Karl J
Member
I recently purchased a 38 M&P 2” round butt, post-war, pre-model 10 with a C prefix serial number of C 555XX.
This revolver as seen in the pictures has what I believe to be pre-war round butt grips and a flat thumbpiece. The grips are numbered to the gun as well as all other parts. The most interesting thing about this revolver is the flat thumbpiece. I am wondering if this thumbpiece is in fact original to the gun. The reason I say that is I have two other early post war 2-inch revolvers of the same model and vintage, one a S prefix and the other a later C prefix with 6 numbers and both have the standard non flat thumbpiece so it makes me wonder.
I removed the thumbpiece and found the bolt to have a raised square section which fits the slot in the frame and is tapped for a screw as opposed to the nut/stud configuration normally seen on this model. Also, the frame has the hole for the lanyard ring lock pin access.
Without getting into all the details around flat thumbpieces on frames other than I, J or airweight K frames, I would like the members opinions on what exactly I have here. Is it a transition that was assembled with excess parts by the factory, or could it have been modified with a bolt, flat thumbpiece and screw by someone after it left the factory, using K frame airweight parts?
The 4th edition of SCSW indicates on page 507 that flat thumbpieces were utilized from 1950 through 1966 yet this revolver’s serial number places it in the 1948 timeframe. Also, I am aware that S&W may have shipped this gun much later than 1948 but it still raises a question in my mind as to originality of the thumbpiece which by all information I have read came into use in the 1950’s.
This gun was used very little as evident of the faint turn ring and its excellent condition, so I believe it to be completely original. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Karl…
This revolver as seen in the pictures has what I believe to be pre-war round butt grips and a flat thumbpiece. The grips are numbered to the gun as well as all other parts. The most interesting thing about this revolver is the flat thumbpiece. I am wondering if this thumbpiece is in fact original to the gun. The reason I say that is I have two other early post war 2-inch revolvers of the same model and vintage, one a S prefix and the other a later C prefix with 6 numbers and both have the standard non flat thumbpiece so it makes me wonder.
I removed the thumbpiece and found the bolt to have a raised square section which fits the slot in the frame and is tapped for a screw as opposed to the nut/stud configuration normally seen on this model. Also, the frame has the hole for the lanyard ring lock pin access.
Without getting into all the details around flat thumbpieces on frames other than I, J or airweight K frames, I would like the members opinions on what exactly I have here. Is it a transition that was assembled with excess parts by the factory, or could it have been modified with a bolt, flat thumbpiece and screw by someone after it left the factory, using K frame airweight parts?
The 4th edition of SCSW indicates on page 507 that flat thumbpieces were utilized from 1950 through 1966 yet this revolver’s serial number places it in the 1948 timeframe. Also, I am aware that S&W may have shipped this gun much later than 1948 but it still raises a question in my mind as to originality of the thumbpiece which by all information I have read came into use in the 1950’s.
This gun was used very little as evident of the faint turn ring and its excellent condition, so I believe it to be completely original. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Karl…
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