Just bought a 1947 vintage 2" Long Action M&P. Gun is like new and has a Humpback Hammer. Is that unusual for a 2" revolver?
Big Larry

And no pics? Make it happen!!!!




Not sure about the hammer. I think it's the norm for that era K frame though.... But I'm sort of out of my depth. Just going by looking at a lot of smiths online lately. Is yours a square butt?

Probably not for a snubby. The HBH was mainly a creature of the late 1930s, and intended mainly for SA target shooting use. It was probably added to the '47 snubby later. But HBH hammers themselves are desirable items.

Revolver seems to be near unused. I don't know why someone would put a hammer like that in a 2" revolver. A letter will tell. No pics. I won't have the gun for a week. Thanks, Big Larry

Yes, a square butt with sharp shoulder magnas. They are numbered to the gun. Thanks, Big Larry

Hump back hammer on a M&P snubby... we need pictures.

I do not have the gun in hand. I just bought it yesterday from a Cabelas. Next week for sure. They ship 2 Day Fedex.
The price was a little higher, $200 more than the one I got from Joe Salter last month. That one was drippy mint, and I got a letter with it.
I am banking on the hammer being factory. The gun is 99% and shows no use.
Besides, it is a one liner from 1947 with the long action. Kind of scarce, especially a 2".
I think a lot of folks passed it up as it was listed in the M10 section and not the M&P section.
Pics will be coming. This is their pic. Thanks, Big Larry

...2 inch one liner is near the top of my list of like to haves...

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A Country Boy Can Survive

Not snubs, but I have one and have seen one other 4" M&P with humpbacks, which surprised me at the time. I don't know why, but they do exist. Or, they were using up a stash of humpbacks on the last of the long actions.

Bob

HBHs could be special ordered as an option, but probably not as late as 1947. As replacing a hammer is pretty much a drop-in job, I'd think a modification by a previous owner is a more likely theory than coming from the factory that way. But if it's important to know, getting a letter is the only sure way. BTW, based on my SN list there seems to have been a fairly large number of S&W snubbies shipped in 1947-48, just before the changeover to the short action. I have no ideas as to why other than possibly a wave of post-WWII sales to police.

What kind of hammer would that model normally have?

I have a 2" M&P shipped 11/47, and it has the transitional type hammer. Looks very similar to yours.
Mike

It's really hard to tell from that photo if it's a humpback or a normal long action style hammer.

Not quite sure what a “transitional type” hammer is, but any M&P up to 1948 should have the standard long-action hammer, since January 1945 shipped with the cut indicating the new hammer block; see attached. I can’t get the thumbnail-size picture posted by the OP to enlarge sufficiently to tell whether his gun has a different hammer shape either.

Attached Images

700D1455-08EA-43E0-9A3C-5DE5E8FA92E3.jpg (56.5 KB, 56 views)

1947 manufacture- right after WWII.
Possible the factory was using parts on hand to fill large orders as during WWII civilian firearms were not available to the general public.

Here's one from early '51. Definitely a different hammer on this one. Mine sweeps upward, Big Larry's sweeps back.

M&P 2 inch Left.jpg

Bill

Yes, as an early 1951 specimen yours has the new short-action hammer which was standard on all M&P’s starting in 1948. Unfortunately, it does not help here as this style is different from both the standard long-action and humpback hammers.

As a side note, I also have a mint in the box 2" also from 1947. Completely different hammer than a Humpback. I also have a 6" M&P shipped 4-1948, same hammer as the 2" that I have eluded to. I guess I won't know until I get it. Worst case scenario, I will have 2 minty 2" Long Action pre 10's. That's not hard to take. Big Larry

The standard long action hammer goes back to the beginning of production. The switch to the short action high speed hammer began around mid-1948. It is sometimes informally called the "fish hook" hammer. I believe it was used until around the time model numbering began in the late 1950s, when the hammer spur was changed to the semi-target style. There is no such thing as a "transition" hammer. In fact, I wish we could just scratch "transition" from the S&W lexicon permanently. It causes more confusion than it is worth.

Gun came today. So much for poor pictures. It is a standard 1947 long action M&P with a standard hammer. DUH !!!! BUT, it is a 99% revolver with a 2" bbl. That has to account for something.
I will letter it anyway. Thanks all. Big Larry

Maybe you could buy a humpback hammer and transition the gun to one?????

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James Redfield
LM #497

Gun came today and still no more picture?

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No gold. Only lead. Bobby

Pic is 15 posts up. Big Larry

I didn't want to say based on the photo you posted that I was 99% sure it was just a normal long action hammer, but...still a nice pistol.

Yes, thanks. It is a beauty and 100% matching numbers. Big Larry

Great gun anyway, HBH or no. I had a post war long action snubby and like a big dummy, sold it. doh!

Come Larry, TWO minty 2" long actions. TWO. Surely you could find it in your heart to share with your S&W friends. I can PM my address.

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Charlie

I stand corrected. Guess you just have to expect mistakes from those of us still learning.
Mike

I just have to take the time to photo the two together. You cannot tell the difference between the two. Big Larry