Pre-War Round Butt Stocks Question

[22hipower]

I was digging through the woodpile this weekend and found a set of pre-war round butt stocks that I had bought maybe twenty years ago hoping I might find a gun to go with them some day (so far no luck). Anyway, they appear to be for a K frame round butt from between 1929 and 1940 at least as I read the Standard Catalog.

The question though is about the SN stamped on the back of the right stock which appears to be 11310 or perhaps a poorly struck 71310. However neither number seems to line up with an M&P from the period except perhaps in the 32-20 4th Model. Were there round butt 32-20s from that period? Ideas? Thanks.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

[bill-in-texas]

Jeff,
I’ll leave it to others to chime in about what SNs would be in line with which models from a given time frame.
If I may give my opinion based on your third picture, I see the number struck as being a 7.
Regards, Bill

[raljr1]

I agree, it's a 7

Robert

[Wiregrassguy]

I agree on the number but it's too low for an M&P whether 38 or 32. Besides the 32-20 was not made in the 1930s when those stocks were used. So they would never have those on them. Also I think all of the 32-20s after 1905 were Square butts. Are you sure they're K frames?

Guy

[handejector]

I agree- 71310.

Originally Posted by 22hipower

71310. However neither number seems to line up with an M&P from the period except perhaps in the 32-20 4th Model. Were there round butt 32-20s from that period? Ideas? Thanks.

Yes, there were.

Originally Posted by Wiregrassguy

Besides the 32-20 was not made in the 1930s when those stocks were used. So they would never have those on them.

A common misconception. There was a Depression on. They made what a customer ordered. If a guy ordered a Round Butt, Nickel, 4" Target and there was not one in the vault and he would not accept a substitute, what do you think they did?


I have seen a 32/20 above 140,000, NIB, with matching numbers on the box and grips, and those grips had silver medallions.

[Wiregrassguy]

Okay. You've seen a lot more than I have.

Guy

[handejector]

I keep forgetting to show you guys this pair of grips I found a few months ago. I do not know how long I have had them, but YEARS probably.
K frame, silver medallions, #144450.
They have to be off a very late 32/20.

[22hipower]

Originally Posted by Wiregrassguy

Are you sure they're K frames?

Guy

Yes, K's and a pretty good fit on a much newer one.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

[22hipower]

Originally Posted by handejector

I agree- 71310.

Yes, there were.

A common misconception. There was a Depression on. They made what a customer ordered. If a guy ordered a Round Butt, Nickel, 4" Target and there was not one in the vault and he would not accept a substitute, what do you think they did?

So Lee, I'm looking for a round butt 32-20 made sometime after 1929 in any barrel length? Don't know where I might find such a common item do you? And since the stocks are pretty nice the gun should be equally nice please.

Thanks much.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

[glowe]

71,XXX 32-20s date to around 1916, definitely pre-war, but pre WWI, not WWII.

The serial number range for 1930s 32-20s are from around 140,XXX to 144,XXX range. So the number is wrong for the 1930s, but those are certainly 1930s stocks??

[handejector]

Gary,
I thought about that after I posted, and think you are right about that number being too low for the 30s.
Hmmmmm... that would leave only a possible warranty replacement gun with new grips, or a total makeover for an old gun.

[JP@AK]

Originally Posted by 22hipower

The question though is about the SN stamped on the back of the right stock which appears to be 11310 or perhaps a poorly struck 71310. However neither number seems to line up with an M&P from the period

Ideas?

Here is another possibility.

We have examples from after the war of round butt, 2" M&P revolvers wearing that style of stocks when they left the factory. So, it is possible that this pair comes from a C prefix gun in the number period between 1948 and the early 1950s. 11xxx - approximately 1948; 71xxx - approximately early 1950.

[22hipower]

Originally Posted by JP@AK

Here is another possibility.

We have examples from after the war of round butt, 2" M&P revolvers wearing that style of stocks when they left the factory. So, it is possible that this pair comes from a C prefix gun in the number period between 1948 and the early 1950s. 11xxx - approximately 1948; 71xxx - approximately early 1950.

Easier to find a two inch C prefix gun from those years I'm sure but I think I'll hold out for the 32-20 4 inch nickel target to which Lee alluded.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

[glowe]

Originally Posted by JP@AK

Here is another possibility.

We have examples from after the war of round butt, 2" M&P revolvers wearing that style of stocks when they left the factory . . .

I took a quick look at the database to find some 2" M&P revolvers in the C63,000 to C75000 range. There were a few listed that stated medallion pre-war diamond round stocks. I think you have the answer if the factory did not stamp the "C"?

[handejector]

Originally Posted by JP@AK

Here is another possibility.

We have examples from after the war of round butt, 2" M&P revolvers wearing that style of stocks when they left the factory. So, it is possible that this pair comes from a C prefix gun in the number period between 1948 and the early 1950s. 11xxx - approximately 1948; 71xxx - approximately early 1950.

I think we might have a winner. I've handled several of those guns and own one now in the C53000 range, but I have never seen one above the 50000s. Are you sure they went that high?

[glowe]

The highest in the SWCA database is C90,XXX, shipped in 1949. All "C" guns shipped in 1948, 1949, and 1950 in the database. 2", 4, and 5" guns are listed.

[MrG5122]

You guys never cease to amaze me with your knowledge.

[Toyman]

Lee: This is C53720 shipped March 1949, it has the pre war style service . The grips number to the gun.

[handejector]

Originally Posted by glowe

The highest in the SWCA database is C90,XXX, shipped in 1949. All "C" guns shipped in 1948, 1949, and 1950 in the database. 2", 4, and 5" guns are listed.

I don't quite understand this. Are you saying there are C90000 guns with RBs that definitely have numbered service grips?

[handejector]

Originally Posted by Toyman

Lee: This is C53720 shipped March 1949, it has the pre war style service . The grips number to the gun.

I know. As I say above, I've got one almost 700 numbers lower.

[glowe]

Originally Posted by handejector

I don't quite understand this. Are you saying there are C90000 guns with RBs that definitely have numbered service grips?

Sorry Lee, I should have added more details. The last round butt listed in the database was 90,8XX, while the next one up the list was 90,5XX and was a square butt. Both were 2" and both shipped in 1949. The next earliest round butt listed in the db was 69,7XX that shipped in 1950. Most "C" guns did not list the butt configuration. Of course, the members put in their own guns so errors do exist.

It appears to me that these guns were all made early, maybe 1948 and 1949, but shipped as late as 1950. Those 90,XXX guns shipped a year before a couple of 70,XXX "C" guns.

[handejector]

Gary,
My question is do we know if those higher number RBs you list have service grips or magnas?

[Wiregrassguy]

I hope this doesn't mess up the assumptions. I have a .38 M&P, C56793, from July 1949 that wears magnas. It crossed my mind early in this discussion that the only reasonable explanation was a post-war gun. But, I felt the SN put the gun into late '49 or 1950 and was unlikely to be a reasonable explanation. However, with others showing up in elevated SN's, I guess that may be the only explanation.

[glowe]

One more check of the db yielded the latest service stocked gun noted. 69,7XX notes state the following: Round butt; matching service-style grips; original gold box. All round butts posted after this gun simply state "round butt" or diamond stocks, or nothing.