An interesting post war .38 m&p

[daddio202]

I finally got my latest find home. It is one of the very last of the S serial series. The serial on it is
S 999949. So it would be exactly 50 away from the very last. I thought about all the guys that buy guns because of their significant serial numbers and the meanings behind them. No doubt it must have shipped in 1948. The best thing about it is that it looks completely unused. The original box was with it and all numbers match on gun, the only blemishes look from storage. It was very clean so I grabbed a couple pics to show here. I thought $450 off Gunbroker was a reasonable price for it.

 

[Engine49guy]

Interesting that it has a short action High Speed hammer with S serial.

 

[Absalom]

Interesting that it has a short action High Speed hammer with S serial.

The short action actually started in the high S-prefix range, just above S 990,000. Jack (JP@AK) has the more precise numbers, but I don't think an exact "first" serial with the new hammer is known.

Daddio:
That is an excellent price for that condition, serial, plus box. Great find!

 

[Marshal Tom]

I'll take it! Tell me where to send the check.

 

[Art Doc]

Yes, "new model" with old serial range. Looks good.

 

[chiefdave]

S997575 shipped 5/48, my birth month/year. 4" nickel. There was also a few C prefix shipped in 1948 with the one line address.

 

[kennethg]

The revolver is in great condition and the box is in darn good condition for its age. You got a very good deal on it.
Well done!

 

[LostintheOzone]

I'll take it! Tell me where to send the check.

He had to work to get that off of GB for that price.

There are some seriously whacko bidders on that site.

He deserves a commendation medal or something.

 

[shouldazagged]

That's a fine deal on a splendid revolver. Congratulations are in order.

 

[Tubbsy]

S997575 shipped 5/48, my birth month/year. 4" nickel. There was also a few C prefix shipped in 1948 with the one line address.

I've got one of those c guns, 4 digit serial starting with a 6, gun also has import marks along with a much newer barrel.

Nice gun by the way.

 

[DuckBeav]

Man congrats, that sure is a beauty!

 

[Model1567]

Holy Smokes!
That's one of the nicest looking M&P's I think I've ever seen.
….and that price....WOW!
Congrats Daddio. Job well done! -b

 

[daddio202]

I think I really got lucky being the only bidder on this gun. I usually don't even try to bid on guns that have multiple bids already. I can not count the times I have been the only bidder going into last day of auction when the mob comes and bids it up to 2 times what the value is. Thank you all for the kind remarks. I guess it pays to keep trying until you find one that nobody has either found or has no interest in.

 

[Jtown]

Good gun, great price. Enjoy.
Walt

 

[Igiveup]

Great find!

 

[model3sw]

Nice catch at a great price. Love that serial number !

Sal Raimondi

 

[Waveski]

I've been saying all along that there re still good deals to be had on Gunbroker , although harder to find and more diligence required as time passes. The OP revolver confirms that.

HOWEVER , for a like new with box M&P to slip under the radar - that is surprising. Very surprising.

Way to go Daddio.

 

[model3sw]

I finally got my latest find home. It is one of the very last of the S serial series. The serial on it is
S 999949. So it would be exactly 50 away from the very last. I thought about all the guys that buy guns because of their significant serial numbers and the meanings behind them. No doubt it must have shipped in 1948. The best thing about it is that it looks completely unused. The original box was with it and all numbers match on gun, the only blemishes look from storage. It was very clean so I grabbed a couple pics to show here. I thought $450 off Gunbroker was a reasonable price for it.

Daddio,

I have several of these S prefix M&Ps, all in upper condition grades. 2 are ANIB, another 2 are 2", and then variety of others.

I need a real nice SV prefix and one of the last few (like your S999xxx) and I'll be content. (I'd like S999999 but I'd be thrilled to find one as close as you did.

I have no interest in C prefix M&Ps, well, except for some like the airweigth and aircrewman with alloy cylinders and certain few others.

Send details to Jack (JP@AK) . He keeps track of all these S prefix guns as well as others. He will be as happy for you as the rest of us are.

Very nice. Sal Raimondi

 

[JP@AK]

Excellent buy, daddio202.

Ship dates on the late S prefix guns are rather inconsistent. The earliest it would have shipped is probably June, 1948. It could easily have been later. S999999 shipped in June, 1948, in a 100 unit order. Half of those had 6" barrels and the other 50 wore 5" barrels. Your 4" example would not have been in that shipment, obviously.

As for the "high speed" hammer, records show S990184 as the first production example. That gun shipped to Brazil on April 7, 1948.

It appears that a prototype was made up, probably in the tool room, in late October, 1947. This would correspond to the period when target K frames were using the new hammer, so it makes sense that experimentation began on using it in the M&P at that time. Serial number was S924878 and I have uncovered no evidence this gun ever left the factory.

The lowest number in my database with a confirmed high speed hammer is S990806. That gun shipped to a domestic location in March, 1948.

 

[Model1567]

I think I really got lucky being the only bidder on this gun. I usually don't even try to bid on guns that have multiple bids already. I can not count the times I have been the only bidder going into last day of auction when the mob comes and bids it up to 2 times what the value is. Thank you all for the kind remarks. I guess it pays to keep trying until you find one that nobody has either found or has no interest in.

That bidding dilemma is known as "Sniping". You can thank Ebay for helping to create that tactic.
Happens to the best of us.
Congrats again on a great buy. -b