I commented on an earlier thread regarding a local pawn shop selling a 1946 Pre-Model 10. Six inch barrel, etc. After reading subsequent posts, I went back and verified that the barrel, cylinder and frame all matched, and the grips are correct for the period (didn't remove them). Action was tight, no end shake, probably 95% finish, stocks have some minor chips on the base but nothing serious. Story I got was at one time owned by a policeman...took that with a grain of salt, but I figure for $450 plus tax and DROS, I might not find another here in NorCal as nice for the price. Comments? Did I miss something in the description? Thanks.
Purchased Pre-10, took the plunge...
- Thread starter Ron M.
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
In the condition you describe, that's not a great price, but also not a bad deal for an S-prefix. With stock wear as you mention especially near the bottom, the police story is true more likely than not; California up into the 1970s was always 6" country when it came to service revolvers.
And since someone is going to mention it anyways, I might as well: If it's a 1946 vintage, it still has the long action and isn't strictly speaking a pre-10 yet
.
PS: Have one of those too. Shipped to Klein's in Chicago in October 1946, but bought it out of Southern California. Adapter was on it, almost certain to have been a police revolver.
And since someone is going to mention it anyways, I might as well: If it's a 1946 vintage, it still has the long action and isn't strictly speaking a pre-10 yet
.PS: Have one of those too. Shipped to Klein's in Chicago in October 1946, but bought it out of Southern California. Adapter was on it, almost certain to have been a police revolver.
Attachments
Last edited:
larryofcc
Member
Here's a pre 10 M&P from 1951. "C" prefix serial number. Near mint, 5", in its original numbered box. 100% matching. $350 at the Big Reno Show, from a California dealer. He would not take my C&R. Used a friends FFL. Big Larry
Memphis
Member
Ron, these S serials are nice guns. I like the workmanship and the way they look. I also like the 6" bbl. I've got a beautiful specimen for sale as we speak in the classifides but it's 125 more than you paid and shipped in 1949. You should get lots of enjoyment from that gun and I think you did well in picking it up. If you get a chance post some pics of that bad boy.
Roger
Roger
Targets Guy
US Veteran
Nice job. Great looker.
I was a tad north of $350.
I was a tad north of $350.
Last edited:
4330Inroute
Member
Nice find. You need to try the lottery. I recently came across a 10-5 six inch in about the same condition listed at 700. in a small gunshop on the central coast. I asked why so much and the clerk said because they sold every S&W they could get their hands on.
Mine looks like yours, but I think yours is a bit nicer...did these things come with LERK's? Does it make a difference in value? I have seen pictures of the Large Ejector Rod Knob and for the life of me can't tell what makes them different. Thanks for the photo! Being I am in CA, I can't even take possession until 30 days after my last handgun purchase, so photos will have to wait.
Last edited:
That makes me curious - does that mean a straight 30 day wait per purchase, or 30 days from your last purchase? Like if you bought one today and another in 2 weeks, you couldn't pick anything up for 30 days from the 2nd purchase?
30 days apart...to the minute!
You can buy one handgun every 30 days...if you buy one on the 1st of September, you can buy the next one on the 31st of September, and not one minute before the DROS has been electronically filed. You can make a deposit, but can't take possession. Only in CA.
You can buy one handgun every 30 days...if you buy one on the 1st of September, you can buy the next one on the 31st of September, and not one minute before the DROS has been electronically filed. You can make a deposit, but can't take possession. Only in CA.
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
The switch occurred sometime in mid-1947. My S 844xxx from Oct. 1946 has the large, my S 961xxx from Dec. 1947 has the small knob. We have an expert on the S-series here, JP@AK, who may chip in with the details. The only difference is the size and a corresponding shaping of the underbarrel rib. It makes no difference in value.
See attached pictures.
Attachments
Last edited:
gman51
Member
I wish I could find a gun like that for that price. Pawn shops around here have old Colts and S&W that are in terrible condition finish wise and they have them priced $700-$800.
I am interested in getting an older S&W with blued finish but I am not going to pay prices of a new gun either. I probably would have hurt myself getting my $$ out to buy the one you got.
I am interested in getting an older S&W with blued finish but I am not going to pay prices of a new gun either. I probably would have hurt myself getting my $$ out to buy the one you got.
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
If local prices are such a problem, you may be better off online, especially with a very common gun like this where you can be picky because there are always a lot on offer. I found the M&P whose picture I attached to post #2 above on Gunbroker about two years ago or so. It came from Whittier (L.A County, CA) and cost me $300 shipped and with Jinks letter and adapter; its only flaw is some surface scratching on the frame and cylinder, purely cosmetic.
Now this was a very good find, partly due to the seller making some mistakes (mislabeling the gun as a Model 10, putting it in the fixed-price section at the end where no one ever looks) and being very eager to sell (he offered free shipping as soon as I e-mailed him with a question), but I've never paid more than the mid-300's for any used M&P/Model 10 I've bought online in the last few years. They can be found with a bit of patience.
I considered on-line purchasing; however, GB sellers, even one right here in CA, will not ship to a CA address, even FFL to FFL, because the older guns are not on CA's approved handgun list, and to sell one to a CA resident from an out of state seller is illegal. Stupid, I know. But it is what it is.
First, it is slightly misleading to refer to a "large knob" and a "small knob." It is fine as shorthand (I do it myself) but the reality is the "LERK" was an actual knob. The so-called "small knob" is just a knurled end on the extractor rod, not really a knob at all.
S&W revolvers with a 2" barrel always had the knurled end, because the full length of the rod had to pass into the yoke tunnel to accomplish extraction.
On the S prefix K frame M&P revolvers with barrels longer than 2" the "large knob" was standard at first. The Change Order from management was issued on October 4, 1946. This dictated the use of a knurled rod end on future production. As with most Change Orders, implementation was not immediate nor was it abrupt.
The lowest serial number I have cataloged so far with the knurled end ("small knob") is S874114. That revolver has a 5" barrel and shipped from the factory in February, 1947. Most of the guns in the S874xxx to S880xxx range have the knurled end and shipped in the February/March time frame. However, scattered among them are revolvers with the large knob. Obviously, older rods and notched barrels were being used up from the parts bins.
The highest serial number in my database with a large knob is S903568. That revolver has a 6" barrel and shipped in April, 1947. By that time, the knurled end had become the new standard.
Absalom provided excellent photos to show the difference. I hope that straightened the issue out for you.
One other detail;
Since the "barrel" or "beer keg" shaped knob, A.K.A. LERK requires the pre war barrel with notch in the bottom of the barrel, those barrels usually all pre war and have patent dates on top.
Last edited:
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Jim:
I don't believe there is a causal connection. I'm looking at my S 961xxx from Dec. 1947 here with the new small knurled end and all the patent dates still present on top. The barrel is definitely not pre-war and does not have the cut-out.
Attachments
Last edited:
Similar threads
