Hello, I've had this gun several decades, only shot it a few times and wonder what year it was made. I've been told it is a M&P model but haven't been able to verify that. It has a 4" barrel, fixed sights, 4 screws (one under the wood grip), has a strain screw, and a screw in front of the trigger guard. I doesn't have a model number on the frame behind the yoke but has the number 55431 which is also stamped into the yoke. On the bottom of the barrel under the cylinder hand ejector is has the number 423513 which is also stamped in the frame on the butt. I assume this is the serial number, no letters just 6 numbers.
It's in very good condition, I think it was restored or freshened up a long time ago with new grips and maybe re-blued.
Can anyone here help me identify when it was made? Appreciate the help...

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You have a Military & Police model from the earlier months of 1923.

The stocks are indeed from much later, and while the photos do not have a sufficient resolution for a detailed close-up look, it does give the general appearance of a re-blue.

The number in the yoke is meaningless. The SN is on the bottom of the grip frame, and various other places. Your gun was made prior to WW2, but the grips it's wearing were made after 1968. Best guess, your gun was made sometime in the 1920s.

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Chris
SWCA #2243 SWHF #292

Holy ****! Early 1920s! I had no idea it was 95+ years old. It's had light duty for sure but I wish it had the original grips. Does anyone make repro grips for these old guns? I'm sure it's not worth anything so I think I'll just retire it and maybe on it's 100th birthday I'll fire a last round through it.
Thanks a lot for the info.

Don't know about repro grips, but the originals looked like the attached picture. They can be found, on e-bay and gun auction sites, but can be a bit pricey.

For shooting, the grips you have will do just fine. The gun still has value as a regular shooter, and if not abused (stick to standard loads), will outlive you

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I like them old M&Ps they have style .Everytime I see one from that era I start thinking about bootleggers ,gangsters and cops shooting it out in a running gun fight.Welcome to the forum thanks for posting and by all means do shoot it some and let us know how it does .one of my most accurate handguns is a M&P in 32/20 from that same era .Its a testament to S&W that they designed and built a handgun over a hundred years ago that is still relevant and useful today and I guess one of the most if not the most copied designs ever.

No need to retire it! Shoot it as much as you like with standard .38 Special (not +P). I make light loads for my 1917 vintage, but that's because it's from before heat-treated cylinders (1919). Yours doesn't require any special treatment. Those old M&Ps were built to last, and they do.

Depending on how sharp your eyes are, you might find it helpful to paint the back of the front sight with fluorescent paint or fingernail polish. I find the sights a bit hard to see on the older ones.

Mine, serial no. 50950X, left the factory in 1926. It is my first S & W. Found some wad cutters and usually shoot them but have also shot the standard loaded 38 Specials with no problems. It usually attracts attention when I shoot as it is so different and so much older than the black plastic pistols. Shoot yours and have a ball!

It's beautiful.

A beauty indeed!
I wouldn't retire it either, just shoot it with standard pressure loads.
Keep your eye out and you may find some correct grips.
Good luck with your great gun.

Bill

Welcome to the forum. I hope you'll stick around and tell us how that nice M&P revolver shoots.

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Oh well, what the hell.