OLDSTER
Member
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44 Magnum with an original nickel finish, shipped in November 1956. Click on the photo for a better look.
Bill
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HiI'll start with my birth-year (1947) M&P-my only candidate.
Hi
Nice nickel plated postwar M&P. You say it dates from 1947 and you may well be right. It has the long action, so it should have an S prefix serial number.
It turns out that I'm in the midst of a major research project on the S prefix M&P revolvers, made only between about September, 1945 and March 1948. They started shipping in March, 1946. Nickel plated examples are not abundant from this period. I would not call them rare, but they are relatively uncommon. I've identified some serial number brackets when they were produced in small numbers. It would assist me in my research if you could let me know the complete serial number on yours. If you don't wish to post it on the open forum, please send it to me via PM. It will be used for the time frame and statistical analysis only.
In return, I can give you a pretty close estimate on when it was shipped, based on my rather large database on these unique revolvers.
A couple other facts, gleaned from your photo:
1. Your revolver has the 4" barrel, which appears to be the most common length, followed closely by the 5"
2. The stocks on your gun are from a later period. The tapered shoulder Magna stocks didn't show up until early 1953.