1905 4th change survivor ....
- Thread starter mikeruns
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OP
mikeruns
Member
So, this is a very clean 1905 4th change .38 special(?)....I received a little bonus in visa cards at Christmas about 7 years ago while working in FT Worth, so at the Cabelas there, I spied this in the general used case...a 5" M&P, ser #332511 at about $450-ish....and then I got a veteran discount...I think this may be about 1919-1920-ish? Shoots fine, I have a 5" model 10-8 that is a hoot to shoot a lot and they may be my fave...I never post many picts but the system upgrade here makes it much easier so here ya go...cheers and have a blessed weekend
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Yes. 1919 or maybe 1920 (ship date), based on the serial number. It would be very interesting to see if the gun's serial number is written with a pencil on the inside of the right-hand stock panel. It might be hard to read, but if you shine a bright light on it at an angle, perhaps you can see it. There has been some discussion lately about whether that style stocks were found on late teen guns (after WWI). I personally think they were, but others dispute it. This would be a good test case.
OP
mikeruns
Member
Looks like 331257 is fairly clearly written in pencil on right grip...
Thank you. That means they don't match the gun, but that serial number is in the right range for 1919. Hence, it demonstrates that the stocks with the recessed gold medallions were still in use that year. That is exactly what we were asking about.
OP, that is a very nice looking M&P. Does yours have the "powder cup" milled out at the underside front of the top strap, right above the forcing cone? Just curious.
Jack, I recently obtained an M&P 1905 4th change, in .32 WCF. All numbers match, including the stocks. Roy informed me the ship date was April, 1919. I don't know if it matters that this is not a .38 Spl, but the stocks in question were certainly shipped on mine.
Jack, I recently obtained an M&P 1905 4th change, in .32 WCF. All numbers match, including the stocks. Roy informed me the ship date was April, 1919. I don't know if it matters that this is not a .38 Spl, but the stocks in question were certainly shipped on mine.
Nice, Charlie. And yes, the question applies to both the .38 and the .32-20.
Apparently, there is a published statement somewhere that the gold medallion stocks were used only up until WWI. But I'm certain I've seen units that shipped in the 1918-1920 period with those stocks. Your .32-20 and the OP's .38 are now among those I've seen. I think the case is closed.
BTW - is the number on those stocks 96061 or 96066? I can't quite make it out, but I'd like to add that unit to my database.
Thanks.
Apparently, there is a published statement somewhere that the gold medallion stocks were used only up until WWI. But I'm certain I've seen units that shipped in the 1918-1920 period with those stocks. Your .32-20 and the OP's .38 are now among those I've seen. I think the case is closed.
BTW - is the number on those stocks 96061 or 96066? I can't quite make it out, but I'd like to add that unit to my database.
Thanks.
OP
mikeruns
Member
Hi Charlie, my .38 does not have the concave area above the bbl on the frame(I think for powder fowling space). Your .32-20 is in great shape and it is always so nice to see these survivors and to be able to care for them until someone else must take over! Thanks for sharing!
Nice revolver, about as good as it gets for a 115 year-old S&W. Your serial number is good for a 1920 ship date. Guns as low as 325,000 shipped in 1920 and guns over 350,000 shipped in 1921. Gold medallions were correct for your gun, likely indicating a 1919 or very early 1920 manufacture date. I am sure that the company changed the design of stocks in 1920, so your gun is likely sold during the transition period from gold medallions to convex stocks.
Nice Smith.......
Picked this one off a walk in at a gun show last winter.
Nickel 6 inch dates to 1931 IIRC.
Picked this one off a walk in at a gun show last winter.
Nickel 6 inch dates to 1931 IIRC.
OP
mikeruns
Member
Fantastic Xfuzz, beautiful example….I have just 1 nickel gun, a 2” model 10-8 round butt…..because the price was right and well, I was there lol…cheers-thanks for sharing!
How does the caliber read on the barrel? Mine says 32 winchester, when did it change to 32-20?
It actually changed twice. From c. 1899 to c. 1913, it said 32 Winchester CTG.
From c. 1913 to c. 1922, the barrel stamp was 32 W.C.F. CTG.
Beginning in 1922 until the end of production (approximately 1930), the barrel marking was 32-20 CTG.
Thank you. So mine was made before 1913.
LEO918
Member
Took this four inch .38 Special from 1936 in trade about a year ago. Nicest example I've ever had. 
OP
mikeruns
Member
LEO918- Amazing example! Loving these photos of survivors! Thanks for sharing pard
I picked up 332692 about a year ago at Scheels. It is not nearly as pretty as yours, but the action is rock solid and very smooth. She certainly has been used a bit in the last 105 years, checkering is worn, many scratches and pits and a nasty scratch on the right sideplate. I don't care, she shoots great and shows her history. It does have the gold medallions on the grips, but I have not yet been able to find the pencil marks on the inside of the grip. With the mil discount and some rewards cards I had, it was close to $450 OTD. Probably paid too much due to the condition, but she was telling me she really wanted to go home with me. No regrets.
OP
mikeruns
Member
Pretty awesome! Just 181 numbers apart! Again with a great survivor-thanks for pict post
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