Just picked up a nice 5" pre-model 10 today. I didn't really need another M&P, but I was drawn to this one because I don't find the 5" to be as common as the 4" and 6". Serial number is C221xxx, dating it to around 1951 as best as I can tell. It is a .38 special. Finish is at least 95% with just a little muzzle wear. The only condition issue is the worn left grip panel. The stocks are numbered to the gun. It came with a left-handed black leather flap holster that it must have spent most of its life in. It was also wearing a Pachmeyer grip adaptor that protected the front strap. I'm guessing the grip wear came from the cop carrying it on that side. I couldn't come up with a good reason to walk away from it when it was offered to me for $270. I don't think whoever had it took it out of the holster or shot it. I took the stocks off to clean the gun and there were dust bunnies under the stock panels and under the T-grip! That 5" barrel just spoke to me for some reason! Is the 5" less common or do I just see less of them? Here are the mandatory pictures:

I have a 5" .38 M&P from November 1947. That barrel length in K and in N frames balances just right for me.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

The 5” is definitely more common than the 6”, but I think by that time the 4” was starting to become the law enforcement standard everywhere except in California.

For the price, that was an excellent buy. The asymmetrical wear on the grip panels is very typical for retired police guns; I actively look for those, the surest sign of a revolver with some history.

"The asymmetrical wear on the grip panels is very typical for retired police guns; I actively look for those, the surest sign of a revolver with some history."

I carried a 1911 pattern .45 for about 18 years or so. It wore Pachmeyr grips. When I replaced them, the right side was worn to the point that you could see some of the steel insert.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

My two "C" prefix pre-Model 10's are both 4" barrels.





both shipped in 1950

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

Same here, both of my other C prefix M&Ps, a pre-model 10 from 1953 that's U.S. property marked, and a model 10 no dash, are both 4" as well. That's why I was wondering about the 5".

I show C1500xx shipping in February, 1951.
I show C1524xx shipping in February, 1951 (my wife's gun)
I show C2182xx shipping in September 1952
I show C2260xx shipping in April 1953

Based on that, it seems more likely yours left the factory in late 1952 or early 1953. However, they did not ship in serial order, so anything is possible.

In the postwar 1940s, the 5" was very common, nearly as common as the 4". A lot of 4" guns in that period went to police departments, so if you take those out of the equation, the 5" is at least as common as the 4" among those being sent to distributors for general civilian market (non-police) consumption.

In the early 1950s, this balance seems to have prevailed. But as time moved on, the sale of 4" guns pulled away from the 5" examples. In 1952-53, 5" was still pretty common, but they were losing ground.

If the grip adapter is marked "Pachmayr" I suspect it was a later addition. Mershon made these during the time period reflected by your serial number. Pachmayr absorbed Mershon in about 1958.

An excellent price. I don't think I could have ignored this one at that price either! I do like the 5" barrels.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

The C prefix pre 10's are a good example of s/n shipping from Smith and Wesson.

The two I showed above in post#5 were quite a surprise for me.

C113082 shipped in 9/50
C155208 shipped in 5/50

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

"I show C2182xx shipping in September 1952"


Jack, I have a 4" blue .38 M&P, # C218272. It shipped in September 1952 and it was my daddy's revolver.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

That is the one on my list. I probably got the ship date from you. Thanks!

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Nice Gun with Honest wear. If only it could talk...