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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 04-15-2018, 08:41 PM
mmck mmck is offline
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Default 2" M&P barrel markings

I recently picked up this nice 2" M&P. The serial number is S9517XX, so I am guessing late 1947. All numbers, including the right stock, are matching. The included gold box is appropriate, but there is no visible number on the bottom. It has the satin blue finish similar to my 5 screw "C" series snubby.

The only thing that seems a little off is the second line of the barrel marking. The "SPEC" in the cartridge designation seems lightly struck. The rest of the marking on the barrel looks similar to my other guns from this period.

I don't see any evidence of a refinish. Does this seem to just be normal variation in the marking?

Thanks for any input.

Matt
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Old 04-15-2018, 08:55 PM
merl67 merl67 is offline
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Looks completely righteous to me, just as you said probably a light strike. I am not sure what method used to put the markings on these but being a short barrel might make the stamping process a little less precise. Nothing on the gun looks refinished to me. I also have a early c prefix 2 inch model that I looked for quite a while and love it. It does guard duty for my wife as I work the night shift. Please don't show up on my doorstep unannounced late at night.
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Old 04-16-2018, 03:13 AM
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Hi mmck

I see nothing wrong here. Sometimes the strike is just light. No big deal. It is in the right location for a 2" barrel; close to the muzzle.

My research shows quite a large number of 2" square butt M&P revolvers in the S950xxx to S954xxx range. Nearly all of them shipped in October, 1947. I found one not too far from your serial number that went to the Detroit Police Department. Most of the others went to various distributors.

I'll send you a PM about your revolver.
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Old 04-16-2018, 06:59 AM
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Here's its younger sister - 1948 after the 4 line address started. The stamping is more distinct on mine. This one is high S900xxx (too lazy to go look ).

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Old 04-16-2018, 07:45 AM
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I've seen pictures of guns with lightly stamped roll marks that weren't refinished. I don't exactly know how the process of stamping roll marks was done, but I'm sure discrepancies on the depths of the lettering / numbers can vary depending on who was applying them, how quickly they had to gt the job done, and what day of the week it was (Monday or Friday guns )

Here is a good close up of the roll marks on my Feb. 1947 M&P. I'll bet it wasn't a Monday or Friday gun as they look like they are perfectly stamped.

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Old 04-16-2018, 07:54 AM
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Here's mine from October 1947... my left side stamping is a little deeper than yours. Yours looks good to me too.. probably just a light strike.

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Old 04-16-2018, 09:03 AM
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It may be perspective or my old eyes, but the barrel taper appears to start further forward on Matt's gun than Rick's. If so, that would account for the strike being deeper at both ends than in the middle.

Bob
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Old 04-16-2018, 09:54 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by digi-shots View Post
Here's mine from October 1947... my left side stamping is a little deeper than yours. Yours looks good to me too.. probably just a light strike.

You are aware that the box of Remington cartridges is very likely WWII military issue for the Victories? Such full boxes are uncommon.
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Old 04-16-2018, 04:37 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wiregrassguy View Post
Here's its younger sister - 1948 after the 4 line address started. The stamping is more distinct on mine. This one is high S900xxx (too lazy to go look)
Seriously? An S prefix with long action and the four line address?

Guy, I have looked at literally hundreds of the postwar M&Ps with the S prefix, and I have yet to see the four line address on any of them. Would you be able to post a picture of the right side? That's one for the database!

Please be sure to let me know the serial number, so I can check to see if I already have it recorded. PM if you like.
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Old 04-16-2018, 06:36 PM
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Thanks for the feedback and photos of your good looking snubbies. My instinct was that it was OK, but wanted to get some expert support for that position.

It fits in nicely between my pre-war and 5 screw "C" prefix 2 inchers. Now I need to find round butt versions in both the "S" and "C" prefixes. I doubt it will be possible to locate a square butt pre-war.

This one will probably get a letter.
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Old 04-17-2018, 12:25 AM
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S prefix snubby from September, 1947:
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Old 04-17-2018, 01:55 AM
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The roll marks are a little light on this one as well (S951985):

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Old 04-17-2018, 09:06 AM
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Old 04-17-2018, 01:52 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HARDWARE View Post
S or C prefix? If it is an S, it is a late one.

With the 4 line address, I am betting C. The stocks are prewar round butt service stocks. Pretty common to see these in the late '40s and early '50s on the round butt revolvers. But nice.

Nice looking revolver!
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Old 04-17-2018, 02:26 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JP@AK View Post
S or C prefix? If it is an S, it is a late one.

With the 4 line address, I am betting C. The stocks are prewar round butt service stocks. Pretty common to see these in the late '40s and early '50s on the round butt revolvers. But nice.

Nice looking revolver!
thanks... yes its C560xx
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Old 04-17-2018, 10:35 PM
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I need some help here, fellows. I'm looking for certain information on 2" blue S-prefix .38's. Specifically, I'd like to know if there is, a "B" stamped on the flat under the barrel, and if there is a "B" stamped under the grips in the lower right-hand corner of the butt.

Also - for nickel 2" .38's, I'm looking for information for the following four serial numbers: 625630, 625803, 624897, and 639693. I'd like to know if there is, or is not, an alphabetic character stamped in same two places as above. I think there is nothing, but maybe an "N". You can pm or email me at [email protected] if you prefer.

Thanks for any information, Mike Priwer
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Old 04-17-2018, 11:11 PM
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Here you go Mike

S969136 shipped February 1948







S970590 shipped February 1948



I don't have any pictures of S970590 with the grips off. I'll have to take some the next time I have it out of the safe.
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Old 04-18-2018, 12:45 AM
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Looks like the stamping is deep on both ends and shallow in the middle - just what one would expect with a concave surface. The shallow part coincides with where the barrel surface transitions from being fairly straight-sided to where it flares out to form the shoulder ahead of the threads. Not sure I'm using the right terms but it looks pretty straight forward how it came to be stamped that way.

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Old 04-18-2018, 01:49 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mikepriwer View Post
I need some help here, fellows. I'm looking for certain information on 2" blue S-prefix .38's. Specifically, I'd like to know if there is, a "B" stamped on the flat under the barrel, and if there is a "B" stamped under the grips in the lower right-hand corner of the butt.

You can pm or email me at [email protected] if you prefer.
Mike
Sent you an email.
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Old 04-18-2018, 01:57 PM
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Rick

Thanks for the information, and for posting the pictures. There is definitely no "B" in either place.

Regards, Mike
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Old 04-18-2018, 02:24 PM
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Here’s a picture of my ‘51 M&P.
41C58DA5-7B84-47DB-B417-A0BD19092259.jpg

Bill
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Old 04-19-2018, 09:54 AM
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I once had several S&W barrels that I bought from (I think) Numrich. They were all in the white and unpolished, with the as machined finish, but with the normal roll marks applied. Since they would have been hand polished on hard felt buffing wheels in a later production step, it would not be at all surprising if some of the lettering was light.
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Old 04-20-2018, 03:40 AM
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Mine is S958xxx and 38 SPC looks like your picture.
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