Historic Cost of a M&P Revolver

[GRI]

I have a question. My recently acquired .38 M&P appears to have been altered at the factory in 1951 to a 2" barrel. I see as a scenario a deputy sheriff (or patrolman) is promoted to detective, it might be cheaper to have his gun altered to a 2" than buy a new gun. To this end, what was the likely cost in 1951 for a M&P with a 2" barrel as opposed to the cost of modifying an existing gun? A period catalog should provide a new price, but I am not sure how you would know what the rework cost would be.

 

[GRI]

I ran across my 1953 Gun Digest and it shows a 2" nickel .38 M&P costing $68. I would assume the cost for the factory to convert a gun to 2" would be substantially cheaper.

 

[sigp220.45]

Could you post a picture of it?

 

[Doc44]

The retail list price for a .38 M & P (square or round butt) with a 2, 4, 5, or 6 inch barrel and blue finish in 1951 was $62.00. To replace the barrel of an existing M & P revolver would be less than $20.00 most likely, so it would be much cheaper to convert an existing revolver than buy a new one. I don't think cutting a longer barrel would be an option since the front sight blade is integral with the barrel. The new .38 M & P with the short action was introduced around 1948, so putting a new barrel on an earlier model may not have been an option.

Bill

 

[Texas Star]

I doubt that a new detective would go that route, as his presumably only handgun would be away from him for repairs.

He might send it in for alteration while carrying an issued piece or a second privately owned gun. Or, have a local gunsmith do the modification quickly on his day off.

 

[austintexas]

In the early 50s the average Joe blow was maybe making $1 an hour. In 1948 I remember my Dads rent went up to $26 a month and he decided to build his own house. It cost him $5000. He was a Janitor at Bucknell University at the time, He had worked up to electrical Superintendent by 1960, $62 was a week and a halfs payat that time.
SWCA 892