Added this beauty to my collection...

bc1023 · #1 06-08-2014, 12:18 PM

Last week I found a mint condition 4" M&P, circa 1955.

I've got plenty of vintage S&W revolvers, but I particularly like the marble wood grain in the diamond Magna grips on this one.

There is zero holster wear and I doubt it was shot much at all in the last 60 years. It looks like it just left the factory...

Enjoy

DGT · #2 06-08-2014, 12:44 PM

Those grips are beautiful. Do they number to the gun?

Sebago Son · #3 06-08-2014, 12:50 PM

This IS a beauty!

bc1023 · #4 06-08-2014, 12:50 PM

I believe so. Its only had one owner since new. I'll have to check at some point. I get funny about that, because it appears the grip screws were never turned, so I'll have to be careful not to bugger them up at all.

The grips are fit extremely well to the frame. Running your finger over the back strap and you can barely feel anything between the frame and grips.

r3captain · #5 06-08-2014, 03:18 PM

It's usually tough to excited about an M&P, but that is a fine example!

Reddog · #6 06-08-2014, 03:22 PM

It's a beauty!

j38 · #7 06-08-2014, 09:53 PM

Gorgeous! Thanks for the great pics,

Jerry

snubbyfan · #8 06-08-2014, 10:08 PM

Wow, nice, thanks for sharing.

jsfricks · #9 06-08-2014, 10:49 PM

Very nice! I couldn't stand not knowing if the grips number to the gun. Just use the proper screwdriver, loosen the screw and put slight pressure on the screwdriver so that you are pushing the back grip off.

chud333 · #10 06-08-2014, 10:56 PM

Those grips are outta this world nice. The gun ain't too shabby either.
I would also have to know if they numbered to the gun if it were mine.
Just use the right size screwdriver and it will do no harm.
The grain on those grips remind me of some custom work done
by Mr. Keith Brown

Chuck

mbliss57 · #11 06-08-2014, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chud333

Those grips are outta this world nice. The gun ain't too shabby either.
I would also have to know if they numbered to the gun if it were mine.
Just use the right size screwdriver and it will do no harm.
The grain on those grips remind me of some custom work done
by Mr. Keith Brown

Chuck

I believe they may be Keith Browns too. Not that that would be bad as his custom grips start at about $300-$400

g8rb8 · #12 06-08-2014, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbliss57

I believe they may be Keith Browns too. Not that that would be bad as his custom grips start at about $300-$400

It won't matter what you find if you remove the grips.
1. If they number to the gun = WIN!
2. If they are Keith Brown grips = WIN!
3. If neither 1 or 2 they are still the most beautiful Magna grips I have ever seen, so ..... = WIN!

John
Scoundrel and Ne'er-Do-Well in Training

sophie · #13 06-08-2014, 11:23 PM

Really good looking gun and pretty wood in those grips. Congratulations on the purchase.

BCDWYO · #14 06-09-2014, 01:39 AM

bc...I gotta ask where you came across that beauty? Pretty rare to find M&Ps in that condition!

JP@AK · #15 06-09-2014, 01:54 AM

I agree with all the above comments about the stocks. If they are factory, they are the most amazing Magna stocks I've ever seen. Rather hard to believe they are. I have looked at thousands of Magna stocks over the years and have owned a bunch of them. Never seen anything like these. They almost have to be somebody's custom work. As stated, perhaps KB.
Would you be willing the share the C prefix number with us?
VERY NICE M&P!!!

JSW · #16 06-09-2014, 09:15 AM

That's a beautiful example of a M&P, congrats!

Engine49guy · #17 06-09-2014, 10:16 AM

Very nice ! especially like the grips ,

M&P's are not my main focus but strikes me as odd a 1955 M&P has a standard hammer instead of a "High Speed" hammer ?
IIRC the Combat Magnum first appeared in late 1955 as a 4 screw gun and without the HS hammer but have assumed the M&P was still using up old HS hammer inventory until the very early 4 screw era.

Never anything absolute with S&W I suppose.

On a side note Im betting the grips are factory by the escutcheons

jimmyj · #18 06-09-2014, 10:18 AM

This is a fine example of yesterday's craftsmanship.

jw mathews · #19 06-09-2014, 10:44 AM

That is a very fine specimen & the stocks are indeed exceptional. A most excellent find.

Engine49guy--I am curious as to what you mean by a "high speed" hammer. The mechanism of the gun is the new (after 1948 or so) so-called short action (as opposed to the original long-action design), that provided a shorter hamer throw to reduce lock time. The firm offered a standard width hammer spur and a wide target spur, that could be applied to and of the K-frame guns on special order or retrofitted.

Texas Star · #20 06-09-2014, 03:03 PM

I think the hammer is probably correct. This was about the time the fish hook curvy hammer was being phased out for the style seen. I call that one the squiggle hammer and don't like it. S&W called it the Speed Hammer in 1948. By the time model numbers were assigned in 1957, this style hammer was std.

I think this is the most stylish of the long M&P series. We took it for granted then, but I did like it and recall seeing it in the gun books that I was reading avidly by age 12.

Half of the people posting gun photos on the Net want to be Ichiro Nagata and go for those angled pics. You carried it off far better than most. But may we also have a dead-on side view of the gun, both sides? That'd sure make my day, and that of others here.

Congratulations. NICE gun!

Engine49guy · #21 06-09-2014, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jw mathews

That is a very fine specimen & the stocks are indeed exceptional. A most excellent find.

Engine49guy--I am curious as to what you mean by a "high speed" hammer. The mechanism of the gun is the new (after 1948 or so) so-called short action (as opposed to the original long-action design), that provided a shorter hamer throw to reduce lock time. The firm offered a standard width hammer spur and a wide target spur, that could be applied to and of the K-frame guns on special order or retrofitted.

