Was doing my usual nightly cruising of GB and spotted this advertised as a M&P Pre 10 from 1947. Price was decent and noticed gentleman lived the next town over from me. So made a deal with him to meet and get an even better price

He bought it many years ago and said he did not realize it had been re-finished and probably not original grips - but appear to be correct ones He said he overpaid but couldn't try to sell it as original, so I got it for a great price. He said the R-S under grips was a refinish indicator? Does this sound right and if so, who puts those markings there - S&W so maybe factory done? He also said that's a 1973 date code showing when it was refinished.
But as a neat piece and a shooter vs a collector piece I'm happy.
Any info. would be appreciated.
Thanks!

R - S means refinish standard. Your refinish was done by S&W.
Here is my pre-43 Airweight .22/32 Kit Gun. You can see the R - S and the date 10 74. S <> is another S&W marking indicating unspecified work on the gun.

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David Reynolds

Cruzans, those sharp shoulder magna are correct for that revolver. The serial number should be stamped inside the left panel. Very nice

Left panel?

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

Thanks. Serial stamped inside right grip but doesn't match
Glad to hear they are correct type though Thanks!

Thanks! I was hoping R-S meant S&W did the work.
Based on the work, It had to be them or someone very good imo.

I don't know how I can excuse that mistake.

Yes, the RIGHT panel. I should just delete that last post!!

Not to be picky but you have a post war M&P not a pre 10 and that's a good thing.

Thanks - looking for all the info. I can find.
I thought it was a pre 10.
Serial number is S 928xxx. And correction, I just re-read his description and he said it is 1948.

His description = MODEL: Military & Police (postwar pre model 10)
COMMENTS: Uncommon 2” barrel; Transition model, i.e., post war gun with prewar features. Pre war features include long throw hammer, half moon front sight, made in USA and S&W sideplate.
.38 M&P postwar premodel 10: continuation of previous model w/out the "V" victory SN prefix and w/out lanyard ring

Thanks!

Elroy finds your long action example as particularly attractive unlike our "common" M&P with the high speed "fish hook" hammer

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Very nice long action post war M&P.
IMO your revolver likely began life in the satin blue finish and was refinished in the higher polished bright blue when it went back years later.

While it is technically a pre-10 as it was made prior to the use of model numbers by S&W, the collector's convention is that the "pre-Model 10" designation applies only to M&Ps having the new short action, those being made in roughly 1947-57. Yours has the older long action, so it would be more properly called the post-war version. You can tell that by the shape of the hammer. And the "sharp shoulder" grip style is period correct. That style was used until the early 1950s.

Based on my extensive database on postwar M&P revolvers, yours probably left the factory in September, 1947.

There were many 6" units in that serial range, but I have identified at least one with the 2" barrel at serial number S928537. It is a square butt unit like yours.

I would not agree that the 2" M&P in the S prefix serial range is "uncommon." Thousands of them were produced. Based on the more than 15,000 S prefix units I've cataloged, it was the third most common barrel length with the square butt. 6" units are the least common. Now 2" round butt example are, indeed, scarce. Those are the least common.

The sharp shoulder Magna stocks with that checking pattern were made from 1946 until 1953.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Thanks all. My Serial # is about 40 away from the one listed by Jack.
Makes sense that maybe someone wanted higher polish finish vs satin after having the revolver for about 25 years? The markings are all crisp and not rubbed out so doesn't look like much "grinding/sanding" or however they strip frames was needed. The right side only has "made in USA" on it and most I've seen when looking up have the added lines of info. I'm guessing that added info. was added soon after mine was made?

I've owned this revolver for probably 20 years. It is very smooth and shoots well.

Yes. "Made in U.S.A." was added to the frame's right side in 1922. The four line address first appeared in the late spring of 1948. I have never found an S prefix example with the four lines and there are some early C prefix units with the one line address.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Yes, I have one of those C prefix guns with the one line address Jack. I think you already have it in your data base.

Very nice gun, cruzans! Could you please post a picture of the sideplate side?

I have M&P 866xxx in 4 inch configuration with original stocks. I will post a few pics when the lighting is better tomorrow. It’s a beauty and one of my favorites.

Tom H.

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I just now sent off a letter request for a C-prefix 2" square butt using my written information...I'd have to burrow through a pile of guns to dig it out to check the address......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

FYI, mine is C8583, 4". It missed my birthday by 3 months.

Here's a picture of the other side

She's a beauty!
Funny, my shop has the same gun in case I was debating today.
$475 out the door. Probably should have bought it

My M&P pre 10; I always wondered how many had target trigger and target hammer?

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Have you lettered that gun, EPP?

No, I haven't, wondering if it might be worth it.

I'll let Ralph explain that to you......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

A few questions here:

1. You say it is a "pre-model 10." I see the fourth screw, but you didn't show the right side with the fifth screw. Does it have one?

2. What is the serial number? It clearly has a C prefix.

3. We know it has been altered at least with the stocks. The diamond was eliminated by an order dated January 11, 1966. By that time, of course there were only three frame screws, so your revolver must be much earlier than that.

I suspect the hammer and trigger represent an aftermarket alteration.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Serial # C 121931

Tried posting this pic both ways and its still upside down, not sure why.

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Sorry for taking this off-topic but:

Love your meme, Elroy….or do you secretly go by Crazy Legs?
Tim formerly from Wisconsin (UW BS’84)

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Tim

Mine is C124488, shipped 8/17/50. Great shooter.

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Heavily armed old man.

Probably from 1950.

C120972 shipped August 1950
C122014 shipped July, 1950

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318