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09-28-2023, 08:16 PM
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Updated with letter Nickel 38 Special 2 inch barrel/Rare or Not
First post and new member. I have a nickel plated 38 special with a 2 inch barrel. S# 625###. I am waiting on the Factory letter. What’s the experts opinion. Picture shows after market grips but found the originals in a box that belonged to my dad. Thank you
Last edited by Bulldog00111; 10-10-2023 at 02:45 PM.
Reason: Update
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09-28-2023, 08:26 PM
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Welcome to the forums from the cotton and peanut covered plains of the Wiregrass! Post a picture of the other side of the gun and the original stocks. It appears to be a pre-war snub which is rather scarce.
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09-28-2023, 08:30 PM
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Post war 2" round butt in nickel with original grips is beyond rare
if it letters as such. If that box is the S&W original even better. The stag stocks a high dollar bonus. I've been looking for a S prefix round butt for over 10 years.
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09-28-2023, 08:53 PM
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Was told it was probably a pre war not shipped out until 1946. Other photos must have been deleted in my phone but here are a few
Last edited by Bulldog00111; 09-28-2023 at 08:54 PM.
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09-28-2023, 09:35 PM
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That picture indicates the gun was refinished in nickel because the rebound slide stud is polished flat. Look under the barrel on the extractor rod flat to see if a "B" is stamped before the serial number...which should match the serial on the butt and cylinder. If a B is there, the gun left the factory with a blue finish.
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SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629
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09-28-2023, 09:38 PM
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Welcome! It appears to be a 2" barrel .38 Military & Police with a prewar range serial number, a scarce gun. As you know more than a few were not sold/shipped until after WW II. Please share the letter information once you receive it?
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09-28-2023, 09:53 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wiregrassguy
That picture indicates the gun was refinished in nickel because the rebound slide stud is polished flat. Look under the barrel on the extractor rod flat to see if a "B" is stamped before the serial number...which should match the serial on the butt and cylinder. If a B is there, the gun left the factory with a blue finish.
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I’ll check when I get home. That’s not good if it was. I don’t remember off hand seeing a B
Last edited by Bulldog00111; 09-28-2023 at 09:55 PM.
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09-29-2023, 10:53 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chiefdave
Post war 2" round butt in nickel with original grips is beyond rare
if it letters as such. If that box is the S&W original even better. The stag stocks a high dollar bonus. I've been looking for a S prefix round butt for over 10 years.
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My bad. I mistook the OP's S# 625xxx as S625xxx. Defiantly pre war but still nice. I get a little light headed at the possibility of a post war round butt revolver
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09-29-2023, 11:02 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chiefdave
My bad. I mistook the OP's S# 625xxx as S625xxx. Defiantly pre war but still nice. I get a little light headed at the possibility of a post war round butt revolver
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Just take a deep breath and relax. You're going to be OK. 
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09-29-2023, 11:47 AM
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Nice looking gun. I'd love to see lots more good pics.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bulldog00111
Picture shows after market grips but found the originals in a box that belonged to my dad.
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Are the original grips wood or black hard rubber?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bulldog00111
Was told it was probably a pre war not shipped out until 1946.
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Where did you get that info?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wiregrassguy
That picture indicates the gun was refinished in nickel because the rebound slide stud is polished flat.
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I can't see ANY other sign of a refinish, so I'll hold off on calling it refinished.It looks sharp and crisp. IF it shipped postwar I would expect the stud to be flat.
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09-29-2023, 12:33 PM
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There was a group of 10 prewar serial-number 2" round-butt nickel M&P's shipped to Sports Inc., Chicago IL, on Sept. 23, 1946. As far as is known, they had been sorted into parts ready to build complete guns, but were not assembled and finished until the war had ended, and thus have the postwar flat-polished rebound slide studs. These 10 guns were serial numbered between 625801-625820.
No way to know for sure if the OP's specimen is one of these without a letter, unless it's number is either 625801 or 625820 - or 625809, which I have owned for 15+ years
David
Last edited by wordsmith; 09-29-2023 at 04:20 PM.