The new short actions ushered in the new bent hammer spur that some people refer to as a "Fishhook" hammer but IIRC S&W gold boxes were printed with S&W "High Speed" hammer as the official name and used in their advertisements as well.

Certainly a transition period with everything S&W just always assumed the M&P's trasitioned during the 4 screw era because the K22's seem to have ...but as always "Nothing is absolute with S&W"
My only 1955 M&P is a snub with a "High Speed" or "Fishhook" hammer.

VM · #22 06-09-2014, 04:35 PM

The grips are Beautiful and absolutely from the factory.
If the gun is indeed from '55, I'd think that the PC style would be correct.

smitholdtimer · #23 06-09-2014, 05:13 PM

Your M&P sure received the luck of the draw and in this case very good luck. More figured than normal, real beauties! Congratulations on the Revolver and its Extremely Nice Stocks!

bc1023 · #24 06-09-2014, 05:19 PM

The serial number is C 349xxx. I guess it could be an early '56, but I thought the 5th screw was gone by then.

I believe S&W had just starting using these hammers shortly before this revolver was built. The ramped sight was started a couple years before.

bc1023 · #25 06-09-2014, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Engine49guy

The new short actions ushered in the new bent hammer spur that some people refer to as a "Fishhook" hammer but IIRC S&W gold boxes were printed with S&W "High Speed" hammer as the official name and used in their advertisements as well.

Certainly a transition period with everything S&W just always assumed the M&P's trasitioned during the 4 screw era because the K22's seem to have ...but as always "Nothing is absolute with S&W"
My only 1955 M&P is a snub with a "High Speed" or "Fishhook" hammer.

I've seen guns from the same year ship with different hammers before.

I've got a K38 TM with the fishhook hammer.

gsm73 · #26 06-09-2014, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bc1023

The serial number is C 349xxx. I guess it could be an early '56, but I thought the 5th screw was gone by then.

I believe S&W had just starting using these hammers shortly before this revolver was built. The ramped sight was started a couple years before.

I have C3322XX and it has the high speed/ fishhook hammer. Thats a nice gun you have!

bc1023 · #27 06-09-2014, 05:41 PM

I think the wider "fishhook" style hammer was optional by the time my revolver was shipped. It appears to be very late 1955, judging from the serial number.

bc1023 · #28 06-09-2014, 06:02 PM

I'm thinking it may not be a 1955, but rather a 1956 on a leftover 5 screw frame. Here's a 4 screw model that's only about 5000 guns from mine by looking at the serial number.

This one is C 354xxx, while mine is C 349xxx

Smith Wesson Pre Model 10 38 Special Nickel M&P : Revolvers at GunBroker.com

Mine retains the 5th screw and also has the newer hammer.

I'm thinking mine was built right in the middle of the transition. Any thoughts on that? Does that make sense?

Thanks for any help.

Engine49guy · #29 06-10-2014, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bc1023

I'm thinking it may not be a 1955, but rather a 1956 on a leftover 5 screw frame. Here's a 4 screw model that's only about 5000 guns from mine by looking at the serial number.

This one is C 354xxx, while mine is C 349xxx
retains the 5th screw and also has the newer hammer.

I'm thinking mine was built right in the middle of the transition. Any thoughts on that? Does that make sense?
Thanks for any help.

C349xxx probably closer to 1956 and as S&W supposedly didnt waste parts the new style hammer makes sense .

The snub I posted is a bit older at Serial C328518 but havent gotten a ship date yet just assumed it was a 55 by the polished finish could be a 1954.

bc1023 · #30 06-10-2014, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Engine49guy

C349xxx probably closer to 1956 and as S&W supposedly didnt waste parts the new style hammer makes sense .

The snub I posted is a bit older at Serial C328518 but havent gotten a ship date yet just assumed it was a 55 by the polished finish could be a 1954.

I think the polished bluing started in 1954, but I'm not 100% sure. Smith underwent so many changes during the 50's that's it's tough to keep track.

Yours is older by over 20,000, so a difference here and there makes sense. Mine is much closer to the model on Gunbroker I posted a link to, which is only 5000 newer. I know S&W didn't change the hammer at the exact instant they deleted the upper frame screw. Like you said, they didn't waste parts. Mine is a 5 screw gun most likely built after the decision was made to omit the 5th screw.

Engine49guy · #31 06-10-2014, 07:00 PM

I shouldnt have used the word "odd" describing the hammer in my first post as "Interesting" would have been less dubious,
IMO the best part of this hobby is sharing our new acquisitions and the occasional appearance of something unique or not often encountered like your very nice late 5 screw "Transitional" M&P.

Thanks for sharing it !

haris1 · #32 06-10-2014, 07:57 PM

Terrific find- glad to see another one out of circulation into a collection where appreciated.
Gorgeous grips, be sure and not let your buddy allen-frame
bugger them up

Thanks for sharing!

bc1023 · #33 06-10-2014, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Engine49guy

I shouldnt have used the word "odd" describing the hammer in my first post as "Interesting" would have been less dubious,
IMO the best part of this hobby is sharing our new acquisitions and the occasional appearance of something unique or not often encountered like your very nice late 5 screw "Transitional" M&P.

Thanks for sharing it !

Thansk for your info and knowledge. Much appreciated.

In my searches, I was able to find this example of another very late 5 screw, with a serial number only about 1500 from mine. Its actually slightly earlier. Its either a very late '55 or early '56.

Just bought my 1st S&W revolver.

Other than the rough condition and the added Victory grips, the configuration is identical to mine, made right during the transitions.