.38 m&p target 1905 4th change? help!

[NoScrew]

Hey everyone, I'm brand new to this forum and just wanted to say I am very impressed at the organization and quality of information on here. Now lets get to it, if any information im requesting is found on another thread feel free to yell at me lol.

So heres the story, I just started my collection and received a nice M&P from my family, too bad no one knew anything about it. Heres what i think it is, and im no where near positive about any of this so any info will be greatly appreciated.

I think it is A late 1920's .38 M&P Target 1905 4th change 6" barrel. all the SN's match except the grips. I took the grips off and it is a 5 screw. SN Is B599XXX
It has Magna diamond? square butt grips sn 455xxx
it also has a Flaig Ace trigger shoe #1 and it looks like a king front sight with the gold bead on it. The numbers on the yoke or choke is 425

Im just trying to learn more about this stuff any extra info will be great! Thanks again!

 

[LEO918]

Welcome to the forum from Arizona. Looks like a nice gun. I don't think there should be a "B" in the serial number (on the butt), nice set of post war magna grips.

 

[NoScrew]

thank you very much, yeah the "B" is only on the barrel but the rest of the numbers match everywhere else

 

[JP@AK]

Welcome to the forum and the S&W collecting fraternity.
Your .38 Military & Police revolver target model dates from the late 1920s or (maybe) early 1930s . The Magna stocks are from after the war.
The B in front of the serial number on the barrel flat just indicates the gun left the factory with a blue finish.
Nice gun!
Jack

 

[NoScrew]

Thanks for the welcome again guys, does anyone know what the 425 on the yoke means?

 

[H Richard]

On that vintage a gun the # on the yoke is an assembly # and means nothing after the gun leaves the factory.

 

[dinghysailer]

The numbers on the yoke are assembly numbers, used to match the yoke with the frame after fitting and blueing. They are essentially meaningless once the weapon has left the factory. After 1957, when model numbers were introduced, that's where the model number was stamped, as in 'MOD 10'.

Allan

 

[DWalt]

I'd agree the SN would likely indicate manufacture in the late 1920s, but a shipping date could be somewhat later than that. Only way to tell is a factory letter. And I also agree that the stocks are not original, likely from a C-series M&P, ca. 1960.

 

[NoScrew]

thanks i was wondering where the stocks came from, apparently its been in the family since new, im trying to figure out when what got put on it. Any info on the sights?

 

[opoefc]

The sights look like typical S&W factory target sights. If they are original to the gun, then the serial number will be stamped under the rear sight base. Ed.