An M&P ? Update s/n Included

[cherrypointmarine]

A friend knows I'm a hard core S&W guy , although mostly semi autos . A neighbour's husband died and has quite a few guns to sell . This is the only S&W I need help with . I know it's hold , mostly from the grips , cylinder release and the half moon front sight . It doesn't look like it's been refinished , but who knows ? If y'all can help me out with what it is and what it's worth , I'd be very thankful .

 

[murphydog]

It's a 4", round butt .38 M & P from sometime between 1927 and the start of WW II. A serial number would help for a more precise age estimate.

It has definitely been refinished; the nickel plated hammer and trigger are generally a dead giveaway for this. If mechanically sound, perhaps a $300 - 350 gun.

 

[JP@AK]

Alan is correct on the timeframe, although it could be as late as 1946-47. We really do need the serial number from the butt. Be sure to include any letter that might be at the beginning of the serial number.

In any case, it is relatively unusual to find a round butt example with the 4" barrel during that period. Not unheard of, but much less common.

 

[cherrypointmarine]

The s/n is : 94022 . Thanks for the info guys !

 

[DWalt]

SN is far too low. Where did it come from? Does it have a letter prefix? Should be from no earlier than the late 1930s.

 

[murphydog]

I think that number is too low. Is that the full number from the flat bottom of the grip frame? Any letter in front of the number? It should be no lower than 500000 but may be as high as the 900000s, but the higher number would have an S in front.

 

[Muley Gil]

The s/n is : 94022 . Thanks for the info guys !

The serial number should be found easily on the butt, under the barrel and on the rear of the cylinder. All should match. If the barrel SN has a "B" prefix, the revolver shipped with a blue finish.

 

[cherrypointmarine]

You guys are the one's to go to , but I'm all mixed up . You say the s/n should start at 500,000 - 900,000 , but I'm not seeing it here . I added pics of the underside of the barrel and the rear of the cylinder , all 94022 . Can anyone tell me what this is ?

 

[handejector]

The s/n is : 94022 . Thanks for the info guys !

It is an early gun that has had the barrel and ejector rod replaced.

 

[mikepriwer]

I was thinking the same thing as Lee - the barrel has been replaced. Your gun's barrel has the caliber on the right side, and the company name on the left side, but by the serial number, it should be the opposite way.

The gun has a round butt, so it's a model of 1902, and was probably made about 1907. In the Neal & Jinks methodology, it would be called a 1905 1st change.

Regards, Mike Priwer

 

[cherrypointmarine]

Thanks Lee & Mike . But if they've been replaced , why is the s/n on the frame the same ? Would they have changed the numbers on the parts when they changed them out ? This stuff has me ready to tear my hair out . Give me a S&W semi auto or a PC gun any day .

 

[quinn]

If the factory changed the barrel, they most likely would have pu the gun's serial on the replaced barrel.

 

[handejector]

Show us pics of the number on the barrel and a pic of the LEFT grip frame without the grip on it.

 

[glowe]

The barrel has SMITH & WESSON stamp on the left side indicating indicating barrel was manufactured after 1916. The hammer stud on the left side is almost totally flat indicating very heavy buffing and the inside of the yoke is plated over deep pitting.