Manufactured 1955 or 1956? (38 Special M&P bought 1959)

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Duderino

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New member here. Hello!

I followed the identification instructions (info below and pics attached) and would like your help identifying the year of manufacture. I'd also welcome any naming conventions or interesting facts about this model. Thanks in advance.

Original purchase receipt: January 1959 (for $52.95!)
Smith & Wesson M&P "Blue" Revolver 4"BBL 38 Special

Post-War, Pre-Model 10 naming, 6-chamber

No model number on yoke. Only assembly number stamped.

Forum Identification Steps:
1. Type: Hand Ejector
2. Serial Number: C-3710xx (six digits)
3. CTG: 38 S&W Special CTG.
4. Barrel Length: 4"
5. Sight: Hand Ejector Fixed
6. Strain Screw: Yes, hidden under grip
7. Butt Swivel: No
8. Lanyard Ring: no
9. Number of Screws: 4 (So, this mfrg. 1955-56?)

ALSO, this gun looks black. Did it truly look blue when it was new?
 

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Welcome aboard!

It likely shipped around 1957, but only a letter would tell you for sure.

The number in the yoke cut is an assembly number. The other symbols are inspector/fitter marks.

The finish does look dark and the gun seems more highly polished than a typical M&P of that period. The sideplate fit looks good, so it's possible the gun was redone at the factory. Good close-ups of the left side of the grip frame and the right and left sides of the frame may help.
 
I agree with Chad that it probably shipped in 1957. However, C379765 shipped in January, 1957, and C381057 shipped in February, 1957. So there is a good chance yours was actually assembled in late 1956, and might have shipped that year. S&W revolvers were not shipped in serial order.

There is no chance that it is from 1955. In that year, the frames still had five screws.

Chad is also onto something with the finish. I suppose it could be original, but it looks awfully shiny. The reason he wants to see the left side of the grip frame is to check for a Service Department date code, which would indicate the possibility that your revolver was returned to S&W for a finish update.

Nice piece.
 
Thanks for the quick and informed replies!

Attached are close-ups of both sides of the frame and the grip frame.

You really think it's a nice piece? It's my first handgun, and it's inherited. Because there were so very many of this model produced, I assumed that it was not highly regarded.
 

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Welcome to the forum ! Thanks for providing so much useful information in your first post doesn't happen every time. That is just about the most perfect first handgun for anyone..As to the finish I'm betting a bright blue original finish is on that one I can't see any signs you would normally see on a refinished gun. If it is a post factory refinish it's certainly a great one. It does need some period correct grips though.
 
Hey Duderino-Because there are so many of these guns produced it's actually an indication how popular they are. Particularly with law enforcement agencies. My first issued gun was one of these as was my my first personal purchase. As to the finish on your gun, I somehow feel like it's the lighting in the photographs. Take a few pics sometime in full sunlight. Although I have some earlier bright blue guns that appear darker/almost black compared to later models. Welcome to the Forum. I'm guessing your gun won't be your last Smith&Wesson. Great looking gun. Have fun shooting it.
 
Light can do funny things with finish appearances.

Based just on this photo of yours I have no doubts any more that the finish is entirely original.


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Thanks, gang, for the positive feeling you've instilled that makes me even more happy to have this gun as my first.

Okay, this is the original finish. Good to know. It still looks black, even in direct sunlight, but I can barely discern a shade of dark blue. I can't imagine it was ever bright blue, which is what I had imagined. ... Photos attached.

@LPD256: These grips were highly regarded in the mid-1950s, at least in the mid-West. Based out of Chicago, Franzite was the manufacturer.
www.franzitegrips.com - Home

WOW, check out the cool figures stamped into the grip. There are two stick people dancing underneath the moon and stars!
 

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Close! Those are old aftermarket Franzite grips. Not factory…

If you're looking for factory period correct, you want square butt diamond K frame PC (plain clothes) Magna stocks. Expect to pay about $50 for a decent set.
 
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Ah, thanks! I just discovered the name myself and edited my post above. Wow, this forum really knows its stuff!
 
Duderino said:
Ah, thanks! I just discovered the name myself and edited my post above. Wow, this forum really knows its stuff!
Click to expand...
You will not find more knowledgeable people anywhere on the planet when it comes to Smith & Wessons, and lots of other brands too, and freely share that knowledge. I've been on here quite a while, and still learn something new every time I log on...
 
Ino -

Welcome , and great job of presenting your revolver.

As previously stated , the model 10 and M&P are very highly regarded for a perfect balance of simplicity and excellence. You own a fine example of the most successful revolver of all time - congratulations.

The images in post #1 had me thinking refinish , but post #4 clearly shows an original finish in very respectable condition. Those target grips are a bit homely , but I'll bet that they function really well , based on my experience.

Enjoy your revolver. Shoot it liberally. (ha ha) It will certainly endure well enough for you to pass to the next generation when the time comes.
 
So, do we refer to my model as Model 10 despite it not having that name when it was produced? Seems simpler to do so. Do we refer to all pre-naming models by their (comparatively) recent naming? Officially, mine is a "S&W .38 Special M&P?"

Thanks, everybody!
 
Your gun is a 38 M&P because when it was made they hadn't implemented model numbers. But what you have to know is the naming system was developed by collectors, not S&W. So, guns in the same configuration as a model marked gun are often called a "pre" model. It helps orient the description around a time frame and engineering configuration both of which are important to collectors.
 
Absolutely nothing wrong with a 4" K frame. Really an iconic LEO revolver that saw lots and lots of use in police holsters worldwide. And yours is quite nice imo, except for the Franzites. :)

Thanks for sharing it.
 
Wiregrassguy said:
Your gun is a 38 M&P because when it was made they hadn't implemented model numbers. But what you have to know is the naming system was developed by collectors, not S&W. So, guns in the same configuration as a model marked gun are often called a "pre" model. It helps orient the description around a time frame and engineering configuration both of which are important to collectors.
Click to expand...
Just to clarify this: Guy is correct, but he isn't saying that .38 Military & Police was not S&W's name for this revolver. That is actually what they called it. When model numbers first appeared in 1958, the official name became .38 Military & Police Model 10.
 
If you decide to shop for a set of period correct stocks, you want ones that look like these. Note the uncheckered diamonds around the escutcheons (grip screw inserts) and the rounded edges at the bottom.

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