M & P .38 S& W to identify
Hello everybody,
I have just received a M & P revolver in caliber .38 S&W with 5" barrel. Everything looks alright and all numbers are matching. Yes, the grips also have the correct number. The SN is 774191 which indicates that the gun must be from 1941 or close. Much to my surprise there is no V - S - or SV with the number. The finish is bright blue, maybe not the high gloss finish we know, but not the wartime dull blue. So far it looks as if it would be easy to learn more about the history of that specific gun. But to me there are a lot of open questions which result from the marking of the revolver.
I will list up the "specialties" now:
Let's start with the left side of the gun. Just behind the cylinder latch there is a earlier marking removed (see the spot). There is only a E left at the lower end of the spot, the E's open end showing in direction of the grips. The next marking is on the barrel just under the barrel pin. There are 2 crossed flags.According to the book of Charles W. Pate this marking was only used by the British for the .45 Colt Automatic pistol (page 108). On the barrel we find the usual marking Smith & Wesson. Under the barrel we just find the SN - nothing else. Now let's go to the top of the gun. On the barrels top is the usual marking with patent dated until Dec.29.14 and the address. In the yoke area are the assembling numbers. The top strap has no property markings. Now we com to the top of the back strap just where the web of your hand would be. There is the following mark: 16 BW 705 (the 705 is not very clear and could be a different number . Only the 7 is for sure. Now to the right side of the gun: The barrel has the .38 S&W caliber marking as usual. At the place where the barrel meets the frame, we find a coat of arms with a star in a circle on top. Just underneath the MADE IN USA marking in front of the screw which secures the cylinder we find another strange (for me) marking. From left to right: The same coat of arms with star on top - the letters PSF with the star on top- and the Roman numbers XXII. Another mark I could find is on the left side unter grip - an Y. That's all I could find - enough to think about? I'm very happy with that gun because the finsih, apart from the removed mark on the left, is 90% or more. The case color hardening looks wonderful. I hope you enjoy the added pictures and can give me some help in finding out more about the gun. A factory letter would not help a lot because it does not describe the life of the gun after it was shipped from the factory.
Any help would be appreciated.
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