Looking to identify this model, a friend has it and as you can see the model number has been ground off and "restamped". There is a serial number stamped on the butt of the frame, he didn't check the grips yet to see if they match.

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Joe Oleksy
SWCA #3594

This is an early post-WW2 S serial-number series .38 M&P. Probably shipped in 1946. Model numbers don't happen for another 5-10 years.

Mike Priwer

Looks to me like a 38 Military and Police from about 1948 and before Smith & Wesson had moddel numbers.

^^^^ He types faster than I do.

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Randy
Provenance nerd

Model number isn’t ground off. The gun is from before S&W put model numbers on them. I think you have a mid to late 1940’s pre model 10.

Just looking at SCSW 4, it looks like your revolver falls in the .38 Special Military and Police SN range 1945-1948 S811338 to S999999.

The experts will be along in a bit, but there’s no model number, let alone removed. Appears to be a post-war M&P. The SN falls in the 1945-48 range, which is consistent with the one-line address, both of which predate model numbers as added in 1957.

(Added)

And the experts beat me to it while I was getting out my SCSW 4. I bow to the distinguished gentlemen!

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50 Years of DSOTM

Hi Gunsquirrel

As others have stated, your revolver never had a model number. It is a postwar .38 Military & Police model. At that serial number, it most likely shipped in April, 1947.

It has the most common barrel length (4") and period correct Magna stocks that are probably original.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Thanks to all for the quick reply’s….greatly appreciated!

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Joe Oleksy
SWCA #3594

You know what it is from the other postings. The S prefix of the serial number indicates that it has the improved hammer drop safety which was introduced in early 1945. The idea was to prevent an accidental discharge in the event the revolver was dropped on a hard surface, striking the hammer. The knurled extractor rod tip was introduced in 1947. Model numbering did not begin until about ten years after this one was made. It also has the old long action hammer. That was changed to a shorter action with a different hammer shape right at the end of the S series, around S991xxx, I do not remember the exact number. Thereafter, many collectors would call them "pre Model 10s". This one is best described in collector-ese as being a "post-war M&P."

Any idea of value on this gun..?

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Joe Oleksy
SWCA #3594