FOUND A M&P TARGET

[lowhog]

I was on my way home this morning and decided to stop at the Scheels sporting goods store In St Cloud Minnesota about 90 miles from my farm.In the used S&W case there was a couple of 29-2's A 27-2 in the clamshell a 10-5 and a 15-4 and this pre-war m&p target.The 29-2 4 " nickel was priced at 795.00 which I thought was a good price.When I saw a price tag of 695.00 On this Pre-war M&P target I almost fainted.Its in very fine shape with just a touch of holster wear on the barrel.All numbers match.Not sure of the year.serial number is 602696.It has a Call gold bead front sight.Serrated trigger and handle.How did I do on it?Whats the value?

 

[hsguy]

Very nice looking gun, they are great shooters. 1905 Targets seem to have become a scarce commodity of late so if all original I don't think $850-1000 would be out of line.

 

[DCWilson]

Nice condition. You didn't get hurt at $700. You could probably sell it immediately for $100-200 more, but why would you? Great score.

1928 or 1929, I think. It has the later single-diameter ejector rod knob, but the 1920s style medallionless stocks.

I'll point out the single screw rear sight base. Part way into the 1930s the sights were modified to add a set screw close to the vertical adjustment screw. Collectors, ignoring the mounting screw at the front of the sight base, distinguish single-screw and double-screw rear sights based on the presence or absence of the set screw.

Call gold bead sights are very cool. I can't tell from the overhead shot if the rear notch is squared off or U-shaped. Usually the bead sights came with round-bottom notches, but you can find plenty of round image front sights with square notch rears.

 

[lowhog]

Dave,Its a square notch rear sight.Mike

 

[DCWilson]

Dave,Its a square notch rear sight.Mike

Thanks. I sort of thought it looked that way but just couldn't be sure.

 

[boatbum101]

Agree with late 20's / early 30's vintage . Single line address & stocks , 2 screw rear sight . I've got a latter one s/n 6710xx shipped 9/1939 . Humpback hammer , partridge front , 3 screw rear sight & silver medallion service stocks . Great shooter , slick action I love it . Study up on the rear sight if not familar . You don't want to lose any screws as you'll never find a replacement . Congrats & enjoy your new find . $700 a good buy in my book .

 

[rburg]

Agree with late 20's / early 30's vintage . Single line address & stocks , 2 screw rear sight . I've got a latter one s/n 6710xx shipped 9/1939 . Humpback hammer , partridge front , 3 screw rear sight & silver medallion service stocks . Great shooter , slick action I love it . Study up on the rear sight if not familar . You don't want to lose any screws as you'll never find a replacement . Congrats & enjoy your new find . $700 a good buy in my book .

I bought the twin of yours, HBH and all about 10 years ago. I paid $850 back then and thought it was a steal. The condition is a strong 98% (meaning I can't even find where a fly landed on it, much less took a dump.) It makes a nice companion gun to K22s from that same era (also with the HBH.) If you haunt the gun shows for long, you find a whole bunch of K22s, but hardly ever an M&P Target. A worthy find and a good addition to any collection.

 

[fat tom]

Well,what can I say? I had to pay $100 more for mine and you know how long I've been lookin' for one.

f.t.

 

[lowhog]

Well,what can I say? I had to pay $100 more for mine and you know how long I've been lookin' for one.

f.t.

Nothing wrong with that one Bobby!

 

[gjamison]

thats a great M&P target. you never see the single screw rear sight. i
have a early K22 OD with the single screw rear sight, been looking
for one like yours for sometime.

 

[mikepriwer]

The gun is probably March of 1929. Wonderful condition - certainly worth $700.

As to the two-screw sight blade, there are actually three configurations of them.
The earliest, like the 1899's and 1902's, used a push-up rear screw that was
threaded into the rear part of the frame. This screw pushed up on the underside
of the sight leaf, which was sprung downward.

The next version was a pull-down screw, and this one almost looks like that. The sight
leaf is sprung upwards. The screw has an oval-like head on it, and it pulls the
sight leaf down, as it is screwed into the frame.

The next version is a push-up arrangement, in which the screw has a flat head that
rides in a slot milled into the top of the frame. This screw is threaded into the sight
leaf, and the sight leaf moves up and down on the screw. Even thought the sight
leaf is sprung down, the version is not very stable, and does not stay in adjustment.

This, then, brings us to the final configuration, in which the third, or locking, screw
was added the previous version. This locking, or set , screw, works against the
elevation screw, pressing itself down onto the top of the frame, and thus locking
the leaf in place.

Mike Priwer

 

[j38]

You did well, indeed! I've been looking for one of those for a long time. Good to see you found one in such wonderful condition. Thanks for the pics and enjoy,

Jerry

 

[lowhog]

Mike, I have taken note of your post and will keep it in my archives.Thanks for all the info.Mike

 

[ladder13]

That's a beauty Mike, real nice. I have a well worn 1902 a bit earlier than yours.

 

[lowhog]

Agree with late 20's / early 30's vintage . Single line address & stocks , 2 screw rear sight . I've got a latter one s/n 6710xx shipped 9/1939 . Humpback hammer , partridge front , 3 screw rear sight & silver medallion service stocks . Great shooter , slick action I love it . Study up on the rear sight if not familar . You don't want to lose any screws as you'll never find a replacement . Congrats & enjoy your new find . $700 a good buy in my book .

I would like to see a picture of one with a humpback hammer.

 

[rburg]

I would like to see a picture of one with a humpback hammer.

Look at the photo at the top of every page. Its MerlinDBs K32, but the M&P looks identical from the side.

 

[DCWilson]

Here are some pics of the HBH on a .38 M&P Target from 1935.

This is an anachronism, of course, because the humpback hammer was not available on K-frames until 1938. I put this hammer on the gun just to see what it looked like and how it felt to shoot it. I wasn't impressed. The HBH looks and functions better on N frames, in my judgment.

 

[lowhog]

Dave ,It still looks cool! I'm going to keep my eyes open for a hbh for my hd.Regards Mike

 

[zywina]

I was on my way home this morning and decided to stop at the Scheels sporting goods store In St Cloud Minnesota about 90 miles from my farm.

Glad to here Scheels is still operating, my aunt and uncle live not far in Brainaird Minnesota, and I was in awe the first time I wast brought there by my Uncle and Dad on a summer visit 2 decades ago. I think I need to go for another visit this summmer, cheers Dale Z!

 

[gripper]

lowhog, You have a very nice gun. I love the 1905 target guns.

Chad

 

[lowhog]

I was on my way home this morning and decided to stop at the Scheels sporting goods store In St Cloud Minnesota about 90 miles from my farm.

Glad to here Scheels is still operating, my aunt and uncle live not far in Brainaird Minnesota, and I was in awe the first time I wast brought there by my Uncle and Dad on a summer visit 2 decades ago. I think I need to go for another visit this summmer, cheers Dale Z!

Dale, I shop in Brainard often.There are a couple of good pawn shops that get old colts and smiths in from time to time.There is also a huge Scheels in fargo North Dakota about 90 miles west of me.I'm about 40 miles east of Brainard in the Ottertail lakes area.Love the country here.Mike