38 M&P

[Nimrod44]

Ran across one of these yesterday. I'm not well versed on these models but it seemed to be a bit of an odd configuration. Ser. # S 814XXX, frame has the single line address, 5" barrel has the multiple lines with pat. dates on the left side, right side is stamped with the usual 38 S & W Special. Butt has the hole for the lanyard filled, grips look period correct but don't know if the numbers match. Very good condition with faint turn line and some blueing loss on both sides of muzzle. Shop is asking $495.00, what are your thoughts?
Thanks,
Doug

 

[David LaPell]

To me that's a bit high. I would say $300-$350 tops.

 

[smith17]

That gun with that serial number is around spring of '46 and could very well have been shipped with pre-war magnas. If they are in really nice shape, that is a reasonable price, in my opinion.
Ed

 

[Nimrod44]

I may need to go have another look at this one, thanks for the info guys.

 

[Bell Charter Oak Holsters]

Way too high. Make them an offer or keep on walking. $325-$350 would be my best offer on that M&P as you have described it.

Cheers;
Lefty

 

[handejector]

5" barrel has the multiple lines with pat. dates on the left side,

Look again.
The patent dates on the side of a 5" barrel would be really strange. I have never seen that.

If truly high condition with matching grips, $495 is not out of line, especially if the grips are pre-war style with SHARP corners on the border for the checkering.

 

[pace40]

If the patent dates are on the side of the barrel and you're not going to buy it, let me know where it is please.

 

[mikepriwer]

Having the patent dates on the left side of the barrel would be
unusual, like I've never seen/heard that before. Its a very very early
post-WW2 S- series gun - seems like S811XXX is somewhere around
the first non-Victory production. Presumably, but not absolutely,
the barrels on these early S guns would have been originally intended
for Victory models, so they should look like any other Victory barrel.

I would not have expected that, between the end of the Victory
production and the start of the S series, they had new patent date
roll marking dies made up. More likely, a barrel got into the roll
marking machine sideways, and no one noticed or cared.

Mike Priwer