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09-29-2023, 01:00 PM
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I took the liberty of copying your post to this thread:
Early Post War 2" M&Ps made with Prewar Parts
It appears as your post.
Quote:
Originally Posted by wordsmith
There was a group of 10 prewar serial-number 2" round-butt nickel M&P's shipped to Sports Inc., Chicago IL, on Sept. 23, 1946. As far as is known, they had been sorted into parts ready to build complete guns, but were not assembled and finished until the war had ended, and thus have the postwar flat-polished rebound slide studs. These 10 guns were serial numbered between 625801-625820.
No way to know for sure if the OP's specimen is one of these without a letter, unless it's number is either 625801 or 625820.
David
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09-29-2023, 01:03 PM
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Quote:
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I can't see ANY other sign of a refinish, so I'll hold off on calling it refinished.It looks sharp and crisp. IF it shipped postwar I would expect the stud to be flat.
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And if post-war, shouldn't there be an N under the barrel, on the left side of the grip frame and the rear face of the cylinder?
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SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629
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09-29-2023, 01:31 PM
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Appreciate all the info. As soon as I get the letter I will let you know.
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09-29-2023, 01:36 PM
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Tell us more of the number?
Is it in the 625800 range?
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09-29-2023, 02:50 PM
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6256xx. My dad had bought it from I believe a Highland Park Mi police Officer. Don’t know if it had been his personal or duty gun
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09-29-2023, 04:00 PM
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Pictures resized and rotated to right side up.
Those are some tiny pictures!
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10-09-2023, 05:05 PM
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Checked for a B and didn’t see one. Found a N when I removed the grips. Also the original grips are black rubber
Last edited by Bulldog00111; 10-09-2023 at 05:07 PM.
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10-09-2023, 05:30 PM
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is the op saying there is no N under the ejector
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10-09-2023, 05:47 PM
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No picture of the barrel flat (bottom of the barrel). If it is stamped N somebody do a welfare check on chiefdave.
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10-09-2023, 06:03 PM
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No. That’s there and another N by serial number under barrel
Last edited by Bulldog00111; 10-09-2023 at 06:11 PM.
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10-10-2023, 07:43 AM
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It appears for now your Dad's little revolver is a highly desirable variation. Count me in with the others who await the letter. It will be very interesting, regardless, and you have a cherished family heirloom.
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10-10-2023, 08:11 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bulldog00111
No. That’s there and another N by serial number under barrel
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Well, that convinced me that it shipped post WWII. The letter will just be icing on the tasty cake! 
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10-10-2023, 08:58 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Retired W4
It appears for now your Dad's little revolver is a highly desirable variation. Count me in with the others who await the letter. It will be very interesting, regardless, and you have a cherished family heirloom.
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The funny thing my brothers and I didn’t want it and I got stuck with it.
They cashed the check for the letter. How long do letters usually take
Last edited by Bulldog00111; 10-10-2023 at 08:59 AM.
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10-10-2023, 09:11 AM
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They are pretty quick, Don will have it done in about 3 weeks or so usually.
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10-10-2023, 12:27 PM
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We see them around here in Virginia from time to time.
I picked up this very clean 2" model 10-7 a few years ago for a pretty good price, all original as near as I can tell.
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10-10-2023, 02:23 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bulldog00111
The funny thing my brothers and I didn’t want it and I got stuck with it.
They cashed the check for the letter. How long do letters usually take?
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It depends on how hard the information is to access, and the variable backlog. Three weeks may be optimistic and I have waited on a few in the past for 6+ months. Hopefully your wait will be at the shorter end of this time frame. 
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10-10-2023, 02:43 PM
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Letter update
Just received the letter. Shipped August 28, 1946 to HS Jones. 1 of 8 in same configuration to the Highland Park Police Department. Nickel 2 inch hard rubber grips. One of first 100 2 inch round butt revolvers produced after WWII. Prewar frame using pre war and post war parts
Last edited by handejector; 12-23-2023 at 09:24 PM.
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10-10-2023, 02:58 PM
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Congratulations on your historically important S&W revolver. 
