.38 M & P Model of 1905, 4TH Change Target

[Dino44]

I saw and inspected this package today. The gun is really nice. I would rate the blue finish to be 96% and all original. Slight muzzle ware, turn line, and ejector rod ware. There is no scratches or corrosion. The barrel and cylinders are still shiny. The front sight is marked "Marble" on the left side "Sheard" with the number 35D on the right side. The rear sight has 2 mount screws. One forward and one aft near the sight blade. I recall the notch is square. All numbers match, including the stocks. Although when I consulted the 4th edition it stated stocks should have gold medallions verse's the round tops that are present. Checkering is still sharp on both. No noticed damage. I'm thinking it's overpriced by at least 1K. What do you folks think? It is also not in my budget at this time, so if someone else is interested, I'd be happy to share its location offline. Here are a few pictures of the package. Side note; in conversation with two of the people behind the counter. It was stated that the gun has been in the store for over 7 years, and I should make an offer.

 

[paplinker]

MP Targets are fun to shoot and own.
That said unless that gun was shipped somewhere important...
at $3250.00 That gun will be in the shop until it closes

The most interesting part is seeing a letter from F.J Longtin.
I would be curious if Roy Jinks knew him.

Also at that serial number I would expect that gun to have a single screw in front of the rear blade?
I wonder if the first number was a 6 instead of a 5 and was misread?

 

[Rodan]

IMHO it's a lot more than $1000 over priced!

I would happily take half of that price for my 1920 4th Change Target, and dance a jig all the way to the bank!

 

[DWalt]

The grips on it are correct for the 1920s. S&W would have cataloged and advertised it as a .38 Military and Police, Target Model, despite what the letter says. It appears correct (not sure when the number of rear sight screws changed), but in my opinion, that price is extremely optimistic.

 

[Dino44]

Also at that serial number I would expect that gun to have a single screw in front of the rear blade?
I wonder if the first number was a 6 instead of a 5 and was misread?

The serial number is correct as seen. There is only one screw in front of the sight blade and one forward on the sight base towards the barrel. Both screws are small.

 

[DWalt]

The serial number is correct as seen. There is only one screw in front of the sight blade and one forward on the sight base towards the barrel. Both screws are small.

I have an M&P Target from 1915 that also has those same two tiny screws. I think the use of three sight screws may have begun sometime in the 1930s. The sight adjustment screw on mine is frozen tight. Which is OK, as it is properly set.

 

[glowe]

I have an M&P Target from 1915 that also has those same two tiny screws. I think the use of three sight screws may have begun sometime in the 1930s. The sight adjustment screw on mine is frozen tight. Which is OK, as it is properly set.

November 10, 1931 order to make all model rear target sights with elevating check screws per H Wesson.

I have one that would come closer to that price, but it is in 32 WCF. By the 1920s, target 32 Winchesters were tough to come by since the factory quit the manufacture of this caliber by then and worked off their inventories and parts assemblies until 1940. Nice examples are hard to come by in this era. #110915 shipped in 1924.

 

[hkcavalier]

The Marble front sight might be factory. I have a K-22 (1931) that lettered with a factory Marble front sight.

Unless that M&P Target has significant provable provenance (like owned by someone in the Wesson family perhaps), it's overpriced by well over $1k if not closer to $2k. The fact that the shop noted it as a K-38 means they don't know what they're doing.

 

[bruce5781]

I would say it is more than overpriced. I recently picked up a engraved nickle target Model 1899 for about a thousand less.

Regards,
Bruce