Age Estimate on Early 2" M&P
- Thread starter Elroy
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Should be 1950…
Nice! The early RB 2" M&Ps have gotten hard to find. That's a good one.
I show 2" examples in that serial range shipping anywhere from May, 1949 to April, 1950. So a 1949 date is entirely possible.
The 2" units were not nearly as common or popular as the 4" or even the 5" at that time, so the ship dates are pretty spread out.
As a reference point, M&Ps were shipping in 1948 all the way up to serial numbers in the C41000 range.
The 2" units were not nearly as common or popular as the 4" or even the 5" at that time, so the ship dates are pretty spread out.
As a reference point, M&Ps were shipping in 1948 all the way up to serial numbers in the C41000 range.
Thank you. Much appreciated
May I also please solicit your comments on the rarity and value impact of the nickel finish.
Oh boy that's a dandy kinda strange to me anyway to see that style grips on a C prefix gun, but i imagine they were older stock used up. I see you are a resident of the Bluegrass state i frequent the Bowling Green area, as well as Cave City quite a bit.
My M&P snub serialed C53xxx shipped 13 July 1949, the day before I was born.
That's a pert nice snub, Elroy! I wouldn't mind owning it.
That's a pert nice snub, Elroy! I wouldn't mind owning it.
Yes, the OP's gun has service stocks with the prewar style of checkering. You don't see these in nickel very often either.
My 2" RB M&P has service stocks with the postwar checkering pattern, but it's a later gun (C170,5XX).
In the first six or seven years after the war, the number of round butt M&Ps produced was pretty low and only 2" units had that grip configuration. In fact, a significant percentage of the round butt 2" units sold during the S prefix period (1946-1948) were actually prewar frames. This has been documented on several occasions.
It would seem that S&W had a supply of prewar round butt stocks, both walnut and hard rubber, stashed away. Most of the round butt M&P examples sold in the immediate postwar period were shipped with prewar hard rubber stocks. In the early '50s we see more of them with prewar walnut stocks until the postwar style started showing up, as s&wchad has illustrated.
Hence, there isn't anything unusual about the OP's revolver, except for the nickel finish. Factory nickel examples are scarce, at best, in this period.
Elroy
To answer your question, I do believe the nickel finish deserves a premium. It is hard to say how much it would be but, personally, I'd probably shell out maybe $100 extra for it if I were bidding on one. That is a very nice example of a scarce item.
DWalt
Member
The most desirable of the more common M&P snubbies are the postwar S-series models, and most of them had square grip frames. The pre-war and wartime Victory versions are extremely desirable can bring very fancy prices.
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In support of this statement, I supply the following information drawn from the approximately 15,000 units in my early postwar M&P database:
Various barrel lengths and grip configuration from most common to least common:
4" square butt
5" square butt
2" square butt
6" square butt
2" round butt
My 2inch M&P nickel round butt nickel finish shipped April 1950.
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Interesting thread. I recently picked up a decent 2 inch RB snub with very close serial number C 60xxx. Sorry no photos at the moment. Mine has the old prewar style service stocks.
It's an interesting time period where the factory was using up old style service stocks and transitioning to the newer magna stocks.
Nice snub you got there OP!
It's an interesting time period where the factory was using up old style service stocks and transitioning to the newer magna stocks.
Nice snub you got there OP!
Elroy got tired of waiting on polish recommendations so he plugged in the bench grinder and got after it. For nearly 73 years old, it's acceptable in Elroy's book.
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Thank you kindly. Elroy would encourage you to post some pictures of your example.
I haven't had the chance to shoot it yet. I have a feeling though the grips are neat prewar style, they're not going to feel very comfortable when firing. We'll see.
My real love when it comes to K frame snubs are the 3 inchers. They're easier to shoot and conceal about as well as the 2 inchers when worn on the outside with a shirt draped over.
My real love when it comes to K frame snubs are the 3 inchers. They're easier to shoot and conceal about as well as the 2 inchers when worn on the outside with a shirt draped over.
In my humble opinion ,these are Bar-B-Que guns (almost) not carry guns. To be a true BBQ gun they need to be scratched up with some road rash. I'm sure they'll work for you exactly like they did 70 years ago. Be safe and carry might appropriate.
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Jack, I never would have imagined that a 6" square butt would be the second least common one.
Larry
I know of a half moon S prefix two inch square butt MP in nickle thats been at a gun show for over a year now. Its like new.
They want $1100 is that out of line? Not seen another for comparison.
They want $1100 is that out of line? Not seen another for comparison.
For that much, I'd expect the box and HH. But with the crazy prices these days, it might not be far out of line. The nickel does give it a leg up.
Any chance you can get the full serial number? I could then check it against my database and see which group it is in.
Incidentally, all the S prefix M&Ps had the round front sight except for the rare target models and none of those had the 2" barrel.
I've been searching for a decent six inch for some time. It's one of the last holes in my Model Ten collection. They are not common at all.
I don't know about the Model 10, but in the postwar period, the 6" M&P never seems to have achieved the level of interest (popularity) it seemed to enjoy in earlier years.
In the S prefix period (1946-1948) it was the least common barrel length. In the C prefix period (1948-1957) there were more built but still significantly fewer than the 4". I have fewer data points during that period, but the 6" does seem to be much scarcer than either the 4" or the 5". I suspect LEO preferences had a lot to do with it. Another factor, I think, is the postwar separation of the fixed sights from the target sights in model lines.
The early postwar (C serial numbered guns) were some of the coolest M&P's made....
SmithNut, as your younger and less formal counterpart, I agree 100%
SmithNut, as your younger and less formal counterpart, I agree 100%
Why do you think I'm older.... ??
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