Humpback M&P?

[red9]

Buying absentee based on poor photos and description is always an adventure. I found a 5" M&P, s/n 684xxx, represented as caliber .38 S&W. So far, it seemed to be an early British Service Revolver with commercial stocks. The hammer, however, gave hints of being interesting.

When the gun arrived, it was caliber .38 S&W SPECIAL. All matching, including the stocks. I cannot imagine anyone ordering a humpback M&P. That leaves the fitter grabbing the wrong hammer or a later replacement. I suspect the latter, as the hammer may have been blued at one time. Is this a factory humpback?

Bob

 

[DWalt]

It could be, as the HBHs were available in the years immediately before WWII. A letter might indicate that it shipped with one. Your 684xxx probably shipped in 1940.

 

[rburg]

OH yeah, it looks like a good one. I have an M&P Target that shipped like that and its in the same serial # range. Treat it well, it deserves it.

 

[Hondo44]

I have also seen K frames with humpback hammers that lettered.

Humpback hammer on K frame (much higher than on N frames):

Gun and photo courtesy of SmithNut.

 

[RKmesa]

I have also seen K frames with humpback hammers that lettered.

Humpback hammer on K frame (much higher than on N frames):

Jim:

That little guy right there is one sweeeeeeet package!!!

Tell me that has had some customization over the years... There has to be a story on that one - you cannot just post a photo like that without the Paul Harvey rest of the story...please? With the mushroom knob, isn't it a little early to have an HBH from the factory?

 

[jsfricks]

This prewar M&P letters as having shipped with the Humpback hammer, to the Police Chief, Morgantown, WV Police. Perhaps the chief wanted something different, who knows.

 

[SmithNut]

Jim:

That little guy right there is one sweeeeeeet package!!!

Tell me that has had some customization over the years... There has to be a story on that one - you cannot just post a photo like that without the Paul Harvey rest of the story...please? With the mushroom knob, isn't it a little early to have an HBH from the factory?

More info here:Need some help with this revolver...

 

[Hondo44]

Jim:

That little guy right there is one sweeeeeeet package!!!

Tell me that has had some customization over the years... There has to be a story on that one - you cannot just post a photo like that without the Paul Harvey rest of the story...please? With the mushroom knob, isn't it a little early to have an HBH from the factory?

I'm afraid my post was misleading, sorry. The 1st line is not related to the 2nd line and the photo.

 

[Hondo44]

More info here:Need some help with this revolver...

I'm happy that you took ownership! I've had that photo awhile because it's beautiful and should have been made as shown.
Somehow I lost the source of the photo. But always like to link to the owner when known, which I will do now.

Thank you for sharing "the rest of the story".

 

[DWalt]

I had always wondered about the "why" of a HBH. I suppose it was because that the shape lends itself to easier thumb cocking for single action firing. While that design might be worthwhile on a target revolver, I don't see much point in having one on a service-type revolver not designed nor used for competitive target shooting.

 

[SmithNut]

Thank you for sharing "the rest of the story".

No worries... Just think, if this old dog actually "lettered" as it sits, I could recover some of the $$ it took to get it looking as is should I ever considered selling it...

 

[DCWilson]

Maybe not everyone went for the HBH because of its purported SA target shooting advantage. If you had the kind of hand or used a grip that let a roll of skin ride up above the knuckle and get painfully pinched by the standard hammer in DA shooting, maybe you would want a hammer that is a looser fit to the frame in the instant before the DA sear disengages.

I'm not a big fan of HB hammers for SA shooting, but I have them on a couple of revolvers. That higher hammer spur is a long way up there for my thumbs, so I find the standard hammer preferable.

 

[DWalt]

The other problem with a HBH concerns DA shooting. With the hammer down, you can't see the sights.

 

[SmithNut]

The other problem with a HBH concerns DA shooting. With the hammer down, you can't see the sights.

Well that does it, I'll have to bob mine when I put it into the concealed rotation.

 

[DWalt]

If I had a revolver with a HBH (I do not), I'd probably replace it with a conventional hammer for shooting purposes, and store the HBH safely away against the day I sell it.