M&P Pre12..Feast or Famine

OldDominion · #1 11-13-2013, 11:19 AM

For a long time I had looked for an early M&P Airweight in original condition (aluminum cylinder). Then at the Virginia Gun Collectors Association show a few weeks ago I bought a nice all matching one with it's numbered box from a fellow SWCA member with the help of Rick Nahas (thx for sharing your cold Rick). The next night, I was stumbling around the 'net and found this one here. I saw the ser.# and... well you know the rest of the story. I believe it may be one of the first Pre12s shipped from the factory. Hoping to get more info when the Guru gets back. According to the SCSW and Roy's book, the M&P Airweight began production around C223999. Here is # C224203. Interesting side note: there is another number hand etched under the top strap and inside the trigger guard, "2F4532". If anyone has a clue what that means, please let me know. Enjoy...

H Richard · #2 11-13-2013, 12:01 PM

Those scratched numbers are most probably something a former owner put in for identification. Those are not factory markings. Very nice looking lightweight.

Tired Gunsmith · #3 11-13-2013, 04:46 PM

I owned C224139 with alloy cylinder for about 25 years.
Bought it new from Rex Firearms in NYC when I was their in house gunsmith.
When the frame stretched, ( never any problem with the alloy cylinder) I returned the frame to the factory.
They issued another frame with a steel cylinder and the original serial number.
I have lost track of he man in NC to whom I sold it.

Tom K · #4 11-13-2013, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldDominion

For a long time I had looked for an early M&P Airweight in original condition (aluminum cylinder). Then at the Virginia Gun Collectors Association show a few weeks ago I bought a nice all matching one with it's numbered box from a fellow SWCA member with the help of Rick Nahas (thx for sharing your cold Rick). The next night, I was stumbling around the 'net and found this one here. I saw the ser.# and... well you know the rest of the story. I believe it may be one of the first Pre12s shipped from the factory. Hoping to get more info when the Guru gets back. ....

And one just sold in forum Classifieds, with box.

Modified · #5 11-13-2013, 06:56 PM

Dang nice pickup, that one looks a lot nicer then mine (I'm still not certain why mine wasn't exploded long before I bought it, it's clearly been shot quite a lot) the story I got was that it was owned by a Chicago cop, so if it was just one owner who was careful to use standard pressure loads in it, maybe it will work just fine for you.

I love this thing if for no other reason then how, to me, it seems to sum up 50's. We had just conquered the atom, crushed both Fritz and Tojo, and the Jet Age was upon us! We had new fangled alloys that could do astonishing things! Why not use them to contain the piddly little pressures of .38 special?

I also love how ridiculously light it is compared to what is basically the same gun in steel (my snubby pre10).

Actually, I do like to shoot this gun, but I only do it with wax bullets that have no more propellent in them then a primer. It's still a lot of fun.