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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 05-26-2020, 05:36 AM
mrdemmerle mrdemmerle is offline
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Question Have a question regarding the M&P

I'm looking to buy an older S&W M&P. It has a lanyard ring on the bottom of the butt and a larger front service sight which makes me guess it's a 1905 model.
The one thing bothering me is that the barrel was altered from the original 5" or 6" length to being a 3". The company name (starting from the muzzle on the left barrel side) reads "ITH & WESSON".
Now, with 3" barreled versions first being produced in 1936, I'm guessing this was probably a special order from S&W for some specific need customer(s) where they took the pre-machined parts and shortened them in the factory.
I guess this as the front sight really seems to be an original mount.
Can anyone shed more light on my theory?
If it was an owner made alteration, and the look is very appealing to me, I'm not sure if I want to buy it.
Thanks for any leads.
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Old 05-26-2020, 06:30 AM
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Lots of folks could shorten a barrel and replace the front sight. I would NOT bet it was factory unless the stampings were correct.

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Old 05-26-2020, 07:36 AM
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Welcome to the forum. Unless you are not interested in collecting, modified guns are a pass.
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Old 05-26-2020, 07:55 AM
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This sounds like one of the many British service revolvers from WWII that has had the barrel chopped and cylinder reamed for 38 special to me. Can you post the serial number?
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Old 05-26-2020, 08:33 AM
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Welcome to the forum!
I am not aware of any factory alterations as you describe, but there are many gaps in my knowledge, so I will learn along with you. Thanks for asking the question.
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Old 05-26-2020, 09:02 AM
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The fact that you describe the markings on the barrel as "ith & Wesson" appears to be evidence that the barrel was cut down and the "Sm" part was cut off along with about another inch or two in front of it. The lanyard ring being most prominent on WWII Victory models may indicate that is what it is. If you will post the serial number and if possible post a couple of pictures close up of the gun.
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Old 05-26-2020, 09:14 AM
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Welcome. There is one thing you can count on and that is the ITH & WESSON has never and will NEVER show up on a factory M&P barrel. You also will notice that the top address/patent lines are cut off. The company would have only used a newly manufactured barrel and stamped it appropriately for a special order. You will also find that 99% of all cut barrels found on S&Ws were done at a Gunsmith shop or in someone's basement. We do not know what the serial number is, so cannot date it, but there were no standard 3" M&P barrels issued from the factory in 1936 or any time before WWII that I am aware of??

If the price is right and you want to own and shoot the gun, buy it. Just be aware that an altered M&P is not worth anything to collectors and value will be quite low. Looking at the barrel, it looks like the gun has a lot of finish loss as well, so $200 would be my number without seeing pictures. We would be interested in what the owner/shop is asking for the gun?
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Old 05-26-2020, 09:33 AM
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Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass!
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Old 05-26-2020, 02:53 PM
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Bet there's no catch for the front of the ejector rod either.
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Old 05-26-2020, 03:35 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by delcrossv View Post
Bet there's no catch for the front of the ejector rod either.
Sounds to me the person took care to at least retain the locking lug by cutting the back of the barrel. 3 inches is I think as short as they could make the barrel and still retain the lug. To me though, any conversion, barrel shortening is a NO go. Way too many unaltered M&P's out there can be found rather than buy something butchered by an unknown person.
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Old 05-26-2020, 04:04 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by daddio202 View Post
Sounds to me the person took care to at least retain the locking lug by cutting the back of the barrel. 3 inches is I think as short as they could make the barrel and still retain the lug. To me though, any conversion, barrel shortening is a NO go. Way too many unaltered M&P's out there can be found rather than buy something butchered by an unknown person.
I'd like to see pictures. That said, I agree, it's not worth it.
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Old 05-26-2020, 04:28 PM
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After thinking about it for awhile now, I may indeed be wrong, it may not still have barrel underlug. I too would like to see pictures of the gun.
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Old 05-26-2020, 05:45 PM
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"ith & Wesson" would put the cut very near to, if not into, the underlug. Almost exactly 3". Definitely not done by S&W.

Last edited by DWalt; 05-26-2020 at 05:54 PM.
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Old 05-26-2020, 06:40 PM
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Welcome to the forum.

An other clue the barrel was cut is the muzzle.
A factory muzzle has a rounded shape, like the pic below (pic of my model of 1905 target)



When the barrel was cut by someone, the muzzle is often flat/straight, If you know what I mean...

HTH.
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Last edited by Lady Smith; 05-26-2020 at 06:42 PM.
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