Old M&P date of manufacture?

kilogulf59

kilogulf59

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I purchased a nice S&W revolver from a friend the other day. I was wondering if I can get an approximate date of manufacture. I’ve attempted to follow the instructions in the “To IDENTIFY your Gun” sticky. Here goes.

It’s a 5-screw Hand Ejector Military and Police and was told it was a policeman’s gun.
4-inch barrel with fixed sights in .38 Special.
Serial number is 681XXX (it’s on the butt with no letter).
The back of the cylinder is stamped 681XXX.
"Smith & Wesson" on the left side of the barrel.
"Smith & Wesson Springfield Mass. U.S.A." and the patent dates below that on the top of the barrel.
".38 S&W Special Ctg." on the right side of the barrel.
"Made In U.S.A." on the forward part of the frame in front of the screw on the right side.
Diamond around screw grips w/S&W logo. No serial number on the inside of the grips.

Any info would be greatly appreciated. Honestly, I don’t care what it’s worth, I just love the old S&W revolvers. If this one gets sold, it will be by my heirs, not I.
 
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Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! Well you pretty well identified it as a 38 M&P. It was made around 1940. We don't have a lot of data on exact manufacture dates but we know that guns in that serial number range were being made for the British in a different caliber. We would like to see some pictures and we can probably tell you more information from those.
 
Howdy Wiregrass and thanks. I've been around since 2005 but I don't post much. I just drool on myself looking at the old revolvers pictured on the forum.

Reference photo, attached. I tried taking pictures but they didn't turn out well. I can try again. Is there something specific on the pistol you'd like a picture of?

So far I'm loving this revolver. For a gun it’s age it’s in pretty good shape. It has the old style, long but very smooth DA trigger. The SA is almost scary, very light and breaks like a tiny glass rod. It really is sexy.
 

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That's a good picture! It is wearing pre-war magna grips which are quite valuable on their own. Is there a hole for a lanyard ring swivel on the butt? Most of the guns of this era had them. If you can manage to take a few more pictures of various sides, I'm sure folks would appreciate them. Perhaps someone who tracks these guns will be along to give a better shipping date for you.
 
Thanks for coming back!

Guy is correct on its age. The Magna (larger than "service" style) stocks were an option at that time and the previous owner may have upgraded to them. Interestingly, a nice set of these stocks are worth the same or more than the gun!

At that time nearly all of S & Ws production was being sent to military, LE or defense-related locations, so it fits this one might have shipped to a policeman or department. A letter of authenticity may be interesting.
 
Guy, no threaded hole for a lanyard on the butt.

Alan, the stocks are in good shape for a gun that was supposedly carried and used by a policeman. Make me wonder if he was a dick or used a flap holster. How do I get a letter of authenticity?

I'll try and get more pics soon.

You know, I'm almost disappointed that there's value to this old pistol. I wanted an old M&P as a shooter and carry gun. Something I didn't have to worry about (though I take care of all my guns). Now any and every thing seems to be "collectable", LOL.
 
Pre-WWII K frames were called 38 Military & Police, 4th Change revolvers. The factory was still selling to the commercial market until very early 1941. I have a Target model, #696317, that shipped in August 1940. Roy Jinks called the target a K38 Masterpiece (pg 137 of his book) for a very brief time they were made before the war. Mine is wearing early post-WII Magnas. Still looking for a set like yours but they are hard to find. There was a K22 and a K32 Masterpiece made at this time as well.

Yours and mine were very close to the end of pre-WWII commercial production. The company did print a advertising flyer in 1941, but doubt that they sold many outside of wartime production.

The images below are of my Target revolver, page 10 from a 1941 catalog, and a 1941 All-Model flyer.

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Alan, thanks for the link. I was speaking of the insane prices people are paying for any old gun. Guns that most of us wouldn’t have looked at twice or that we’d buy as a truck or cabin gun, a “shooter”.

Guy, thanks for the kind offer but I wouldn’t want to bother you ;)

Gary, thanks for the info. Very nice pistol, BTW. Looks like there’s zero holster wear. How does it shoot?

My daughter is going to bring over her photo booth (or whatever the hell ya call it) later this week. I should have some decent pics then.
 
Without a doubt the trigger on these late pre-WWII targets were the best that the company ever made. No take-up, no trigger creep, crisp break, and no overtravel. The gun should shoot exactly where I aim, but my aim is the biggest variable here.

I can say it is an easy 25 yard shooter and if I beefed up the loading some, I am sure I could get a pattern at 50 yards and maybe even 100 yards, but just do not load that way anymore.
 
Good morning all. I promised more pics and they're coming. I got busy and I'l trying to get the hang of using the light box. What looks good (to me) in the box doesn't turn out well when I view the pictures. Another attempt is scheduled for today. Derned new fangled thangs es a givvin me a headache....
 
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