Just a nice early M&P 1905, 4th change in .38 Special

[YouveHadYour6]

Picked this long thin oldie up at a show a few weeks back; basically traded a much newer 4" 10-5 for it. It's not museum grade but a very fine shooter with lightly loaded 158 grn. lead SWC targets. Blued finish, 6" barrel with standard (and happily non-modified) sights.

Finish is decent for the age, and although plummy in patches presents nicely. Grips do not number to the gun and are strongly believed to be later repros.

S/N 2584xx

As seen cylinder and grip frame S/N match - I would suspect this to be a mid-to-late teens revolver; if anyone has any input as always it's appreciated.

Just a nice old revolver still doing what it was made to do.

*Pardon the residue seen, especially in the cylinder pic - took these before cleaning.

 

[YouveHadYour6]

Last couple pics I have for now:

 

[murphydog]

Cool gun. Probably pre-WW I for the US, 1916 or so. The stocks appear to factory late 1920s to 1930s service stocks; the proper style for the gun would have gold medallions.

 

[Targets Guy]

I'll guess April 1917.


I have a change 3 that shipped in 1914. Matching grips.





Shoots good once I got the hang of it; 18 rounds at 7 yards

 

[James K]

I like the 4th Change as well. Square butt from early 1930s and Round butt from early 1920s. Both with original penciled grips.

 

[SS336]

I really like your old M&P, they are some of my favorites. Like yours mine is very accurate with my reloads. It takes a lot of concentration to shoot accurately with the tiny thin sights.
Very fun to take to the range on a warm spring day.

 

[4K2022]

I like the 4th Change as well. Square butt from early 1930s and Round butt from early 1920s. Both with original penciled grips.

4th Change round butt,, awesome! So they do exist! Was wondering about the top strap groove (sights) are they the same, or is the round butt (have to call it a 1902) the older style and the square butt the more defined square cut notched type? I'd sure like to see a side by side picture if they are the 2 different styles.
Very nice pair, and nice wood too.

 

[4K2022]

Not sure if this link to the 1923 S&W Catalog will work but I believe it answers my question about the "improved service sights" on the round butt guns (1902s). It appears the improved sights were only available on the square butt frames (1905s).


http://smith-wessonforum.com/redire...ww.vivasandson.com/SWCatalog-D3-March1923.pdf

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

Nice!
I've owned several of the old M&Ps, in both 38 Special and 32-20. They were all good shooters. The changes to the fixed sights (circa 1922?) was a big improvement.

John

 

[glowe]

Database shows your serial number range as shipping from the factory in 1916 or 1917. Since the factory did not ship in serial number order only a historical letter will give the exact ship date for your revolver.

 

[James K]

4th Change round butt,, awesome! So they do exist! Was wondering about the top strap groove (sights) are they the same, or is the round butt (have to call it a 1902) the older style and the square butt the more defined square cut notched type? I'd sure like to see a side by side picture if they are the 2 different styles.
Very nice pair, and nice wood too.

Square butt on the bottom. It does have a wider rear sight and channel. Front sight is slightly thicker, too.

 

[John in Bismarck]

Mine, which isn't as nice as yours, was made about the same time, serial number 258122. A factory letter says it shipped in December 1917.

 

[Göring's S&W]

Grips do not number to the gun and are strongly believed to be later repros.

Well if those are repros, those guys in China have really accomplished something with their attention to detail. I mean, they're exactly right...and appear to be well crafted too.

4th Change round butt,, awesome! So they do exist!

Not sure if this link to the 1923 S&W Catalog will work but I believe it answers my question about the "improved service sights" on the round butt guns (1902s). It appears the improved sights were only available on the square butt frames (1905s).

Although I would have to find the photos, I did own a 4in 500XXX or so serial "model 1902" aka round butt M&P. It is important to note that the round butt M&P was offered from 1899 to the 1970s and beyond, as a different option for a model 10 / M&P (later) or as a totally different model (earlier).

I don't remember the sights that it had but I should be able to find a photo to share. I have trouble understanding why S&W would bother to introduce an improved fixed sight for only the square butt M&P, when the round butt M&P would surely serve someone better who carried it with an improved sight picture. Target shooters of course prefer square butt, but I don't think that applies here since S&W also offered target sights. Perhaps S&W had many round butt frames left over since square butt M&Ps were much better sellers starting sometime in the teens (my personal observations). On top of that, the sight difference obviously would not hinder someone who was buying a model 1902 / round butt M&P more for a carry option.