Help identifying inherited revolver

[FLPhil]

Hey yall, I inherited a revolver from my late father and can’t figure out what model it is. Tried looking through the catalog but as I’m new to this I can’t figure it out. I made sure to take a good amount of photos

 

[FLPhil]

Additional photos

Some more photos

 

[Jim Watson]

.38 Hand Ejector, Military and Police.
Made in mid-1950s shortly before model numbers were assigned, a "pre-model 10" in collectorspeak.
Aftermarket nickel plated, Smith did not plate the hammer, trigger, or extractor; but it may be a refinish of factory nickel indicated by the "N". Somebody will be along to comment on that.

 

[FLPhil]

Thank you Jim

 

[JP@AK]

It is a .38 Military and Police model that very likely shipped in 1958. Shortly thereafter, these started carrying the Model 10 designation together with the original name "Military & Police."

As noted above, your revolver came from the factory with the nickel finish, but it was later refinished in nickel. In addition, the faux stag stocks are an aftermarket addition.

 

[JP@AK]

Possible correction: the stocks may be actual stag. The view of the butt appears to show something other than plastic, which was my initial reaction to the side view. Someone who knows the material better than I do, can comment on that.

 

[FLPhil]

Thanks JP. I believe the grip scales are real due to the porous inner core

 

[RM Vivas]

Looks like a 1958 gun that left the factory with a nickel job and then at a later date had a run in with a bumper shop chrome plating tank. It's right on the cusp of the Named Model/Model Numbers transition. Probably one of the last non-Model Number marked M&P's.

I'm not a grip guy, but I'm thinking bone grips. One of the real Grip Guys will wander by in a bit and throw their three cents in.

Best,
RM Vivas

 

[JP@AK]

Probably one of the last non-Model Number marked M&P's.

Well . . . . . I don't think I'd go that far. The lowest number I've ever seen on an actual Model 10 is C438236, shipped in September 1958. FLPhil's is C419732.

BUT, there is a rather large number of non-model-marked .38 M&P units spanning the C464000 to C470000 range that shipped in 1959. What is clear, among other things, is that model marking was not consistently applied across serial numbers in this period. That may be a function of something we all know and that is that units were not assembled in serial number order, just as they were not shipped in serial order.

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

I too believe that your revolver shipped from the factory with a nickel finish and later on, it was chrome plated. Nickel has a yellowish tint, while chrome has a bluish tint.

 

[K Frame Keith]

I have a few sets of stag and elk antler. Have a few sets of Jay Scott imitations too. Those grips look real to me.

 

[bigmtnman]

The grips are sambar stag ..... Your "expert" has spoken. Gee that felt kinda good

 

[Hawg Rider]

Welcome to the Forum! Condolences on the loss of your Dad. As others have already informed you, you've inherited a late 1950s .38 M&P, originally nickel plated ("N") with 4" barrel. There were literally millions of M&P manufactured by S&W over many decades, so they are not rare or particularly valuable. Your revolver has been refinished (nickel or chrome?), and it's wearing some nice aftermarket vintage stag stocks. I don't believe it was a S&W factory re-nickel because the hammer and trigger have been plated (which S&W did not do), and S&W would usually stamp a rework date on the left grip frame (e.g. "R 1/62") when they did the work. In its present condition, I think value (with the stag stocks) would be about $600...but you have a nice family heirloom that should be a fun .38 Special shooter. Enjoy!

 

[FLPhil]

Thanks

Thank you everybody for your help. I’ll probably get it refinished to make it look original and get my dads name engraved on it so the whole family can appreciate it