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10-10-2023, 02:58 PM
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Well, that was quick - 12 days from opening the thread! Congratulations!
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10-10-2023, 03:23 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bulldog00111
Was told it was probably a pre war not shipped out until 1946.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by handejector
Where did you get that info?
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That would be me, Lee. I met "Bulldog" on another Internet gun forum. Saw his 2" RB, believed it to be what it has proved to be, strongly suggested a letter and told him about this Forum.
I'm glad he followed up on all of that. Now we all know more about more of these scarce little revolvers.
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10-10-2023, 04:04 PM
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Very nice.
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10-10-2023, 04:09 PM
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Very nice. A rare gun with LEO provenance to boot.
Congrats.
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10-10-2023, 04:16 PM
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That is an awesome k frame snub. I really hope you enjoy it.
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10-10-2023, 04:57 PM
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Late to the party...
Were there big beautiful pics of this revolver in here somewhere?
I think we need them if not!
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10-10-2023, 08:55 PM
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Does that mean there may be seven more out there? I want one.
Robert
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10-11-2023, 02:55 PM
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Thank you for all the information Another question where would one go to get the value.
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10-11-2023, 03:13 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bulldog00111
Thank you for all the information Another question where would one go to get the value.
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That is a tough question. With so few of that variation in existence only some of what I call the heavy hitters of S&W collectors can answer it. Someone will be along with sales data on your model. As always, condition is everything.
I wonder if your brothers will be kicking themselves. 
Last edited by Retired W4; 10-11-2023 at 03:14 PM.
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10-11-2023, 03:37 PM
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This is probably a good place to get a value. Some of these guys are pretty knowledgeable. Hopefully a few of them will weigh in.
Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson 4th Edition is probably the best price guide. I don't think it gives a value for your gun.
There were only I think about 100 of the 2" round butt guns made with pre-war and post-war parts. My guess would be less than 10 were nickel. So as one of the guys said, beyond rare.
On some guns that are very rare the book says "value too rare to estimate." I think your gun is probably in that category.
I would be surprised to see a gun like yours for less than $5000. Might bring quite a bit more than that. I am certainly not an expert so value my opinion accordingly.
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10-11-2023, 03:37 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by raljr1
Does that mean there may be seven more out there? I want one.
Robert
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Just talked to friend that was an officer there for a couple years in the 80s. He is going to ask a couple of the retired detectives and Chief if they had the gun when they worked there
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10-11-2023, 04:15 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DARE
There were only I think about 100 of the 2" round butt guns made with pre-war and post-war parts. My guess would be less than 10 were nickel.
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As for the nickel finish, 10 have been documented shipping to Chicago, 3 to Detroit and these 8 to Highland Park. That is 21 units that are known. We have no idea how many more there were, although I have documented more than a few with the blue finish, including one that was refinished in nickel.
Also, keep in mind that not all the 2" RB units carry serial numbers in the prewar 600000 range. Some have been documented with postwar serial numbers in the S833000 range.
As for a price, I think $5,000 is unlikely, but it could easily be in the $2,000 to $3,000 range. Of course, in an auction anything is possible.
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12-23-2023, 08:38 PM
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Just picked up grips
Picked up the grips that were in a box from parents house.
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One more question remains in my mind. Does it have the sliding hammer block introduced in WW II? I have a pre war/post war 32 HE (SN: 535787) that did not ship until June 24, 1949 that does not have the new hammer block but it has a 4 line address like bulldog's gun. It's more pre war than post.
Last edited by Retired W4; 12-24-2023 at 11:21 AM.
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12-24-2023, 12:51 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Retired W4
One more question remains in my mind. Does it have the sliding hammer block introduced in WW II?
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Most (if not all) of the 2" round butts in that group did not have the sliding hammer block safety.
Quote:
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but it has a 4 line address like bulldog's gun.
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Bulldog00111's revolver only has Made in U.S.A. on the frame. The four line address was not used until 1948.
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12-24-2023, 01:52 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JP@AK
...Bulldog00111's revolver only has Made in U.S.A. on the frame. The four line address was not used until 1948.
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I need new glasses.
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