A pre war M&P square butt snubnose just sold on gunbroker

[Göring's S&W]

I missed this auction by 6 min! I would have threw a couple bids in at the end as I think it went fairly cheap. It basically fetched a double premium over a standard barrel length M&P, but from I have read there are much less than 100 of these square butt pre war M&P snubs that the factory made. This gun is the reason for the famous SCSW 3rd ed error of "1905 4th change square butt M&Ps are rare and worth premium" when we know that is the most common grip frame type, esp in the later years of production. This mistake refers to snub M&Ps (IMO as well as others), which commonly were ordered with round butts, making the square butt M&P snub one of the rarest pre war M&Ps. My current revised copy SCSW 3rd states to give double to triple premium for pre war square butt snubnose. Of course, those are just estimates and the prices are becoming quite dated.

Recently a phony pre war snub that was ground down to round butt configuration was on gunbroker. I found out the barrel lacked a serial number and I then ceased my interest. The gun of this auction had all matching parts per the seller but I forgot to ask about factory refurbish stampings on the grip frame.

The gun sold today, for $856.27 plus $25 S&H. It did not have a letter and we don't know if it has a grip frame stamping but it does lack the star. I will post the link and the pics, since after the link expires, these threads often become nearly useless. I think it sold very reasonable and I am very sorry I missed it! If a forum member got this, congrats to you!

Smith and Wesson Mod 1905 4th. Change - 2" Barrel : Curios & Relics at GunBroker.com

 

[lowhog]

The one I sold was a near mint example. I think the price was in line for the square butt in its condition.

 

[jsfricks]

I was watching this auction just out of curiosity. I still have a lot to learn because I wasn't aware these were pretty rare. I have the round butt version like Mike is showing in his pics, just not quite as nice!

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

That was a STEAL,I would have bid close to double that had I seen it.Of course I would have asked about the grip frame stampings first......Dang It!!!

 

[JSW]

I think that it was a fair price for the condition. But given the prices old S&Ws have been going for lately I could be wrong.

 

[Modified]

I was looking at this one, but the text being sort of further up toward the muzzle bothered me. Is that right with these square butts?

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

I was looking at this one, but the text being sort of further up toward the muzzle bothered me. Is that right with these square butts?

Nothing to worry about,My RB Pre War M&P 2" looks exactly the same.

 

[Modified]

Nothing to worry about,My RB Pre War M&P 2" looks exactly the same.

Thanks, that's great to know. The pictures I could find of them through google seemed to have the text a bit more centered.

In any case I didn't have the money to buy it, and I hope someone here managed to snag this one. I had a pretty good idea it was going for a dang good price, but I'm not terribly worried about that.

The truth is that if I ever manage to find my pre-war 2" K frame I would want it with the round butt. That just seems more right if you know what I mean.

 

[JSR III]

I have a square butt 2" M&P but it is post war having shipped in August of 1949.

 

[Göring's S&W]

I was looking at this one, but the text being sort of further up toward the muzzle bothered me. Is that right with these square butts?

The thing to remember is that if the barrel was made from a cut down longer length barrel, it would not have that marking at all since the markings would be left on the cut off piece. In other words, that marking, its position, orientation, location is unique to 2in barrels. All you have to do is make sure the barrel matches and then of course check for factory rebuild stampings and you are good to go.

 

[gaucho1]

I have a square butt 2" M&P but it is post war having shipped in August of 1949.

Although the pre war models are very cool.....so are the early post war snubbys.

No reason to feel bad..........where's your pictures?

 

[QuickDrawMcGraw]

Although the pre war models are very cool.....so are the early post war snubbys.

No reason to feel bad..........where's your pictures?

Here's a shot of my little old pre-war roundie*
... Pawn Shop'' .. $200.oo bucks out the door!!

~ Please help me identify ~

~ Don

 

[pace40]

Great gun, great price. If the buyer would like to double his investment, PM me.

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

Great gun, great price. If the buyer would like to double his investment, PM me.

EXACTLY my thoughts!

 

[Göring's S&W]

Yep, I knew it....the gun as a 4in in its condition was worth $400+. So IMO, a 100% premium for a gun that is over 100X more rare than a standard model is not enough.

 

[ladder13]

Great gun, great price. If the buyer would like to double his investment, PM me.

^^^^^ Mike knows his stuff.

 

[Memphis]

I hate that I missed this gun. Actually I did have a bid on it for $851.27 (and it sold for $5 more). But I was heading out the door on our way to Gatlinburg TN and would not have been back in town to get the dough off in time. I really liked it due to it being a square butt pre war snub. I have a round butt Nickle pre war 2 incher and I'm pretty sure that gorgeous 2 inch Nickle square butt gun on the inside front cover of our latest SWCA Journal (David Carroll's add) was one that I sold him. You know those threads titled "guns you regretted selling"? Well, that would be one for me.
I think somebody got a GREAT buy on this latest GB auction. I was wondering where Pace was in all this.
They are still out there apparently. I found my latest one here in Memphis in a pawn shop. ($439 I believe).

Roger