How could you even doubt the "OLD GUYS"? yeah, this is an ancient post, but questions of this gravity demand an answer from a man who has seen the difference...
Are "S" serial guns really better than "N" serial guns?
- Thread starter G-Mac
- Start date
How could you even doubt the "OLD GUYS"? yeah, this is an ancient post, but questions of this gravity demand an answer from a man who has seen the difference...
Manley-AK
Member
Get them out of the safe!
I think what is most important is that you take those guns out of the safe and down to your local range. I have more fun shooting my 6 inch 28-2 (1978) than anything else. My dad had a 1972 copy, which I put behind glass with his Territorial Police (AK) paraphernalia. Never shot that one, but I don't need to.
I also have a 4 inch 627-5, but I've not had much opportunity to take it to a range (it's on the east coast in our new home), but I'm looking forward to the day.
Anyway, go shoot your guns!
I think what is most important is that you take those guns out of the safe and down to your local range. I have more fun shooting my 6 inch 28-2 (1978) than anything else. My dad had a 1972 copy, which I put behind glass with his Territorial Police (AK) paraphernalia. Never shot that one, but I don't need to.
I also have a 4 inch 627-5, but I've not had much opportunity to take it to a range (it's on the east coast in our new home), but I'm looking forward to the day.
Anyway, go shoot your guns!
smithra_66
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I own exactly one N and one S (for now). The S is most definitely superior in the fit and finish department.
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As to your question (the thread title - whether S serial number N Frames are "better"), here are my thoughts.
N Frame serial numbers beginning with the letter S are not, in my opinion, any better in quality or finish than the N Frames built after the serial number changed but near the same period. That said, some people BELIEVE the S serial number N Frames are better and that drives the collector market.
The following is not for G-Mac, nor for 99.9% of the members here. That said, and as an aside, a "gun writer" (I have not said his name so as not to cause embarrassment) wrote an unfortunate article years ago in which he referred to the "S Frame."
That article caused many people who should know better to run with it and actually assert that there is sort of a "missing link" between pre-War N Frames and post-War N Frames that was called an S Frame, and that it was different somehow.
So, before someone runs down that rabbit hole AGAIN, let us remember that there is no such thing as an S Frame, only N Frames that have serial numbers beginning with S.
OP
Since I started this post last year, I did sell my S serial 6" Highway Patrolman to a fellow forum member. I kept my 4" N serial numbered 28-2. I'm partial to 4" N frames. I still have a gorgeous S serial Model 58. That would be a hard one to let go of.
Engine49guy
Member
I was a bit shocked at the sheer number of replies to the OP, lots of interesting info and opinions... here's mine...
In general collectors desireability (except rare dash 1 variants etc) as follows :
5 screw over 4 screw,
4 screw over 3 screw,
S serial 3 screw with diamond stocks over late S serial non diamonds,
Then P&R dash 2 over non P&R dash 3
Above dash 2 prefer endurance package guns over non.
As mentioned at top the GCA kinda forced the change to the N prefix serials because two firearms were not allowed to have the same serial number ,
Since the early post war M&P serials started with an "SV" then quickly changed to an "S" to identify the then new safety block the post war S serial range would eventually be reached and eventually N frames would need to change so why not change the "S" to an " N" and start fresh to identify N frames.
terry_tr6
Member
I am surprised no one has thought of this solution. Do a King Solomon on the guns and swap the barrels!
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