Cook, Newton & Smith...

[PALADIN85020]

As some of you might know, I recently acquired my personal S&W "grail gun," shipped in my birth year, 1939. It's an M&P .38 Special revolver with target sights, model of 1905, fourth change.

I immediately sent off for an authenticating letter from Roy Jinks, the official S&W Historian. Amazingly, it arrived very quickly.

Roy verified that the features seen on the gun presently were original, and stated that it was shipped on June 7, 1939 to "Cook, Newton & Smith Inc., New Haven CT."

A search of the internet found that this firm was a sporting goods store, evidently specializing in fishing and firearms equipment, incorporated on Feb. 19, 1931. I found numerous examples of equipment with their name and address on it, an example in point being a wooden competition .22 ammo box.

The address stamped on the box was 115 Crown Street, New Haven, Connecticut. Using my computer map program, it turned out that location was a bit over a mile south of the old Winchester factory in New Haven.

But that's all I know. The company is listed as "inactive."

I'd like to know more - particularly when it went out of business, who the founders were, types of equipment (particularly firearms) sold, etc. If anyone here has knowledge of this firm, I'd like more information on my gun's original owner!

John

 

[krsmith58]

Birth Year

i have none of the info you requested , please pardon . congrats on finding a birthyear revolver and a dandy it is . I think a lot of Smith owners, secretly or not ,search for such a revolver . I know I do and am sure someday I will find it. great looking revolver , thanks for sharing . kenny , Mauriceville texas USA BD 2/10 58

 

[Onomea]

Very elegant indeed. Congrats on a fine acquisition! Smith and Colt revolvers from the 1930s are my favorites. I think the comments below, while written about the Winchester M71, apply to your 1939 M&P:

“Somewhat as a "side-bar," I would like to say that the mid-1930's were a wonderful time to produce a supreme rifle. The factory machining capacities were at an advanced state (relative to 20 years before), there was better steel technology, and there was a work force skilled in combining state-of-the-art machinery with semi-hand work. This is a little off point, but you can also see the same thing with classic cars. The 1930's were the brief moment of the truly brilliant "big" Packards, the Model 90 Cadillacs, the Phantom III Rolls-Royces, etc. Machinery & craftsmanship existed, really for a tragically brief time, in a marvelous equipoise.”

Winchester 71 Info

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

Beautiful revolver.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

An elegant weapon for a more civilized age. -Obi Wan Kenobi Star Wars

 

[rwsmith]

It appears......

...to have been shipped yesterday. What a beautiful piece of work.

 

[DWalt]

Would be interesting to see a top view of the rear sight. Appears to be the older "springy" type.

 

[walkin jack]

I absolutely LOVED reading the op! I love stuff like this. I enjoyed the story of the fine revolver and I looked at that pic for the longest time. Absolutely beautiful. Many thanks for posting it.