Moving to Maine, Found a Nice M&P

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Screwball

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So, I'm in the process of starting a new job up in Houlton. Spent a few days looking around, and found a gun shop to browse as I waited for a realtor to call me back. Was a few surplus rifles, but nothing really caught my eye. Also saw a few pre-1964 Winchester lever guns (.30-30), but again... nothing that told me I had to get it.

Walked down the display case, and noticed a few older .22s. I have my FFL-03, so I could buy something 50 years or older... but at the bottom shelf, I saw something that caught my eye.

96UILlW.jpg


M&P, serial number in the 291xxx range, in .38 Special. Terrible with gauging barrel lengths, so will have to measure it sometime. The girl behind the counter said 1920 or 1921... but figuring even earlier. Box looks odd, but has typed gun info on a sticker. Also has a test target dates 1916... which seems closer to where that date would align. It's hard being 700 miles from home, without any way to research except an iPhone.

Looks good for a 103 year old gun... if that date is accurate. I have to stop back in NJ before going out to Georgia for training. Will likely print out a letter request and mail it in at that time.
 
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At least on your picture I don't see the sideplate logo, which would put it after mid-1917.
 
Screwball said:
It's hard being 700 miles from home, without any way to research except an iPhone.
Click to expand...

Thus the reason I always keep a cheap laptop around for work travel, both domestically and internationally.

You can use your phone for a wifi hotspot if you have a good data plan. I have an old contract with unlimited data. Usually the hotel, restaurants, etc., have decent wifi for computer use though.

I hate trying to do any serious internet stuff on my phone, but it is nice to have just to pass the time if you are somewhere where you can't keep your laptop handy.

I think the laptop I'm using now is about 3 years old now and cost $300 and some change. It was a gift from my wife and kids as my previous "travel" laptop was getting really really old. I have had several inexpensive laptops survive numerous international and domestic work related trips, some for months on end. If someone feels the need to steal it or confiscate it no big loss. I know guys that drag around $3000 laptops on work related trips. Screw that.

Nice revolver. The grips wopuld have had me looking at it right away. I know someone who needs those exact grips and they ain't cheap to find. Did someone modify the front sight slightly, as I would think it should be a half-moon front sight?

I worked in Portland and lived in Windham for about 6 or 7 months. This was about 15 years ago though. I enjoyed Maine...…..especially as a single man.

I see Houlton is way the heck up there. You might want to think about dual citizenship with Canidia!

Dale
 
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FYI

great find - but be aware that if your 03 c+r has your NJ address bringing it back to NJ is a first class felony under state law unless you have first obtained a NJ pistol permit to purchase it - transaction totally legal under federal law - out of state transactions of long arms would be legal if you possess a valid FID
but not on handguns - NJ does not recognize the 03 - don't ask how I learned this or how much it cost me - good luck on your move to a more friendly state
 
Screwball said:
So, I'm in the process of starting a new job up in Houlton. Spent a few days looking around, and found a gun shop to browse as I waited for a realtor to call me back. Was a few surplus rifles, but nothing really caught my eye. Also saw a few pre-1964 Winchester lever guns (.30-30), but again... nothing that told me I had to get it.

Walked down the display case, and noticed a few older .22s. I have my FFL-03, so I could buy something 50 years or older... but at the bottom shelf, I saw something that caught my eye.

96UILlW.jpg


M&P, serial number in the 291xxx range, in .38 Special. Terrible with gauging barrel lengths, so will have to measure it sometime. The girl behind the counter said 1920 or 1921... but figuring even earlier. Box looks odd, but has typed gun info on a sticker. Also has a test target dates 1916... which seems closer to where that date would align. It's hard being 700 miles from home, without any way to research except an iPhone.

Looks good for a 103 year old gun... if that date is accurate. I have to stop back in NJ before going out to Georgia for training. Will likely print out a letter request and mail it in at that time.
Click to expand...
Congrats on your move here. For the time being we are still a free state. New bunch at the state capital would like to change that. May want to look on the GOME website. Good group.
Good deals do pop up at gun shops from time to time.
 
schutzen-jager said:
great find - but be aware that if your 03 c+r has your NJ address bringing it back to NJ is a first class felony under state law unless you have first obtained a NJ pistol permit to purchase it - transaction totally legal under federal law - out of state transactions of long arms would be legal if you possess a valid FID

but not on handguns - NJ does not recognize the 03 - don't ask how I learned this or how much it cost me - good luck on your move to a more friendly state
Click to expand...


Pistol permits are only valid within NJ (written on the actual permits)... and last time I checked, NJ law has no jurisdiction outside of NJ. I'm currently carrying my 642-1 with hollow-points (Hornady 147 grain XTP; 9mm), in Maine. Are they going to arrest me upon return?

NJ has recognized the FFL-03 since the last round of legislation being put through. Someone who wrote the law must have been friendly with a C&R holder... because it is there. If a buyer and seller both have FFL-03s, NICS is not required (NICS is now required on all purchases; are exceptions, with C&R on the list).

The FID has two uses; purchasing things within NJ (predominantly long guns, but ammo is also lumped in), and transporting long guns. You can own firearms within NJ without a FID. Transportation... must go between the list of places, and only to/from (no deviations). FID allows you to leave a long gun in your trunk, and going wherever after you get done at the range, for example. Handguns... still have to follow transportation laws (FID or not).

