Old Revolver With No Model Number

[JJSRev]

Hello all!

I hate to be “that guy,” but I’m new here and I joined to see if you all might be able to tell me more about the revolver I inherited from my grandfather. I’ve done as much research as I could online. If I am understanding correctly, this is a four-screw. There is a screw in front of the trigger guard.

As far as I can tell, there is no model number in the yoke. I’ll add pictures if I can, but just in case, here is all the important nomenclature:

Serial Number: C 340053
Left-side barrel stamped: SMITH & WESSON
Right-side barrel stamped: .38 S. & W. SPL.

It has fixed sights and a six-round cylinder. I believe it has a 2 inch pinned barrel.

I’m interested in any information at all. Roundabout date of manufacture, model number, any relevant history on the model, etc.

Thank you all very much in advance for your help!

 

[tops]

1954-1956 C277555-C429740 I think it's a 5 screw gun. Larry

 

[OLDSTER]

Agree-'54-'57; pre '57 . Welcome to the forum.

 

[s&wchad]

I think it's a 5 screw gun. Larry

Absolutely!

Welcome aboard JJSRev,
That’s a 5-screw .38 Special M&P revolver. The serial number should be on the butt, the back of the cylinder, the barrel flat over the ejector rod, the yoke arm (align one of the cylinder chambers with the arm and shine a flashlight from the side), on the inside of the right stock/grip panel and on the back of the ejector star.

I suspect the stocks have been replaced and won’t match. Yours are probably from an earlier M&P or an adjustable sight K-Frame. By this time, S&W was supplying M&P revolvers with PC (plain clothes) or “modified Magna’s, that had a rounded edges on the sides of the butt.

 

[Kansasgunner]

Neat old M&P! Could you please post a couple more photos of the hammer? It looks to be modified.
Thanks

 

[JJSRev]

Fantastic information and a warm welcome…thanks, guys! I’ll get more pictures of the hammer up shortly. This is great!

 

[s&wchad]

I forgot to mention something…
The gun has an add-on Mershon or Pachmayr grip adaptor. They have tabs that fit under the stocks, so the gun didn’t need to be modified for installation.

A lot of people really like grip adaptors. They give you a bit more to hang onto and help prevent the back of the trigger guard from smacking you knuckle.

 

[JJSRev]

Here is a clear shot of the hammer. I have limited experience with revolvers so far, but it looks to me like this is some sort of clever safety mechanism that prevents the gun from unintentionally firing if dropped on the hammer. Is that correct?

 

[JJSRev]

I forgot to mention something…
The gun has an add-on Mershon or Pachmayr grip adaptor. They have tabs that fit under the stocks, so the gun didn’t need to be modified for installation.

A lot of people really like grip adaptors. They give you a bit more to hang onto and help prevent the back of the trigger guard from smacking you knuckle.

Yep! It’s a Pachmayr adaptor. I took the grips off last night just to get more familiar with the pistol and the adaptor very easily clips onto the frame. I have long hands like my grandpa and this adapter is a big help.

 

[H Richard]

To find that "missing" screw, remove the right side grip panel, and you will see it. It is actually a 5 screw.
See below, this is a 3 screw (bottom), 4 screw (middle), and 5 screw (top).

 

[JJSRev]

Am I understanding correctly that “.38 S&W SPL” is not the same as a standard .38 Special round? Or will this pistol fire regular .38 Special?

 

[Hawg Rider]

Nice M&P Snubby

Very nice 2" bbl M&P revolver you inherited- your grandfather had good taste. These have become very desirable to collectors recently, and the values are rising quickly. The Pachmayr grip adapters (and those by other manufacturers) are popular with folks that shoot snubby revolvers with smaller stocks (grips). My wife's grandfather was a LEO in California in the 50s-70s, and he liked the Pachmayr adapter on his Model 15-2.

 

[jcelect]

Am I understanding correctly that “.38 S&W SPL” is not the same as a standard .38 Special round? Or will this pistol fire regular .38 Special?

Your pistol is the 38 S&W Special(38 Special). The round that WILL NOT fire in your gun is the "38 S&W....." S&W made guns that are chambered in both rounds, but the ammo is not interchangeable!
jcelect

 

[DGNY]

Another welcome, indeed, to the OP. And many thanks for sharing your grandfather's revolver. A bit later in the 1950s, that would've been known as a Model 10, but not when yours was made.

If and when convenient, you might examine closely the inner face of the right hand grip/stock and let us know what the number is to be found there. That would be the serial number that appears on the butt of some K frame S&W - or this revolver, if the grips are original.

Hope you will enjoy this revolver and great memories of your grandfather for many years to come.

 

[Tom K]

Here is a clear shot of the hammer. I have limited experience with revolvers so far, but it looks to me like this is some sort of clever safety mechanism that prevents the gun from unintentionally firing if dropped on the hammer. Is that correct?

The hammer does have a built in safety mechanism, but what has caught our interest is the hammer spur. It looks widened from its normal configuration, which would be of uniform width, and slightly lengthened. (Compare the picture in H Richard's post.) Can we get a picture looking more downward on it?

 

[JJSRev]

The hammer does have a built in safety mechanism, but what has caught our interest is the hammer spur. It looks widened from its normal configuration, which would be of uniform width, and slightly lengthened. (Compare the picture in H Richard's post.) Can we get a picture looking more downward on it?

Hammer time!

 

[Old cop]

I carried a Model 10-7 snub SB w/a grip adapter for years as my issued weapon & the only gun I shot a perfect qual score with. It’s now our home protection weapon.

 

[murphydog]

It appears to be a factory Target (wide spur) hammer.

 

[JJSRev]

My grandpa was a Federal Immigration Inspector. He became estranged from my family when I was young and so I unfortunately don’t know very much, but I believe this is what he carried while doing that, if my memory is correct.

 

[Tom K]

It appears to be a factory Target (wide spur) hammer.

With that checkering? Nope. It's been welded up to enlarge it and poorly checkered. Functional but not pretty.