just picked up a M&P 1905 4th change 38spc. in fair-good con. some rust but not bad. the gun looks like it was fired very little as there is zero gun power or lead marks anywhere, no marks on the recoil shield either, screws look like they were never touched and the grips are numbered to it and in great shape it also has a 5'' bbl and it to looks new inside. ser# 6409xx, when i looked the number up in THE BOOK i can't date it. the best i can tell is it was made somewhere between 1940-1942, i would like to narrow it down. any info would be a great help,

Actually, that number is likely to have shipped in the 1931-1933 time frame; the .38 HE number series got to 650000 about 1935, and this is a little before that. Guns in the 1940-42 range mostly number above 700000 until you get to the V-prefix Victory models.

If it is rusty in spots, you need to go over it with some bronze wool and serious oil to keep it from getting worse, and then keep it well oiled and properly stored from here on out. Sounds like it is in good mechanical shape and will make an excellent shooter. Please show us pics if you can.

Those old M&Ps and their evolved successors in the Model 10 family just go on forever. They wouldn't have made millions of them if nobody wanted them. Those are great guns.

__________________
David Wilson

thank you for the info, when i can figure out how i will post a picture

You should enjoy that gun! I have one from 1919, that my dad gave me. A 6 incher. Has original grips pencil numbered to the gun. A good shooter, but lousy sights. Mine has some abnormal blue wear, due being stored in a leather holster for years. (BAD DAD!) Still shoot it. Bob

the numbers on the grips on mine are stamped into them. i will be taking it out today and see how it shoots. it cleaned up alot better then i though it would, i just used alot of kroils oil and a fine plastic scrub pad. got the side plate off and cleaned the 70 +yrs. of what seemed to me as dried up grease that was on it and oiled it up. i still can't believe how tight everything is, no movement of the cyclinder what so ever. the case coloring on the hammer and triger look brand new.the ejecter rod still has 90% blueing on it.i don't think that a box of rounds was put through it...