Sorry, I have no issue with bringing it back... and neither ATF nor NJSP see it as breaking a law. If I was buying from a NJ resident, outside of NJ... to try and get around NICS/permits... yes, that could be an issue. But the rest, I disagree with you. With that logic, if you lived in PA and bought a 1911, you'd be breaking the law if you moved to NJ... since you didn't get a pistol permit when you bought it. Or buying an air-pistol or blackpowder revolver in PA... and taking it home. As long you follow the transportation laws of NJ... there is no 2C statute that can be applied to any of these situations.

Just wanted to respond to this post specifically and get it out of the way. Not looking to turn the thread into NJ legality. PM me if you want to continue the conversation. That being said, going to answer specifics questions in the next post. Figured I'll take some better shots of it at the same time.
 
Absalom said:
At least on your picture I don't see the sideplate logo, which would put it after mid-1917.
Click to expand...

Sideplate is blank.

9c5dce7376f00ffd56e8ef84316f7705.jpg


73e4a073f6989c9c4628d15dffd9540d.jpg


tenntex32 said:
Nice revolver. The grips wopuld have had me looking at it right away. I know someone who needs those exact grips and they ain't cheap to find. Did someone modify the front sight slightly, as I would think it should be a half-moon front sight?
Click to expand...


Yea, I have my laptop... however, none of my books. Also, was in my hotel room... and a decent enough hike that I wasn't going to go back and forth to do it.

It's nice up here. Boring, and have to drive to get almost everything... but feel comfortable moving up here. Good town, but only reason I did was for the job (CBP).

Grips are what drew me to it. Want to clean them up, but don't have anything up here to do it comfortably. Not even considering pulling the sideplate, because I don't have any of my screwdrivers.

There is some use evident on the wood... but with the wear on the metal looks as if this was a duty gun. Really want to see what a letter turns up.

79c0ffcfc689d3b135f1e4a8ae51c528.jpg


f2e4dda1ef28bca0d20c631cb6102bab.jpg


Front sight... didn't notice it until mentioned. It does looked modified.

c8de5fdafdf73975ab217fcbc67f185f.jpg


ab7acdbb0357f718fd57b2c74eb5d702.jpg
 
moosedog said:
Nice catch. I'm thinking 6 1/2 inches on that barrel. The front sight doesn't look like it's been taken down in height. It should shoot just fine.
Click to expand...


Was thinking about it for a little bit... then realized the Leatherman in my car has a ruler on the side of the handles.

6" barrel.
 
Screwball said:
Pistol permits are only valid within NJ (written on the actual permits)... and last time I checked, NJ law has no jurisdiction outside of NJ. I'm currently carrying my 642-1 with hollow-points (Hornady 147 grain XTP; 9mm), in Maine. Are they going to arrest me upon return?

NJ has recognized the FFL-03 since the last round of legislation being put through. Someone who wrote the law must have been friendly with a C&R holder... because it is there. If a buyer and seller both have FFL-03s, NICS is not required (NICS is now required on all purchases; are exceptions, with C&R on the list).

The FID has two uses; purchasing things within NJ (predominantly long guns, but ammo is also lumped in), and transporting long guns. You can own firearms within NJ without a FID. Transportation... must go between the list of places, and only to/from (no deviations). FID allows you to leave a long gun in your trunk, and going wherever after you get done at the range, for example. Handguns... still have to follow transportation laws (FID or not).

Sorry, I have no issue with bringing it back... and neither ATF nor NJSP see it as breaking a law. If I was buying from a NJ resident, outside of NJ... to try and get around NICS/permits... yes, that could be an issue. But the rest, I disagree with you. With that logic, if you lived in PA and bought a 1911, you'd be breaking the law if you moved to NJ... since you didn't get a pistol permit when you bought it. Or buying an air-pistol or blackpowder revolver in PA... and taking it home. As long you follow the transportation laws of NJ... there is no 2C statute that can be applied to any of these situations.

Just wanted to respond to this post specifically and get it out of the way. Not looking to turn the thread into NJ legality. PM me if you want to continue the conversation. That being said, going to answer specifics questions in the next post. Figured I'll take some better shots of it at the same time.
Click to expand...

for your own good while your still in NJ , check with the NJSP , the NJ attorney generals office , + Nappen or other firearms lawyer - I had an 03 for over 30 years + I recently learned the facts the hard way -
 
Moving to Maine, Found a Nice M&P

Sgt Neutron said:
I don't think the test target is original. On the bottom the target maker address has a Zip Code listed. Zip Codes didn't exist until 1963.
Click to expand...


Thanks for that! Didn't really look into it. Noticed it an NRA target, which seemed off... but that is a great catch (would think the target would just be regular paper). When other members were saying 1917ish... I was scratching my head on how a target could be marked the year prior. Makes sense.

So, probably can toss that into the garbage. Not a fan of fake stuff laying around.

One good thing, it is a M&P. I bought a few speedloaders for my Oswald's Victory copy, so they will work with this. Might have to find a period correct holster...

delcrossv said:
Neither is the box, but it's a nice gun. The ground front sight is interesting, wonder why someone would do that. (???)
Click to expand...


Yea, figured the box wasn't right... looked way too new than cardboard of that time. Someone typed the serial number wrong, as well. Put an I instead of a 1 (also realize the complete serial is in the first picture... oh well).

Front sight... maybe holster interference?
 
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