A Virtual Mexican (or Model of 1946) Target Revolver
- Thread starter DCWilson
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DWalt
Member
It's great to see such detailed pictures of the real thing. I have been hoping to run across an unrecognized MM for many years, but never did. I can't make even a guess as to the price that one in original and complete strong condition might bring at a well-attended auction today. At least in the mid-4 figures, but on a good day considerably more would not surprise me.
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OP
Tadeus, that is exactly what I hoped it would be. I agree that it has been refinished at some point, but not badly. The hammer and trigger are a little rough, and if the gun were mine, I would disassemble it completely and gently clean up the unblued parts of the action.
It would be interesting to know if the inside of the right grip panel has a stamped number that matches the serial number on the butt and the other parts of the revolver where the serial number can be found (underside of barrel, rear face of cylinder, underside of extractor star, and hidden face of the yoke that is parallel to the face of the cylinder). The serial number should also be found on the underside of the rear sight assembly, but I wouldn't ask anyone to take the sight off this revolver unless they had done it before and knew which screws to turn and which to leave untouched.
If that revolver could be brought to auction in the United States, I would expect that the winning bid would lie between $8000 and $12000 US, or possibly somewhat higher. Two different specimens that have sold recently are unfired and in their original box; one sold for about $25000, and the other for a little more. I have no idea what the expected price for your revolver would be in Mexico, where there are probably other specimens that may change hands from time to time. Demand and availability would drive the price there. The one in my safe (S814910) was originally offered at $15000 about 10 years ago, an amount I could not bring myself to spend. Six months later the owner and I agreed on a reduced (but still significant) price.
You may have seen this thread already, but I will post the link in case you have not:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...6-mexican-now-pics.html?351188=#post137619712
There are other threads about this model in the forum archives, but this is the one in which most of the existing information has been pulled together. Until you mentioned your specimen, I knew of only four actual Model of 1946 Target revolvers. Yours is the fifth.
The man who initially persuaded Smith & Wesson to produce this model for export, Antonio del Conde-Pontones, was still alive and living in Mexico City just a few years ago. If still among us, he would be 96 or 97 by now.
It would be interesting to know if the inside of the right grip panel has a stamped number that matches the serial number on the butt and the other parts of the revolver where the serial number can be found (underside of barrel, rear face of cylinder, underside of extractor star, and hidden face of the yoke that is parallel to the face of the cylinder). The serial number should also be found on the underside of the rear sight assembly, but I wouldn't ask anyone to take the sight off this revolver unless they had done it before and knew which screws to turn and which to leave untouched.
If that revolver could be brought to auction in the United States, I would expect that the winning bid would lie between $8000 and $12000 US, or possibly somewhat higher. Two different specimens that have sold recently are unfired and in their original box; one sold for about $25000, and the other for a little more. I have no idea what the expected price for your revolver would be in Mexico, where there are probably other specimens that may change hands from time to time. Demand and availability would drive the price there. The one in my safe (S814910) was originally offered at $15000 about 10 years ago, an amount I could not bring myself to spend. Six months later the owner and I agreed on a reduced (but still significant) price.
You may have seen this thread already, but I will post the link in case you have not:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...6-mexican-now-pics.html?351188=#post137619712
There are other threads about this model in the forum archives, but this is the one in which most of the existing information has been pulled together. Until you mentioned your specimen, I knew of only four actual Model of 1946 Target revolvers. Yours is the fifth.
The man who initially persuaded Smith & Wesson to produce this model for export, Antonio del Conde-Pontones, was still alive and living in Mexico City just a few years ago. If still among us, he would be 96 or 97 by now.
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I was able to see two of these in the same display at the first symposium I attended, 2015 in Columbus Ohio. I knew what they were but was a bit shocked to see one much less two right before my eyes. In that moment I knew I was in the right place !
Getting back to the undercut front sight blades, here is a matched pair of target K-frames, made for Fred Miller who was the head of the service department. One gun is a K-22, and the other is a K-38. The stocks are Ropers with some extra carving.The gun are identical, except for the caliber.
Here is a better picture of the Roper stocks.
This pair was owned by Rex Applegate. The yellowish plate was used by Applegate when he displayed the guns.
Regards, Mike Priwer
Here is a better picture of the Roper stocks.
This pair was owned by Rex Applegate. The yellowish plate was used by Applegate when he displayed the guns.
Regards, Mike Priwer
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Robby
It's a Marvin Huey case.
Regards, Mike
It's a Marvin Huey case.
Regards, Mike
Thanks Mike,
Just thought it was some of your handy work...
Love the pair, very cool!!
The Rock Island Auction Company sold a genuine example of this model back in 2017, and included images of the original box and factory letter in the listing. It didn't go cheap.
See: Mexican S&W 38 M&P Target Revolver with Factory Letter | Rock Island Auction
Getting back to the undercut front sight blades, here is a matched pair of target K-frames, made for Fred Miller who was the head of the service department. One gun is a K-22, and the other is a K-38. The stocks are Ropers with some extra carving.The gun are identical, except for the caliber.
Here is a better picture of the Roper stocks.
This pair was owned by Rex Applegate. The yellowish plate was used by Applegate when he displayed the guns.
Regards, Mike Priwer
Talk about history to own such classics so well preserved AND have provenance they once belonged to Rex Applegate, impressive
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