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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 08-06-2017, 02:27 PM
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Default .38 M&P Postwar 4" barrel

Just won this guy today online. I am hoping it is a 1945 but more likely a 1946. S/N is not clear from the photo. Not much finish left but claimed to be sound and a good shooter. Will find out about that when I get the gun in hand. Stocks may also be original - they are sure dirty enough.

Jack I have your checklist for the "S" prefix guns and will fill it out when the revolver is in hand.



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Last edited by Targets Guy; 08-06-2017 at 02:28 PM.
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Old 08-06-2017, 02:32 PM
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Mike, not sure where you get the "not much finish left", but unless there is some major reflective illusion in play, the bluing looks pretty much fully intact to me except for some discoloration toward the back half of the barrel.
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Old 08-06-2017, 02:36 PM
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Mike, not sure where you get the "not much finish left", but unless there is some major reflective illusion in play, the bluing looks pretty much fully intact to me except for some discoloration toward the back half of the barrel.
I noticed that when I posted the close up. I try to keep my expectations low. The barrel is pitted where you see the discoloration but I can live with that. I may try the Kroil soaking and some copper pads on that area.

I was excited when I saw the S/N and thought it was S811xxx but I don't think that third digit is a 1 any longer.
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Old 08-06-2017, 03:32 PM
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One would expect that SNs in the SN S81xxxx range shipped from early 1946 up to about June 1946.
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Old 08-06-2017, 04:43 PM
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I try to watch them pretty closely. I know that S815xxx shipped in March 46 and I thought this one might be a S811xxx (not any more) or S813xxx (still hopeful but not really).
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Old 08-06-2017, 04:53 PM
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Dewalt,

Just attempted to send you a PM and got a message that your PM box is full? Could you perhaps please check on that? I'd like to send you a message.
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Old 08-06-2017, 05:00 PM
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Dewalt,

Just attempted to send you a PM and got a message that your PM box is full? Could you perhaps please check on that? I'd like to send you a message.
Cleaned out now. I should delete more frequently.
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Old 08-06-2017, 09:50 PM
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Congrats!!!

I picked up a NYPD post war M&P today online S-845xxx with a both a patrolman's and a Sgt.'s shield numbers on it. Guess he got promoted!!

It was a good day for both of us!!

Best,
Charles
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Old 08-06-2017, 10:24 PM
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Looks like this guy shipped in 3/46. Sounds like a good day for postwar .38 M&Ps, Charles.

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Old 08-07-2017, 01:23 AM
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Jack I have your checklist for the "S" prefix guns and will fill it out when the revolver is in hand
Thanks. I will watch for it.

The highest S81xxxx number in my database is S819918, and it shipped in April, 1946. Once you give me the full serial, I can probably nail it down for you, but it is highly unlikely yours shipped before March or later than April, 1946.
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Old 08-07-2017, 09:45 AM
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Thanks. I will watch for it.

The highest S81xxxx number in my database is S819918, and it shipped in April, 1946. Once you give me the full serial, I can probably nail it down for you, but it is highly unlikely yours shipped before March or later than April, 1946.
As always you pretty much nailed it. The full s/n is S813735. I found a s/n S813610 that shipped in 3/46 but don't know its barrel length. But it looks like mine would have shipped the same month, certainly not in 1945.
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Old 08-07-2017, 03:10 PM
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Mike
I'd say there is a 95% certainty that this one shipped in March, 1946. I list several with very close by serial numbers that did, and hundreds of them went out the door that month. It seems to have been when civilian shipments began in earnest.

I don't believe any S prefix guns left the factory before February, 1946 - at least I have never found one and I have nearly 800 of them in my database. We know that some of them were assembled in the last 3-4 months of 1945, but the only shipment in February 1946, that I've found was a group that went to the Cleveland PD. Beyond that, the shipments to civilian distributors seem to have started in March.

When you have this gun in hand, please let me know if the stocks are numbered to it. Some of the guns in that serial range came with prewar style stocks, others had the postwar style like yours. It would be good to know if they are original. And while you are at it, check to see which type of retaining washers they have. At this serial number, they could either be stamped or machined.

Thanks again!
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Old 08-15-2017, 06:27 PM
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Jack, here goes. Let me know if you have any questions.

1. S818735
2. 4 inches
3. Yes
4. Small (greater in diameter than the extractor rod but just.
5. Yes and the right one even has a dimple for the rounded screw head
6. black (looks like a brake drum). They look machined to me.
7. Yes
8. Yes and visible
9. flaired
10. 3/46
11. It has a "P" proof on the lower right corner of the grip frame and an "S" just next to the rear side plate screw. Right side stock has a "dimple" for the round headed rear plate screw.



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Old 08-15-2017, 09:48 PM
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Very nice,Mike!! I hear it screaming for a letter!!!!
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Old 08-16-2017, 12:09 AM
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Some photos







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Old 08-16-2017, 12:08 PM
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Cleaned out now. I should delete more frequently.
DWalt,

Finally got around to sending my PM to you. Sorry for the delay!
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Old 08-16-2017, 03:59 PM
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Targets Guy

Thank you so much for the detailed response and for the pictures! All info now captured in my database.

The washers are interesting. Yes, that is the machined type, and blued. I show a whole string of these being used in the S8186xx to S8200xx range. Some show up earlier too, but they are mixed in with machined in-the-white and the newer stamped style. Then there is this large bunch in your serial range, before they run out.

The highest number I have found with the blued machined washer is S820038, shipped in April, 1946. The highest number with machined washers that were not blued is S818072. I don't have a ship date for that one.

The S on the sideplate was there to let assemblers know that the inside of that plate was properly machined for the sliding hammer block safety. As the inventory ran out on the earlier sideplates, that S became unnecessary and was no longer stamped in that location. It seems to disappear by mid-year, 1946.
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Old 08-16-2017, 04:16 PM
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Forgot to mention that the serial number matches on the butt frame, flat underbarrel (that's my term), cylinder and stocks.
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Old 08-18-2017, 06:20 PM
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This revolver did not ship in 3/46. It shipped in August 1946. My mistake. Puts it being a 1945 made in real jeopardy.
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Old 09-15-2017, 01:07 PM
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Try to clear up confusion on this one.

S/N: S818735

It shipped in 8/1946

The stocks are numbered to the revolver.



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