Another old Pre-War M&P question....

[K5TN]

I have an old blued 1905-4th Model (I think) Pre-War M&P .38 S&W Special, Round Butt, 4" Barrel, Serial Number 565232, and with the book and websites, as close as I can get on the date of manufacture is approximately 1937 to 1938. It only has "MADE IN U.S.A." on the right side frame in front of the "4th" screw. Anybody got any insight as to a closer date??

Thanks,
Wade

 

[murphydog]

Others may get you closer, but I would say closer to 1927-'28.

 

[Absalom]

Thanks, Alan. I was shaving numbers with production totals just to get in the neighborhood....that's as good a guess as mine....

Nope, it’s actually a much better guess

The problem with extrapolating from production numbers, rather than known ship dates, is that it doesn’t allow for sometimes dramatic changes in volume, like occurred with the start of the Depression in 1929. S&W shipped over 300,000 M&Ps during the 1920’s, but only about 50-60,000 for the entire 1930’s.

 

[Muley Gil]

I have an old blued 1905-4th Model (I think) Pre-War M&P .38 S&W Special, Round Butt, 4" Barrel, Serial Number 565232, and with the book and websites, as close as I can get on the date of manufacture is approximately 1937 to 1938. It only has "MADE IN U.S.A." on the right side frame in front of the "4th" screw. Anybody got any insight as to a closer date??

Thanks,
Wade

What type of grips and ejector rod head does it have?

Six posts in almost 16 years? You ain't gonna get cramps in your typing hands, will you?

 

[K5TN]

Hi Gil---

Too busy playing the guitar and out shootin'!! I've been retired since 2004. The pistol has had Pachmayr Slim rubber grips added, so that's no clue, but it does have the "mushroom" end on the ejector rod, and the serial number is on the flat of the barrel, too....I have later 50's M&Ps so I know it's much older than them. I just had no idea it was quite so old!! I love the round butt on this revolver. I am thinking it was living in a sock drawer for many moons....

I sent a letter to S&W HF yesterday, but got anxious and thought I'd ask here.....the only pistola that I have that I don't know the age. Got Colts back to 1881 and Ruger Flattops back to '56, but a 90-some year old Smith has me stumped!!

 

[Wiregrassguy]

CQ K5TN. Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! S&W changed out the extractor rod knob from a mushroom to barrel shape in 1928. So, you know it is earlier than that change. Round butt M&Ps were not standard issue in that time frame. So how about some pictures?

 

[K5TN]

Hi Wiregrass--

Say, is that like bluegrass?? I'm glad old Martin guitars aren't this hard to track down!! I'm like Columbo on putting pictures on here.....I don't have a clue!!

 

[Muley Gil]

Hi Wiregrass--

Say, is that like bluegrass?? I'm glad old Martin guitars aren't this hard to track down!! I'm like Columbo on putting pictures on here.....I don't have a clue!! You wanna send me a secret message with your e-mail, and I'll send you one. I'm at < [email protected] >.

That's an area of southeast Alabama. It also extends into Georgi and Florida.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Yep, wiregrass is like bluegrass except it primarily grows in pine forests and has to burn for its seeds to germinate. QRT on the picture posting because it's not hard. I have a video tutorial you can view to do it. PM me if you have difficulty.

 

[K5TN]

Got it!! Thanks, Guy.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=508980&stc=1&d=1618706874

http://smith-wessonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=509059&stc=1&d=1618766009

http://smith-wessonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=509060&stc=1&d=1618766178

 

[glowe]

CQ K5TN. Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! S&W changed out the extractor rod knob from a mushroom to barrel shape in 1928. So, you know it is earlier than that change. Round butt M&Ps were not standard issue in that time frame. So how about some pictures?

While the round butt M&P was not as common as the square in that era, they were still a standard offering. This 1931 price list shows "round handle" M&Ps for only $32.00. The mushroom shaped knob was ordered replaced with the barrel shaped knob was 1/22/27, so ended use in 1927/1928, later on 32-20s.

 

[K5TN]

Thanks Gary!! That is a very useful piece of history and information. I'll post the info from the S&W letter when I receive it.

Wade

 

[Targets Guy]

Prob 1927 or 1928.


5610xx shipped 1/28
5617xx shipped 2/27
5694xx shipped 8/27

 

[K5TN]

Thanks, Mike.

Wade

 

[glowe]

That 1930 price list only shows the round butt M&P shipping with black hard rubber stocks like the ones below. I could not get your link to work.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Actual production and shipping can get very mixed up...

Hello friends,

My .38 M&P 1905 4th Change # 5715XX shipped in Jan. 1927.

Best wishes,

Roger AKA Mr. Wonderful

 

[K5TN]

OK, youse guys who keep track of such things......My S&W M&P, serial number 565232, 4 inch round butt, was shipped in a lot of 50, half round butt and half square butt, in March of 1929. Probably arrived in time for the stock market crash. Thanks to all for your kind assistance!!

Wade