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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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  #1  
Old 08-25-2009, 06:08 PM
Bearhunter 500 Bearhunter 500 is offline
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?Model 45 ? K frame m&p 22lr ?Model 45 ? K frame m&p 22lr ?Model 45 ? K frame m&p 22lr ?Model 45 ? K frame m&p 22lr ?Model 45 ? K frame m&p 22lr  
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Default ?Model 45 ? K frame m&p 22lr

Can anyone help me get info on a what appears to be a k frame M&P 22lr. My cousin just came across one and we are trying to find out more info.
Thanks in advance for helping out a newbee
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Old 08-25-2009, 07:10 PM
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Welcome to the Forum Bh500.
The Model 45's were a fixed sight 22 cal. made primarily for the Post Office . They are scarce and valuable.
Post some pictures please! A few members collect them and will chime in shortly.
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Old 08-25-2009, 08:05 PM
230grfmj 230grfmj is offline
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Here is some information that may help as well as some pictures of seven of them I used to own, but only have three of them now, and should not have sold the ones I did. I posted them a few years ago and so I’ll post them again in response to your question

The letters from Roy Jinks indicate these guns were designed & manufactured at the request of the United States Post Office Department. They are sometimes referred to as the “Post Office” gun.

The letter also states that although these guns were made for government orders, & when there were overruns, they were sold to distributors for general sale. The approximate total quantity made as stated in the RJ letter is said to be 1500 guns.

Shipping locations and dates are by each of the guns in the pictures.

The earliest of these are two four screw versions, and called a .22 M&P, which can also be referred to as a pre 45. They are not Model marked. The two pre 45’s are exactly 100 numbers apart.

Two of these guns are Model marked 45-2’s and are only 170 numbers apart. The two letters from Roy Jinks indicate they both shipped on April 26, 1963 to H.H. Harris in Chicago.

The last three guns here are particularly interesting, in that they are not Model marked. The Standard Catalog of Smith Wesson book states that 135 of these Model 45 guns made in 1978 were not model marked. The letters from Roy Jinks refer to these guns as a Model 45 (no dash) and the end label on the box indicates that too (45-). Roy’s letter also indicates that this last batch of guns was built from remaining parts in inventory, and since these were not cataloged items, it was not necessary for production to mark them with model numbers.

The very last revolver I have shown is the last Model 45 serial number known in the S&WCA Survivor Files.

Here are All Seven in different poses for the camera!













This .22 M&P (pre Model 45) revolver was shipped to Sutcliffe Hardware Co. in Louisville, KY on July 25th, 1958.


This .22 M&P (pre Model 45) revolver was shipped to H.H. Harris in Chicago, also on July 25th, 1958.


This revolver (marked 45-2) was shipped to H.H. Harris in Chicago on April 26, 1963.


This revolver (marked 45-2) was also shipped to H.H. Harris in Chicago in that same shipment on April 26, 1963.


This next one is one that is not model marked. Notice the lack of any model designation on the frame. It shipped to Gil Hebard in Knoxville, IL on June 12, 1978




This next one is one also not model marked. It shipped to Lathrop Shooters Supply in Tucson, AZ on June 12, 1978


This next one is also not model marked. It is the latest known serial number in the S&WCA survivor files. It shipped to Cake-Davis Co. in Sacramento, CA also on June 12, 1978
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  #4  
Old 08-25-2009, 08:35 PM
hsguy hsguy is offline
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These are interesting guns, if your cousin can pick it up at a reasonable price he should do so. I have one that is a 45 no dash but not lettered yet.
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Old 08-25-2009, 08:38 PM
bdGreen bdGreen is offline
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I have this one with a six inch barrel. It's a pre Model 45.

bdGreen

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Old 08-25-2009, 08:52 PM
230grfmj 230grfmj is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bdGreen View Post
I have this one with a six inch barrel. It's a pre Model 45.

bdGreen

A very nice and rare gun for sure.

bdGreen has others, as well as a tremendous wealth of knowledge about all things .22.
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  #7  
Old 08-26-2009, 07:56 AM
Bearhunter 500 Bearhunter 500 is offline
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Thanks for all the info. I will try posting some pic later today. I am kind of peeved that my cousin got it before me but at least I know that it is in the family safe and we can all enjoy it.
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Old 08-26-2009, 08:12 AM
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Great pics - those M&P .22's to me, beg the question - what use did the US Post Office have for them? Dog deterrent? Training weapon for armed inspectors?
Would love to know........
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Old 08-26-2009, 09:56 AM
hsguy hsguy is offline
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Old Corp, it is my understanding these guns were used for postal inspector training.
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Old 08-26-2009, 02:28 PM
au2183 au2183 is offline
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What an educational post and impressive collection. Thanks for sharing!
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Old 08-26-2009, 03:11 PM
Bearhunter 500 Bearhunter 500 is offline
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Default some photos of the gun in question

thanks for all of the information this kind of help is great, and makes for a lot of fun.
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Old 08-26-2009, 06:25 PM
hsguy hsguy is offline
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Nice looking gun but I wonder what all those markings are on the butt?
Looks like the original three numbers of the serial were overstruck and a new number applied. The serial number is usually centered on the butt. The grips are pre-war and not the correct era. The serial remaining does fall in the correct range.
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Last edited by hsguy; 08-26-2009 at 06:28 PM.
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Old 08-26-2009, 06:57 PM
tommyjoe tommyjoe is offline
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230
I was the buyer for Lathrop's when that gun was offered to us. I think we got 4 or 5 guns in the shipment. At the time the company would call us once or twice a year and offer us stuff from the vault. They were usually non catalouge, discontinued stuff or contract over runs.

I had one of those guns set aside for me and before I could take it home the boss found it and sold it to a friend of his. I didn't hide it good enough.
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Old 08-26-2009, 08:31 PM
tekarra tekarra is offline
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Very impressive post. Thanks for sharing.
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