Pre 10, 2”, “S” S/N

mrsig · #1 10-02-2018, 03:04 PM

Just picked this up today for a great price. Medium holster ware and minor blueing wear other than that a pretty good copy. I usually safe queen these era S&W’s but may have some fun with this one.

My question: is this gun .38 +P worthy??

Wiregrassguy · #2 10-02-2018, 03:23 PM

Of course.

JP@AK · #3 10-02-2018, 03:55 PM

mrsig - would you be willing to share the serial number for my research? Also, please let me know whether it has the round or square butt. Thanks.

With the serial number, I can give you the approximate assembly/ship date, based on nearby serials. These guns were moving out the door rather quickly (but no guarantees, of course, since some did ship out of sequence, sometimes by several months).

Quote:

is this gun .38 +P worthy?

It won't hurt the gun to use some. The question is why do you want to? Recoil will be noticeably harsher with no real benefit.

handejector · #4 10-02-2018, 04:18 PM

We usually don't call the long actions "Pre Model 10s" because no "Model 10s" have, or ever had, long actions. By the time model numbers came into use, the short action 38 M&Ps had been around almost 10 years.

mrsig · #5 10-02-2018, 04:37 PM

Don’t mind at all Square butt, S958495

DWalt · #6 10-02-2018, 05:08 PM

The closest SN I have on my list to S958495 is S9580xx which shipped in 11/47. It seems like there was a fair number of the M&P snubbies which shipped around that time period. The switch to the short action began at around S990xxx, and that's when the so-called "pre-Model 10" began. Recognize that is not a term ever used by S&W (they just called it an M&P), it's purely a collector's nomenclature convention.

murphydog · #7 10-02-2018, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrsig

My question: is this gun .38 +P worthy??

If you ask the factory, they will tell you no...but a standard load of that era may very well have been operating at higher than current standard .38 Special pressures, so a mechanically sound gun should be fine. Occasional use for function and zero checks will be easier on the gun and your wallet. Enjoy!

JP@AK · #8 10-02-2018, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrsig

Don’t mind at all Square butt, S958495

A rather large number of 2" square butt M&P revolvers were built in that serial range. Most shipped in November, 1947, but some shipped in December of the same year.

murdock23 · #9 10-04-2018, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrsig

Don’t mind at all Square butt, S958495

Mine's S958040, no where near as pretty as yours but it shoots just fine.