1956 M&P need opinions on gun and stocks, smooth K frame cokes?

[Allen-frame]

I bought this revolver because it is a non model marked 4 screw from 1956 (C387693).
I suspect the barrel has been changed as the 4" heavy bbl. was not offered until the 10-1 in 1959.

I thought the stocks looked good too,,K frame smooth targets with no relief cut.I haven't seen a
pair before.

I picked it up at my dealer the other day and cleaned the gun and stocks.
What a pleasant surprise. The barrel swap,target hammer and trigger, unusual front sight.
Timing and lockup is perfect,action smooth.

From the pictures, I wanted to ask about the stocks and the re work mark on the barrel flat,a small diamond.
Could these stocks be K smooth rosewood cokes?
Was the gun reworked at Smith &Wesson?

Opinions and pictures of your 'built' guns welcome please. Thanks ,,,Al

 

[Allen-frame]

I bought this revolver because it is a non model marked 4 screw from 1956 (C387693).
I suspect the barrel has been changed as the 4" heavy bbl. was not offered until the 10-1 in 1959.

I thought the stocks looked good too,,K frame smooth targets with no relief cut.I haven't seen a
pair before.

I picked it up at my dealer the other day and cleaned the gun and stocks.
What a pleasant surprise. The barrel swap,target hammer and trigger, unusual front sight.
Timing and lockup is perfect,action smooth.

From the pictures, I wanted to ask about the stocks and the re work mark on the barrel flat,a small diamond.
Could these stocks be K smooth rosewood cokes?
Was the gun reworked at Smith &Wesson?

Opinions and pictures of your 'built' guns welcome please. Thanks ,,,Al

 

[BuzzardBilly]

I like it!
Cool piece.

 

[Wyatt Earp]

How do you guys find these cream puffs?

 

[pace40]

Don't know if I can help much but here's a stock 4" couple years before yours. I'm guessing the only way to be sure of a factory rework is to letter it but even then it may or may not turn up. The rework mark would lead me to believe it may be. Interesting gun though.

 

[smith17]

That is a strange looking C on the serial number. Maybe just the angle.
Ed

 

[bk43]

A factory letter will only tell you how the gun was configured when it initially left the factory. For reworks you need the name on the work order and the name on the sideplate may very well supply that. Wouldn't hurt to ask.

Bob

 

[jimmyj]

Hi:
In that era (1956) I do not recall the Heavy Barrel, TH, TT or Smooth Oversize grips coming on a factory MIlitary and Police Model. This Model was almost the universal Police Service Revolver. Possible these options were add ons at a later date.
Jimmy

 

[Doc44]

The diamond usually indicates a factory refinish. The revolver looks like it has quite a bit of work done such as the target hammer and trigger, front sight, name engraved on side plate, etc. The stocks are very nice and were most often found on engraved and presentation guns up through about 1958.

Is there a date (for example 8 57) stamped on the grip frame? If there is, it will tell you when S&W did their work.

I would letter the gun and provide a detailed description of how it is configured, along with the name on the side plate. It might have an interesting history. It would be worth the $$ to find out.

Bill

 

[JayCeeNC]

Nice looking "semi-custom" gun, Allen.
I'd kill for that set of grips...

 

[digi-shots]

Wow, very nice looking! Great looking grips.

I have a question on the barrel stamping. I'm not sure what kind of jig S&W put the barrels in when stamping them. Are the numbers upside down? I've never seen them stamped with the barrel pointing to the right. Usually, you open the cylinder, and read the number on the barrel flat without turning the gun around.

 

[MakeMyNight]

Great find!

 

[Allen-frame]

Hi, all. To answer questions,Bill there are no date stamps on the grip frame.
The numbers on the barrel flat run from frame to barrel end with diamond first,then S387693. The stamping is
Clean and crisp,like someone knew what they were doing.

This was a G.B. auction where the gun ran one cycle with no bidders.
The second round I met the opening bid of $255 and ran unchallenged to the end of the auction

There are days when we get lucky. This could have been a piece of junk.

Regards ,,,Al

 

[kwbikr]

That gun has CHARACTER, really great find, congratulations...!!!!

 

[smith17]

Al:
No wonder the C looked kind of different. It is an S. I'm guessing that Dr. Frankenstein wanted to match the new barrel with the butt serial and forgot it was suppose to be a C prefix. An S prefix with those numbers doesn't fit any set of serials that I can think of. Interesting gun.
Ed