Thanks Alan!
Five0retired
The M&P revolvers in the S988xxx were shipping in March and April, 1948. There are a couple fliers that didn't ship until July of that year, but they were configured differently and were identified for an export shipment. So the March/April timeframe would be most likely for yours.
I've added your gun to my database and it is a particularly helpful addition. Most of the revolvers in the S988xxx range seem to have had the 6" barrel. There are some in the lower part of this range with 5" barrels, but I didn't have a good marker for the return to 5" assembly. Yours is in the last 100 of the range and may help mark the point at which fitment of 5" barrels began again. The low numbers in the S989xxx range also have 5" barrels and were shipping in March/April too. So, thanks!
A word about the identity of this revolver. It is certainly not a Model 10. Those were not available at retail until 1958, 10 years after your gun probably shipped.
Technically, it isn't a "pre-Model 10" either. At least not in the way that collectors identify such guns. The reason is that it still has the long action. About the time your gun shipped, production of S prefix revolvers shifted to the "High Speed" hammer. This new short action became the standard for the M&P from that point on, remaining when model numbers were assigned in 1957. In collector parlance (although not in popular usage) only those M&P revolvers with the short action are "pre-model" guns.
I believe you will like your M&P. The long action seems to be quite smooth and is a delight to shoot. In my opinion, the 5" barrel is the ideal length for these guns as well. I have in my collection 2", 4", 5" and 6" examples. I enjoy them all but prefer shooting the 5", mainly because it balances so nicely.
Thanks for sharing!
Trying to date Revolver
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