between the front locking lug and the muzzle. It definitely looks like a 5" to me. You should measure it.

Regards!
Thank you for the shipping date information. Fits the family history timeline.
Also, I grabbed a ruler, something I should have done in the first place, and the barrel measures 5 inches. Fine by me, I like 5 inch revolvers.
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Old 07-18-2017, 06:16 PM
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the barrel measures 5 inches. Fine by me, I like 5 inch revolvers.
Me too! It is my favorite length.

Here is a 5", very early postwar .38 M&P from my collection. It shipped in March, 1946. Note the prewar style stocks, which are numbered to the gun.


This is the revolver that got me started researching the S prefix K frame revolvers. It has been an interesting ride for the past four years!
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Old 07-18-2017, 07:58 PM
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The history is fantastic. The fact that you know it is better yet!

I have a super clean postwar, 5" .38 M&P, but without knowing its history it's a bit flat compared to yours.

Enjoy,

Bob
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Old 07-18-2017, 08:03 PM
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I love family history, so much more in depth than general history. It paints an intimate picture of the family and the folks in it.

Thank you for sharing. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your account.

Enjoy that revolver.
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Old 07-21-2017, 01:09 PM
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Took the old M&P to the range this morning. 98 percent humidity and 80 degrees. Yuk. Today is the 42nd anniversary of the Week of the "Turkey Patrol" when my dad carried the gun in his western rig (Which I am trying to find so I can show you guys!!) Anyhow, I shot 150 rounds through the revolver. The single action trigger is just superb, the double action has a bit of a hitch every now and then. I think there is some crud I missed residing under the rebound slide.

The attached photos show the 10 and 25 yard range results. I'm quite certain the revolver is capable of much better groups. I shot those resting my wrists on a stack of targets, not sandbags.
The tiny low profile rear notch coupled with the narrow front sight make holding windage a challenge for my 50 year old eyes. Give me good target sights and I can still shoot quite well, thank you. Give me old fixed gutter sights and all bets are off! The other thing bugging me, the old style S&W target stocks I installed. They cause my right index finger knuckle to rap the trigger guard every shot. Now I remember why I keep all my S&W target grips in a drawer and use Hogue or Ahrends wood!
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File Type: jpg MP1947_10yards_21JUL17-WEB.jpg (87.3 KB, 30 views)
File Type: jpg MP1947_25YDS_21JUL17-WEB.jpg (50.2 KB, 27 views)
File Type: jpg MP1947_sights_25yards.jpg (123.0 KB, 26 views)
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