The beginning of a collection

[HHH-38]

Hello folks-

Second post on here, first was just an intro in the appropriate forum.
Figured I'd share a couple pics of the two .38 M&Ps I've got.

First is a 5" that I've had since March and is probably the nicest shooting handgun I've fired. The double action is like silk and the groupings are tight. Best I can tell it's from about 1947 with a serial of S905xxx. It came with a pair of mismatched prewar low shoulder medallion-free stocks that didn't look or feel right. I've since replaced them with the correct high shoulder medallion magnas pictured and just today added a Pachmayr bakelite grip adaptor.

Second is a 2" RB that I've had for about a month. I haven't had too many opportunities to go out and shoot it, but for a 2" it is very controllable (not like .38 is a wrist breaker to begin with). I really like the single action feel with the "speed hammer".
Serial is C60xxx and I'm guessing it's right around the turn of the decade at 1949-'50. Stocks are number matching and very comfortable and concealable. Judging by the finish wear I'm guessing it was someone's off duty gun.

If any experts have any extra info to weigh in I'd love to hear it as I'm new to the game.

Thanks,
Sean

 

[raljr1]

'Tis a slippery slope ya stand upon, laddie. Prepare to find many things here you'll find ye must have afore too long.

 

[boykinlp]

Hello folks-

Second post on here, first was just an intro in the appropriate forum.
Figured I'd share a couple pics of the two .38 M&Ps I've got.

First is a 5" that I've had since March and is probably the nicest shooting handgun I've fired. The double action is like silk and the groupings are tight. Best I can tell it's from about 1947 with a serial of S905xxx. It came with a pair of mismatched prewar low shoulder medallion-free stocks that didn't look or feel right. I've since replaced them with the correct high shoulder medallion magnas pictured and just today added a Pachmayr bakelite grip adaptor.

Second is a 2" RB that I've had for about a month. I haven't had too many opportunities to go out and shoot it, but for a 2" it is very controllable (not like .38 is a wrist breaker to begin with). I really like the single action feel with the "speed hammer".
Serial is C60xxx and I'm guessing it's right around the turn of the decade at 1949-'50. Stocks are number matching and very comfortable and concealable. Judging by the finish wear I'm guessing it was someone's off duty gun.

If any experts have any extra info to weigh in I'd love to hear it as I'm new to the game.

Thanks,
Sean

Sean, welcome to the forum. Both of those revolvers are nice. I especially like the snub nose one, since I have 2 kinda like it. Both of mine are square butt versions (one blued and one nickel), while yours is a round butt. Your timeframe for your gun is probably close. The serial number of my two, C44104 and C44111, both shipped in January 1949. Having numbers so close, that definitely didn't surprise me. The half moon front sights is what drew me to mine. I've always thought that feature looked so cool on the Military and Police snub nose revolvers. Here is a picture of my nickel gun:
Larry

 

[chief38]

Nice start - those snubby grips are really nice!

 

[Hawg Rider]

Nice revolvers! The 2" snubs are in big demand right now...you can probably find a few Forum threads that focus on them. Congratulations. Enjoy!

 

[quinn]

As you have probably discovered, your round butt snubby is wearing pre WWII girps. The post war M&P round buts are quite a bit scarcer than the square butt version. After the war S&W continued using pre war parts until they ran out. I have one just like yours and treasure it. The pre war grips just add a cool factor in my book. Welome to the asylum!

 

[lkabug]

Yelp, you're headed down "that road". It a wonderfully special road with beautiful sights at at every turn. Enjoy and keep your wallet full of Benjamin's, you'll need them.
And did I mention now that you have the "Smith Bug" there is no known cure.

 

[H Richard]

Welcome to the Forum. Hang around and you will learn a lot, and get enticed into buying more and more S&W's, (it's a sickness, but a nice one).

A lot of us have liked the M&P's, especially the 2" ones.
A 3 screw, 4 screw, and 5 screw.

 

[JP@AK]

Welcome Sean

5" . . . from about 1947 with a serial of S905xxx.

Probably shipped in about May, 1947.

2" RB . . . C60xxx and I'm guessing it's right around the turn of the decade at 1949-'50.

Could be as early as the spring of 1949, but some with nearby serial numbers didn't leave Springfield until early 1950.

It seems that a lot of 2" units were shipping during that period. It is also in the approximate serial range of some of the scarce .32 M&Ps.

 

[murphydog]

You seem to be very well versed in S & W minutiae for a new owner . Enjoy and be sure to post your upcoming acquisitions!

 

[mh51]

Nice beginning of a good collection. The 2" round butts are more scarce than the square butts, and you've got a good example there.

 

[S&W ucla]

Very nice! Welcome to the forum. This might be up the alley you've started down I wish I had gotten my education earlier in my "collection", lol.
Should YOU Join the S&W Collectors Association?

 

[merl67]

Welcome to the forum! And so it begins....happy hunting!

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

38 special........Probably the easiest handgun cartridge ever to reload.

Your shooters===NICE!

 

[wbraswell]

Very nice guns. I just started a thread on a 4" that's very similar.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Welcome aboard from ol' Wyo.

You've captured my two favorite postwar .38 M&P's. The 5" has great balance, and, well, I'm a big fan of snubbies.

Congrats.

 

[yugolovr]

Those are two very nice K frames. I especially like the snub nose.

 

[HHH-38]

You seem to be very well versed in S & W minutiae for a new owner . Enjoy and be sure to post your upcoming acquisitions!

I owe almost all of that to this forum, I did a lot of scouring the threads here before I joined!

 

[HHH-38]

As you have probably discovered, your round butt snubby is wearing pre WWII girps. The post war M&P round buts are quite a bit scarcer than the square butt version. After the war S&W continued using pre war parts until they ran out. I have one just like yours and treasure it. The pre war grips just add a cool factor in my book. Welome to the asylum!

I didn't know that! Very cool. I know I've seen more of the round top stocks on the prewar stuff but I wasn't sure if there was a distinct date when they quit making them that way. Thanks for the info

 

[HHH-38]

Sean, welcome to the forum. Both of those revolvers are nice. I especially like the snub nose one, since I have 2 kinda like it. Both of mine are square butt versions (one blued and one nickel), while yours is a round butt. Your timeframe for your gun is probably close. The serial number of my two, C44104 and C44111, both shipped in January 1949. Having numbers so close, that definitely didn't surprise me. The half moon front sights is what drew me to mine. I've always thought that feature looked so cool on the Military and Police snub nose revolvers. Here is a picture of my nickel gun:
Larry

That's an absolute work of art right there. I agree, the round sights are my favorite look