2" pre war M&P

[Tilton Hilton]

Hi,

A older gentleman showed me his truck gun. He was in wildlife law enforcement for his full career and this was his backup and bad weather gun. He bought it at the beginning of his career from a retired law enforcement officer who carried it his full career. So he bought it used in the 1940's

Anyway its a 2" Model of 1905 fourth change. serial number is 374XXX, square butt. Its been refinished at least once and the hammer and trigger appear to be chromed. I know it has no collector value.

I suspect that it may be a parts gun, that the 2" barrel was added. All the numbers match. However the barrel is unnumbered.

If its a original factory 2" M&P Model of 1905, should the barrel also be numbered? There are no factory rework markings.

Thanks, Jim

 

[Tilton Hilton]

Hi,

A older gentleman showed me his truck gun. He was in wildlife law enforcement for his full career and this was his backup and bad weather gun. He bought it at the beginning of his career from a retired law enforcement officer who carried it his full career. So he bought it used in the 1940's

Anyway its a 2" Model of 1905 fourth change. serial number is 374XXX, square butt. Its been refinished at least once and the hammer and trigger appear to be chromed. I know it has no collector value.

I suspect that it may be a parts gun, that the 2" barrel was added. All the numbers match. However the barrel is unnumbered.

If its a original factory 2" M&P Model of 1905, should the barrel also be numbered? There are no factory rework markings.

Thanks, Jim

 

[victorylarry]

Jim,
The short barreled m&p's I've seen had the barrel numbered to the gun. They continued this practice of numbering the barrel (even on 2") on their 5 screw post war guns as well. From what I understand, you could order an unumbered barrel from S&W at the time as a replacement. So, the gun could be all S&W, just not as it left the factory. If S&W did the work, there should be a rework mark.
Sounds like an interestig gun that served it's user faithfully for decades. How many items do you buy today can you say that about.

 

[cgt4570]

While there is never an absolute with early factory options and special orders, I believe all the standard 2" pre-war M&Ps were round butts.

The barrel swap to 2" from anything longer would also require changing the ejector rod, center pin, and center pin spring.

Chris

 

[mikepriwer]

TH

The gun is not factory, if that is what you are wondering. There are
a couple of things going on here.

First, at serial 374,000 , the gun is about 1921. This is way too
early for a 2" barrel on a M&P. They were not introduced until around
the early 1930's, maybe even the mid 1930's.

Second, while most of the 2" M&P's were round butt, there were some
square butt ones, as well. But - not until the 1930's.

So - the barrel on this gun has been replaced, somewhere along the
line. Typically, if it was done in the service department of the
factory, they generally, but not always, numbered it to the gun. Being
un-numbered is not a defining piece of information. Had the factory
worked on the gun, typically there would be a star on the butt, and
some service mark on the frame, under the grips. The diamond stamp
is the usual mark.

Of course, if the gun were original, the barrel would be numbered to it.
But - it's not original. Its too early.

Later, Mike Priwer

 

[Tilton Hilton]

Thank you for taking the time to reply. You confirmed what I thought.

Damn Mike your good, how many characters can you type per minute

. I really enjoy the history of production your posts generally contain. Like the serial number preceeds the production of the 2" barreled M&P's and that most were round butt.

Thank You gentleman and Happy Hoildays!

Jim

 

[mikepriwer]

Jim

Thanks for the comment. I checked the catalogs from 1935 ( the 80th Anniversary
catalog ) and from 1940 ( the 85th Anniversary catalog ). The first mention of
a 2" barrel is in the 1940 catalog. The earliest 2" I owned was serial 614xxx,
shipped in Jan of 1935. That is about when they started. Presumably there were
some other catalogs between 1935 and 1940, and that would help pinpoint when
that 2" barrel option was offered.

Later, Mike Priwer