Another Post War M&P

bigjohn4 · #1 04-01-2021, 04:22 AM

Picked up a 4" blued .38 special M&P at the last local show. Serial number is 88471x. The grips are the high shoulder and are stamped and match the serial numbers on the gun. Would it have shipped in late '46 or early '47?

sheppard · #2 04-01-2021, 04:40 AM

If there is no letter with the serial number on the butt your revolver is not post war. Late 1930s or '40-'41. Is there a S or a C?

Absalom · #3 04-01-2021, 11:21 AM

With sharp-shoulder magnas that number to the gun, has to be S prefix. C prefix would be mid-1960s, too late.

Unless it’s a rare no-prefix late-30s gun with pre-war magnas. Serial is really too high for that.

Targets Guy · #4 04-01-2021, 11:28 AM

Assuming it is an "S" prefix it may have shipped in early 1947.

S870042, a 4" barrel, shipped 1/1947
S881355, a 4" Nickel, shipped 4/1947

S926190, a 4" barrel, shipped 2/1947
S872388 shipped 2/1947

JP@AK · #5 04-01-2021, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigjohn4

Picked up a 4" blued .38 special M&P at the last local show. Serial number is 88471x. The grips are the high shoulder and are stamped and match the serial numbers on the gun. Would it have shipped in late '46 or early '47?

Almost certainly an S prefix gun. S884xxx serial numbered guns were shipping in April, 1947, but you can't be sure without Roy or Don doing a records check.

JP@AK · #6 04-01-2021, 01:00 PM

Hi Mike

Quote:

Originally Posted by Targets Guy

S926190, a 4" barrel, shipped 2/1947

Are you sure of this one? I have it in my database with no date. But February seems awfully early for that serial number. Most units in that range didn't ship until Sept/Oct. Moreover, I have actually assembly dates for a few with lower serial numbers that are well past February. Anything is possible, of course, but can you confirm the source for a Feb '47 ship date?

Quote:

S872388 shipped 2/1947

I show this one having a factory nickel finish. Your date appears to be correct. When I saw it, it was wearing much later Magna stocks.

Thanks!

OLDSTER · #7 04-01-2021, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JP@AK

Hi Mike

Are you sure of this one? I have it in my database with no date. But February seems awfully early for that serial number. Most units in that range didn't ship until Sept/Oct. Moreover, I have actually assembly dates for a few with lower serial numbers that are well past February. Anything is possible, of course, but can you confirm the source for a Feb '47 ship date?

I show this one having a factory nickel finish. Your date appears to be correct. When I saw it, it was wearing much later Magna stocks.

Thanks!

Hi Jack:

Here's S 872388 now wearing proper magnas.

JP@AK · #8 04-01-2021, 04:24 PM

OLDSTER
That looks GREAT! Those stocks appear to be in near-perfect condition.

bigjohn4 · #9 04-05-2021, 06:03 AM

Yes, it has an S Prefix. I will probably get a letter on this one. Will try and get some pics up too!

OLDSTER · #10 04-05-2021, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JP@AK

OLDSTER
That looks GREAT! Those stocks appear to be in near-perfect condition.

The stocks had a few dings in them. I fixed those and refinished them. They turned out pretty good. If they'd been original, numbered to the gun, I would've left them alone.