Here We Go....Again!!!

[kscharlie]

Boy, you guys sure are costing me a lot of money! At least that is what I am telling the wife!

Anyway, I am currently looking at a post war M&P .38 spl in 95%+ condition. S prefix serial number putting it around 1948, 5" barrel, 5-screw (obviously). All serial numbers match, and the grips are excellent. The barrel has the patent dates on the top, and the frame only has the 1-line Made in USA address. It also has the long throw hammer. I think the frame is a pre-war frame, so would you call this a "transitional" M&P?? Should I jump on this one at $450?? (As I type this, that appears to be a dumb question, but I still want your input.) Thanks.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

I think I would be interested at $450. Gopher it!

 

[Absalom]

To get your vocabulary question out of the way first:

No, I wouldn‘t call this “transitional”, and I doubt it has a “pre-war frame”. There are only relatively few 2” pre-war frame models shipped post- war, but with pre-war serials, and this obviously isn’t one. There is also no difference in frame shape between pre- and post-war, so for this model, the distinction is irrelevant anyway. So it’s just an S-prefix post-war M&P, though many people are in the habit of calling these transitional, unjustified in not just my opinion.

But yes, in the condition you describe, that would be a good buy if you are after a 6” version. Not a killer deal, but a good price.

 

[kscharlie]

Thanks for the replies so far. I am always seeking further education regarding the nuances of S&W revolvers. Even my 68 year old brain still thirsts for knowledge. I have a couple more questions.

1. Approximately when did S&W quit roll stamping the top of the barrel with all the patent dates?

2. Approximately when did S&W change the address to the 4 line address as opposed to just the "Made in USA" one line address?

3. Are barrels with and without the top roll marked patent dates found on S series M&Ps

4. Are both one line and four line addresses found on S series M&Ps?

I could not find this info in the SCSW 4th.

 

[JP@AK]

For an S prefix postwar M&P with 6" barrel in 95% condition, $450 is a fair price.

If you will send me a PM with the complete serial number, I can tell you a bit more about it. I'd also like to capture the data for my research project on these 1946-48 M&P revolvers. 6" barrels are in a dead heat with the 2" for the least common length during this period.

 

[JP@AK]

1. Approximately when did S&W quit roll stamping the top of the barrel with all the patent dates?

About 1949-50. It was phased out as older barrels were used up out of the bin.

2. Approximately when did S&W change the address to the 4 line address as opposed to just the "Made in USA" one line address?

Sometime in 1948, after the S prefix production ended in March.

3. Are barrels with and without the top roll marked patent dates found on S series M&Ps

No. To date no S prefix revolver has appeared that lacks the patent dates (except, of course, on the 2" guns that never had them to begin with).

4. Are both one line and four line addresses found on S series M&Ps?

No. I have information on more than 1,000 examples in my database, and no 4 line addresses have showed up yet. On the M&P, that seems to have started in the C series.

 

[Targets Guy]

I wouldn't jump at $450 but I would sure move at a faster pace.

 

[kscharlie]

I made a typo in my OP. Barrel is 5", not 6". My bad. OP has been edited to correct mistake.

 

[DWalt]

I have not seen any reference to an S-series M&P having the 4-line address, but anything is possible. Most any S&W revolver shipped after roughly early to mid-1948 will have the 4-line address. There are several low-serial numbered C-series M&Ps known to have the 1-line "MADE IN USA" frame stamping, and that makes it fairly certain that there are no S-series K-frames with a 4-line address.

Regarding the use of "Transitional", that is a term I personally do not use to describe any postwar M&P as there is no good definition for what it means.

 

[JP@AK]

I made a typo in my OP. Barrel is 5", not 6".

Got it. It shows as a 5" gun in my database. Thanks for sending me the number.

A September, 1947, ship date is extremely likely.

 

[Targets Guy]

My highest s/n S prefix postwar (S9768xx) shipped in 3/48 and it still has the one liner.