A Smith & Wesson 38 M&P Target, 5 Screw, 6 inch, Original Blue, cal 38 Special, shipped September 9, 1922 to Baker-Hamilton-Pacifica Co in San Francisco.
Factory Letter and Wells Fargo Bill off Sale Included.
All numbers match on Butt, Barrel, Cylinder, Yoke, and Extractor. The Grips do NOT have a matching number.
Now, this gun gets VERY mysterious!
Follow along as I explain-
First, remember this gun Letters as a TARGET, but note that an already blued FIXED Sight frame was machined for the rear sight. It gets better- that fixed sight frame had a Flat Top. The Flat Top frames came about due to the Engineering Change dated August 14, 1923 ordering “square sights” on all I frame and K frame Hand Ejectors. The “square sights” had Flat Top frames. Remember- this gun shipped in Sept, 1922 and that change was ordered almost a year AFTER that in August, 1923.
The machine cuts for the rear sight remain in the white.
A fixed front sight blade was cut from an already blued barrel and the 1/8” Patridge blade was installed. The top of the base also remains in the white.
The mystery deepens- the rear sight has a “check elevation screw”. That particular feature was not ordered till November 1931 for 38s!
Even the darn grips have a mystery- they are numbered 146808. Think about that. That number on a 38 M&P would be from 1909, yet these are clearly 1920s style grips. The 32/20’s never got that high in numbers. So, how do these grips have that number?!!!
My best guess on this gun-
The invoice needs to be checked again. I think the gun shipped as a fixed sight 38 M&P. I do believe Wells Fargo purchased it from that distributor. Notice the Bill of Sale from W.F. has a San Francisco address. Years later, while W.F. owned it, it was taken to King Gun Sight Company, also in San Francisco, to have the Target sights installed. Note the front blade is clearly marked King. King definitely made rear sights in the Factory style before they developed their Micro-click sights. Or, the rear sight is more likely a Factory sight purchased from S&W by King. It is identical to other Factory sights I have. There are NO markings on the sight and no number. W.F. sold the gun in 1966 in a large dump of older guns.
Why did W.F. want a Target gun? No clue. Maybe they had a pistol team. Maybe a boss was a target shooter.
The grip number? Darned if I know.
There are no rework marks on the gun.
Note it is clearly marked “W.F. & Co.” under the left grip.
It shows use. There are numerous dings and scratches, but no rust or pitting beyond some light freckling on the lower backstrap.
Bore and chambers are perfect. The action is smooth and in time.
The Grips are decent with mild wear and handling marks.
