Gun Show Find.

[Bent-Twig]

I picked up this M&P at the gunshow today. My guess at age is around 1921 - 1922 or so. The serial number is 3890xx . Just guessin at the year. The pictures do this gun no justice at all. It is as clean as they get! I would rate it 97 to 98% . I have not given it a good cleaning yet but the blue looks as good as the day it was made. There is a slight drag line and the slightest of wear at the muzzle but that is it. Looks like it just sat hidden away all these years. I wish I could get better pictures maybe I will try again after it is cleaned up. These pictures are probably good enough to give you an idea of how nice this piece is. I know there are alot of these guns out there , but are there many out there from the 20's in this condition?

Twig.

 

[Muley Gil]

Wow, that IS a nice looking M&P!

Some folks buy guns and then stick 'em in the sock drawer and never shoot them.

 

[DCWilson]

Good looking M&P: congratulations.

It may be hard to believe, but it really is possible to find extremely nice specimens of almost any model. Even a hundred years ago, a certain percentage of firearms were purchased for peace of mind rather than to be put to work. It's those stored-away-and-forgotten guns that are the treasures that collectors are pleased to find today.

 

[mikepriwer]

Indeed - that is a very nice example. The case coloring is particularly
striking, as is the condition of the grips. All in all, that is a very nice
specimen.

Mike Priwer

 

[beagleye]

Hate to pry

but how is a gun like that worth. The reason I ask is that there is a specimen pretty similar to that one, close to mint, at a pawn shop I know marked at $699, no box.

Thanks, Pete

 

[murphydog]

Very nice. If the stocks are numbered to the gun it is from the 1920s, and there was a recent thread about guns just after WW I not having the logo stamped under the cylinder latch until (I think) 1924.

 

[28Shooter]

Amazing condition and a beautful handgun. Congratulations!

 

[Bell Charter Oak Holsters]

Extremely nice specimen! Congratulations on finding what many of us who collect these would pay a premium for.

Cheers;
Lefty

 

[GF]

Your lucky the stocks didn't get pulled off and put on Ebay. High condition revolvers are a treat to find. That's a good one!

GF

 

[Bent-Twig]

Very nice. If the stocks are numbered to the gun it is from the 1920s, and there was a recent thread about guns just after WW I not having the logo stamped under the cylinder latch until (I think) 1924.

The stocks are numbered to the gun , but that is one of the questions I wanted to ask about. The numbers are on the right hand grip but are not stamped in the grip , they are hand written . I have seen this on older grips before , but did S&W do this or is this someones attempt at making it original? I have to go to work but will be home this evening and I will take the grips off and get a picture.

Twig.

 

[Ken NC]

FWIW, I have an old top-break with the Bakelite grips and the number is penciled on inside one grip. My revolver is cosmetically rough and I doubt anyone took the trouble to pencil in a number....

 

[Bill Bates]

The stocks are numbered to the gun , but that is one of the questions I wanted to ask about. The numbers are on the right hand grip but are not stamped in the grip , they are hand written . I have seen this on older grips before , but did S&W do this or is this someones attempt at making it original? I have to go to work but will be home this evening and I will take the grips off and get a picture.

Twig.

The serial number lightly in pencil on the right grip panel is correct for this vintage.

 

[Göring's S&W]

Some SNs are stamped and others are hand written. It depends on the era and perhaps model. I have a few of both. As long as its written on the right grip and doesn't look fresh, its authentic.

 

[Smithy-wesson oil]

Beautiful example. Thanks for sharing!

 

[delta-419]

Some of my old topbreaks with the hard rubber grips have the serial number scrached into the right grip with a sharp instrument (nail). I have several like that.

 

[Peter J.]

All I can say is "WOW!"

 

[1blindref]

beautiful!
Congrats on finding that treasure.

 

[crsides]

REALLY REALLY nice. Love to find those time capsules.


Charlie

 

[fgn40]

Congrats, Bent-Twig that is a really nice
M&P you happened to find.

I ran across one last week, a 1910 vintage
in almost as nice a condition as yours.
I'm going to pick it up tomorrow night.

It was my first venture into older Smith's,
and I have a question for the more knowledgable.
Were the M&P's pretty much all 38 special's or???

 

[Vulcan Bob]

Wow, very nice find! I have a 1927 target in simular condition and I also marveled at its pristine condition. A target gun one would think be bought to shoot.

 

[Bent-Twig]

Hey Folks ,

As promised here is a picture of the grip numbers and a few more shots of the pistol. The numbers are written in in pencil . The gun has matching numbers through out. They really used to put the serial numbers on these guns didnt they. I have found six different places that the numbers are at. I know that there are alot of M&P's out there but what would be a good estimate on value of one in this condition and age? Would it be wrong to shoot such a clean old gun? I hear they shoot very well.

Twig.

 

[gaucho1]

Another amazing find. Something about pristine older Smiths.
Thank you for the fine pictures.

 

[Bent-Twig]

Congrats, Bent-Twig that is a really nice
M&P you happened to find.

I ran across one last week, a 1910 vintage
in almost as nice a condition as yours.
I'm going to pick it up tomorrow night.

It was my first venture into older Smith's,
and I have a question for the more knowledgable.
Were the M&P's pretty much all 38 special's or???

32-20 also I think!!

 

[Bent-Twig]

Another amazing find. Something about pristine older Smiths.
Thank you for the fine pictures.

Thank You all for the nice comments on the pistol!

gaucho,

I wish my camera skills were good enough to do this ole gun some justice. It is fun to hold an old S&W in your hands. Kinda takes ya back to the old days!!

Twig.

 

[JSR III]

From looking at the stock photo showing the penciled serial number, I would feel fairly confident that the stocks are original to the gun. There are characteristics that are present that are not used today by modern fakers.

 

[Bent-Twig]

but how is a gun like that worth. The reason I ask is that there is a specimen pretty similar to that one, close to mint, at a pawn shop I know marked at $699, no box.

Thanks, Pete

Hi Pete!,

Im not sure what it is worth. Maybe some of the guys that know will chime in and give an idea or two. If the one at the pawn shop is as nice and as old it would be a good one to get. Maybe you could wheel and deal with them some and pick it up.

Twig.

 

[Bent-Twig]

From looking at the stock photo showing the penciled serial number, I would feel fairly confident that the srocks are original to the gun. There are characteristics that are present that are not used today by modern fakers.

Are you referring to the 2 in the serial number? What are the characteristics?

Twig.

 

[Muley Gil]

" Were the M&P's pretty much all 38 special's or???"

The .32-20s were M&Ps in their own serial number range. Some .32 S&W Longs were built as well.

The pre Victory models were built for the British Commonwealth nations in .38 S&W.

There were also .22 LRs.

 

[tekarra]

Great find, congrats and thanks for posting.

 

[Bent-Twig]

Very nice. If the stocks are numbered to the gun it is from the 1920s, and there was a recent thread about guns just after WW I not having the logo stamped under the cylinder latch until (I think) 1924.

I remember seeing a thread where someone posted a S&W paper or page the stated that the MADE IN USA on the front right hand side of the frame started in 1924. This pistol does'nt have that stamp , so that would make it pre 1924. I have also seen where it is claimed that the no logo stocks were from 1920-1930 , so this should make the gun somewhere in the 1920-1923 range.
Twig.