A Short M&P 32 Long CTG (Update with Letter)

[s3dcor]

Got a new one today, Unless I am making a mistake I believe it is a 5-screw K frame M&P and marked 32 Long. All numbers match including the grips. It has a low 5 digit beginning with a C 48,XXX serial number and has a 2" bbl, 6 shot, black washer checkered diamond grips. It will rate at VG or maybe higher when it gets cleaned up. The SCSW, page 148-149 says 4813 made from 1948-1950. I am excited by this "different" purchase.

Let me know if I am right on this ID.

 

[JP@AK]

A very nice find. From the photos, I have to agree with your grading: at least VG. And the stocks appear to be original. You should check them for a serial number.

These were made in batches in the late 1940s and early 1950s. C48000 is the lowest C prefix serial that I've seen. Others were in the C54000 and C68000 ranges.

Would you please send me the full serial number for my database? If you don't want to post it here, you can send me a PM. I don't track ownership.

 

[Casual Smith Nut]

Wow! You struck gold on that one! Someone else will come along who knows more but I want to say 5" is the most common, then 4", then 2". I could be off. Either way not many 32 long m&p revolvers out there simply.

 

[Green Frog]

Be still my heart! That makes everyone's grail guns look like Dixie Cups. You don't give your location, but I'd love to know, where did that gem surface? Was is priced like a 2" M&P, or did the seller know what a rarity he had? Congrats on a great find!
Froggie

 

[s3dcor]

Got it a Cabelas in Kalispell Mont. They seldom have anything of interest but lucked out today. $540 OTD.

I thought it was a mismarked model 10 until I checked the SCSW. That made my day.

 

[Retired W4]

Wow! Now, that would go really well with my 5" K-32 (C 54 range). I hope you understand that you stole that gun.

 

[Casual Smith Nut]

Got it a Cabelas in Kalispell Mont. They seldom have anything of interest but lucked out today. $540 OTD.

I thought it was a mismarked model 10 until I checked the SCSW. That made my day.

Even if it WAS a 38 spl snub, $540 OTD in that condition was pretty good. In 32 S&W Long you got it probably at 25% value.
Score of a lifetime there! Hope you shoot it and enjoy it.

 

[murphydog]

That is the first 2" .32 M & P I have ever seen, or probably ever will. A letter definitely seems in order. Congratulations on the find!

 

[JP@AK]

That is the first 2" .32 M & P I have ever seen, or probably ever will.

A quantity of 2" .32 M & P units was made for the police in Shanghai, China. Those were earlier guns in serial range S998000. This is the first I have recorded in the C prefix range.

 

[Retired W4]

I would think those Shanghai guns would have import marks when returned to the US. This one is reported to have no marks. With this one having an earlier SN I suppose it never left the country. I'm waiting for the letter for my 5" 32 M&P. My guess is both guns went to some hardware store in BFE. Time will tell.

 

[raljr1]

Color me envious. Yeah, you paid about 25% of the value... don't you love it when a shop doesn't know what they have? Worse for the poor person who got $300 on it in trade for a $500 polymer piece

 

[JP@AK]

I would think those Shanghai guns would have import marks when returned to the US. This one is reported to have no marks.

If they ever made it back to this country, yes, I would expect them to bear an import stamp. However, none of them have ever surfaced to my knowledge. There were some overruns that were sold to distributors in the U.S. Those do show up from time to time.

With this one having an earlier SN I suppose it never left the country.

The OP's revolver has a later serial number. It has a C prefix number. The Shanghai units were in the older S prefix series. I believe they shipped in 1948, but I have not yet confirmed that.

 

[Retired W4]

If they ever made it back to this country, yes, I would expect them to bear an import stamp. However, none of them have ever surfaced to my knowledge. There were some overruns that were sold to distributors in the U.S. Those do show up from time to time.


The OP's revolver has a later serial number. It has a C prefix number. The Shanghai units were in the older S prefix series. I believe they shipped in 1948, but I have not yet confirmed that.

Got it. I think the estimate of 25% of value is way low.

 

[s3dcor]

Thanks for all the interest and information on this revolver. I will send for a letter as soon as I make the last installment on the dozen eggs I got last week.

 

[murphydog]

Thanks for all the interest and information on this revolver. I will send for a letter as soon as I make the last installment on the dozen eggs I got last week.

Understood…probably more than a letter…

 

[MajorD]

The pics get too blurry when I blow them up- is it marked 32 on the barrel? I know the 32 M&P's are pretty rare, as few were made, and almost all were for foreign contracts.
A few more clearer pics would be appreciated!

My opinion is it would be hard to assign a value ( I imagine you won't see more than a few in old auction results from places like rock island) but is no doubt worth much more than you paid for it

 

[s3dcor]

Best photo I can get of the caliber.

The pics get too blurry when I blow them up- is it marked 32 on the barrel? I know the 32 M&P's are pretty rare, as few were made, and almost all were for foreign contracts.
A few more clearer pics would be appreciated!

My opinion is it would be hard to assign a value ( I imagine you won't see more than a few in old auction results from places like rock island) but is no doubt worth much more than you paid for it

 

[murphydog]

That would have been the same period rollmark for a 2" .32 Hand Ejector.

 

[moosedog]

Absolutely a fantastic find. I suspect that you will be getting several PMs in the near future.
This is the kind of find that excites us collectors to keep seeking. Imagine, that gun was probably purchased by Cabelas for $200-300. Thier purchaser sure missed the boat on that one.

 

[Retired W4]

He already did.