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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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  #1  
Old 08-12-2018, 05:19 PM
oldmcdonald oldmcdonald is offline
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Default Early Post War M&P Snubby

I just bought this early pre-10 with Catalin grips. Serial no. is S839223. I'm thinking 1945-46? Although all numbers (except grips) are matching, a Jinks letter would probably be appropriate with the 2" barrel shortly after the war. If the short barrel is original, is it correct to assume that the gun is relatively rare? Would the gun have come with pre-war magna grips originally? I don't think I've seen Catalin grips on anything other than single action army guns.
Any comments about the gun or grips are appreciated.
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Last edited by oldmcdonald; 08-12-2018 at 05:24 PM.
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Old 08-12-2018, 05:21 PM
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is the barrel numbered to the rest of the gun? I sure hope so because they aren't legal in CO but they are here in TN. LOL. lee
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Old 08-12-2018, 05:29 PM
oldmcdonald oldmcdonald is offline
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Hi Lee,
Yes, barrel does number to the rest of the gun. But I think I heard that the factory would install a short barrel & renumber it to the gun?
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Old 08-12-2018, 05:43 PM
Hondo44 Hondo44 is offline
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The factory would, but you'd have a star stamp on the butt and a rework date under the left grip.

It appears to be a righteous post war 38 M&P Transitional Commercial model with the long action.

I agree 1945-46.

Yes a scarce gun worth a 50% to 100% premium for your sq butt model in better condition. Rd butts have a lower premium.

Most likely had post war Magnas with 3/8" nickeled medallions and checkering borders with curved corners.
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Last edited by Hondo44; 08-12-2018 at 07:19 PM.
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Old 08-12-2018, 06:11 PM
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Nice purchase. I love the old M&P and early J snubbies
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Old 08-12-2018, 06:42 PM
larryofcc larryofcc is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oldmcdonald View Post
I just bought this early pre-10 with Catalin grips. Serial no. is S839223. I'm thinking 1945-46? Although all numbers (except grips) are matching, a Jinks letter would probably be appropriate with the 2" barrel shortly after the war. If the short barrel is original, is it correct to assume that the gun is relatively rare? Would the gun have come with pre-war magna grips originally? I don't think I've seen Catalin grips on anything other than single action army guns.
Any comments about the gun or grips are appreciated.
I just bought # S 963156 shipped 12-47 from our friends at Joe Salter. It too is a 2" with the long action. It is in mint condition with no signs of ever being fired. My guess is, yours was also made in 1947. Mine has numbered to the gun, high horn magna stocks. Big Larry
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Old 08-12-2018, 06:44 PM
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Good looking old Snub, I kinda like the catalin stocks also.
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Old 08-12-2018, 07:02 PM
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Since I’ve got an S 844- thatt shipped in Oct. 1946, but the first post-war M&P’s did not go out until February of the year, I think it’s pretty assured that this is a 1946 gun. Jack may have a more precise idea on the time frame.

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Originally Posted by Lee Barner View Post
is the barrel numbered to the rest of the gun? I sure hope so because they aren't legal in CO but they are here in TN. LOL. lee
Just curious what this is about. What’s not legal in CO, the 2” barrel or replacements with different numbers?

Last edited by Absalom; 08-12-2018 at 07:03 PM.
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Old 08-12-2018, 07:18 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by larryofcc View Post
I just bought # S 963156 shipped 12-47 from our friends at Joe Salter. It too is a 2" with the long action. It is in mint condition with no signs of ever being fired. My guess is, yours was also made in 1947. Mine has numbered to the gun, high horn magna stocks. Big Larry
What a find! Snubbies in mint condition are few and far between.

Nice catch. Square butt?

Oh, I believe you mean sharp shouldered Magnas. High horns are only found on J frame Centennials and medium high horns on Bodyguards.
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Old 08-13-2018, 02:27 AM
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Default S 86423X

I just bought S 86423X, a Blued, 2" SB M&P a few weeks ago do to the obscene price of (Well, lets just say that I paid almost the same for a NIB Tauri M66 4" almost 25 years ago). According to JP@AK mine shipped 12/1946. All serial numbers match and the best part... It's never been fired, other than the factory test firing, not even a turn line. Grips are near perfect except for a few compressions on the checkering points. It looks like S 86423X spent most of it's life in the sock drawer or night stand.


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Edit: Having computer problems. I can't get pics to post. If someone wants to PM me their cell number I'll text you the pics if you will post.
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Old 08-13-2018, 11:06 AM
rusty37874 rusty37874 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by larryofcc View Post
I just bought # S 963156 shipped 12-47 from our friends at Joe Salter. It too is a 2" with the long action. It is in mint condition with no signs of ever being fired. My guess is, yours was also made in 1947. Mine has numbered to the gun, high horn magna stocks. Big Larry
Just for point of shipping date reference's, -- # S 950824 shipped Oct. 13, 1947
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Old 08-13-2018, 11:20 AM
larryofcc larryofcc is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hondo44 View Post
What a find! Snubbies in mint condition are few and far between.

Nice catch. Square butt?

Oh, I believe you mean sharp shouldered Magnas. High horns are only found on J frame Centennials and medium high horns on Bodyguards.
Yeah, sharp shoulder square butt stocks numbered to the gun. The revolver appears to be unfired and is 100% drippy mint. Need a box for this one. Bought from Joe Salters site. About the nicest folks I have ever bought from. Big Larry
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Old 08-13-2018, 08:40 PM
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Just as a data point, S868055 shipped in January 1947. So yeah, the lower serial numbers mentioned above may well have shipped in '46.
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Old 08-13-2018, 09:05 PM
oldmcdonald oldmcdonald is offline
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So from all of the above, I will regard 1946 as the best guess for S839223, although the numbers mentioned above are all higher.
Congratulations from me as well to Big Larry. The gun that you bought is awesome.
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Old 08-13-2018, 10:18 PM
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I had S 829071, it shipped July, 1946. It's a 5-inch blued M&P.
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Last edited by JayCeeNC; 08-13-2018 at 10:19 PM.
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Old 08-13-2018, 10:40 PM
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I have S 820792, a 6" that shipped in May of 46. it doesn't have pre war magna grips. lee
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Old 08-14-2018, 11:13 AM
larryofcc larryofcc is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oldmcdonald View Post
So from all of the above, I will regard 1946 as the best guess for S839223, although the numbers mentioned above are all higher.
Congratulations from me as well to Big Larry. The gun that you bought is awesome.
Thank you for the compliment. I saw that revolver on Salters site and called immediately. Price was a little high, but these do not come along very often in this condition. Now, for a box. Thanks again, Big Larry
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