I've seen a nickel plated 2" M&P in a local shop and I'm wondering if it's a transition model.

It's a 5 screw, square butt model with the serial number S948713. It is nickel plated with an N stamped at the back of the cylinder and the ejector star is blued. From what I've read this would mean it's a factory plating job, but the hammer and trigger are also plated. It does have a ramp front sight and newer walnut grips.

Any guesses on when this was made?

Thanks,

Bill

Hi

It is among a run of 2" guns in that serial range. I assume it has the square butt, as others in that run did.

It sounds like it might have been factory nickel, but the hammer and trigger being plated would indicate some work was done to it subsequently. If you post a good clear photo of the right side, we might be able to say whether the entire gun was re-nickeled.

Revolvers in this serial range were shipping in October and November of 1947. Only a letter will tell you the actual ship date.

Edit: Sorry. Just re-read your post, in which you did say it had the square butt.

Also, the ramp sight is definitely not original. That would argue in favor of a refinish as well. Does the serial number appear on the barrel flat?

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Jack,

Yeah, I thought it was plated at the factory, too, but the few examples I've seen in the wild have had blued triggers and hammers. I agree, the extra plated parts were done afterwards. I don't have any photos, but the letter and logo stamps are sharp and even leading me to believe that other than the hammer and trigger it's factory plating.

With the transition the the ramp front sight in the early '50's I wonder if this is an older frame that hung around the factory and then got mated to the newer barrel.

I'll have to see if I can look at it again tomorrow. I can see if the barrel flat has the s/n.

Like you said, a letter would provide more info.

Bill

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! The SN is too early for a ramp front sight. I once had a .38 M&P snub. The frame was from the 1920's and the barrel from the '60's.



The frame was in its original nickel. Whoever swapped the barrels did a good job. There was no SN on the barrel flat.

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

I got another look at this nickeled M&P.

It does have a later barrel with the ramp front sight. It has an "N" stamped on the barrel flat, but there's no s/n stamped on the barrel flat.

I noticed that when held at a distance, the nickel on the barrel and cylinder is a bit more yellow when compared to the frame. Different heat treat in the steel?

Bill

It's more likely that the frame has been chrome plated - along with the hammer and trigger. Differences in heat treat wouldn't affect the color of the plating, but there is a distinct difference in the 'color' of nickel and chrome plating. There was a time when chrome plating was more common on cars, and many guns ended up going through bumper plating shops to get prettied up a bit. I've even seen more than a couple that were dipped without being disassembled....

Mark

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S&W Forum Member #721

Difference in age of the nickel finishes could account for the color variation.

Charlie