32 M&P find at a Gun Show

[JP@AK]

Found a delightful gun today. I'm always on the lookout for S prefix M&P revolvers, as everyone here knows.

So at the local gun show today, I spotted what looked like one with a 5" barrel. After securing permission to pick it up, I discovered it was, indeed, an S prefix revolver, but it was chambered for the .32 S&W Long. Serial number was S991110, which turns out to be in the range of other identified .32 M&P revolvers.

This one was intact, 95% plus blue and original Magna stocks. It also had a Jinks letter with it. Imagine my surprise when I read the date and location. The others in this serial range that I have found so far all shipped to Sloan's in April, 1948. According to the Jinks letter that accompanied this one, it went to Western Sporting Goods in Los Angeles, California, on July 1, 1947! That is more than 9 months earlier than the .32 M&P revolvers that went to New York.

With S&W, you just never know what you will find!

The guy was willing to sell, but his price was $1200. Worth it, but out of my range at this time. However, I know where it lives, so maybe some time in the future, I can add it to my collection.

 

[DWalt]

That would not have been a bad price. Close SN to mine.

 

[Green Frog]

I would have sold my unborn first born male child to get it at that price. Great catch! Those things make a K-32 look positively commonplace. Congratulations.

Froggie

 

[raljr1]

I would be a buyer that price. For some reason I want one of those.

Robert

 

[SWSC]

S9911xx 5" located in Pakistan
S9911xx 5"Apr 21 1948 Sloan's NY
The S sn seems rare to find. I have only seen 5. C sn are about triple that. Super price offered to you. Hope you get it for your collection.

 

[JP@AK]

The plot thickens.

I just spoke to the owner on the phone - and made arrangements to buy the gun.

Get this. There is an exchange of several letters between the owner's father (now deceased) and Roy. The first letter gives July 1, 1947, as the ship date and the destination as Western Sporting Goods in California. It also shows the gun as a .38 Special. That letter from Roy is dated clear back in 1989.

However, the owner shipped the gun to Roy along with further inquiries. Roy looked at the gun, did more research, and then said, no, the gun shipped to Sloan's in April, 1948. That fits with the 909 other .32 M&P revolvers that went to Sloan's at the same time. But Roy also said that while the gun clearly is an original .32 Long, the shipping records show it as a .38. This, despite the fact that the other 909 are listed as .32s. That simply has to be a scribal error on the part of the shipping clerk. It happens.

In any case, the guy will give me all the letters along with the gun when I complete the purchase.

I looked back at my database and revolvers numbering in the S891xxx range were shipping in July, 1947. I suspect that Roy inadvertently looked at that range when he wrote the first letter. That would explain the odd 9 month difference. He corrected it in the further correspondence and in the subsequent letter of authenticity.

I look forward to having this revolver in my collection. I will purchase a new letter at that time.

Ain't we got fun???

 

[crsides]

Very nice Jack. Congrats

 

[Targets Guy]

I love happy endings.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Don't know whether you believe in the Holy Grail, Jack. If that ain't it, it's so danged close I could stop looking.

Congrats.

Bob