Lucky dog day M&P - updated with a quick range report

[sigp220.45]

On Tuesdays I walk dogs at the local shelter. I had some good ones today, including Garris the Husky who wound up in our lockup because his owner lost his job and couldn’t afford him anymore. Garris is housetrained, knows sit, shake, down, stay, and most state capitals. I would have taken him home if I could afford another divorce.

Afterwards I rolled up to Cabelas and looky looky. A very clean all-matching 5” M&P .38, put in the case 37 minutes before I waddled in. $285 with my GI Joe discount.

I asked the guy why he priced it at $299 and he said because there wasn’t a model number in the crane and the grip adapter “looked funny”. I agreed and said I would take the poor thing off his hands.

Three day wait in Colorado, but this store doesn’t start the clock until midnight, so Saturday morning for me. I can wait.

 

[toddimusnimski]

Wow, that's a great find. Maybe 1946/47? I think Garris could have done a better job of pricing that one

Todd

 

[quinn]

I think I'd be checking Cabelas daily. Good show!

 

[JP@AK]

Postwar .38 M&P from March or April, 1947.

Killer deal. You are correct about the barrel length. The shop people didn't know how to measure it.

Nice piece with what appear to be original stocks. They are probably numbered correctly.

I can't see any information molded into the right side of the grip adapter. Is there anything there? If they are period correct, it probably says Mershon. If the city is there, I'd be interested in which address it gives.

 

[sigp220.45]

I can't see any information molded into the right side of the grip adapter. Is there anything there? If they are period correct, it probably says Mershon. If the city is there, I'd be interested in which address it gives.

I looked closely, because I thought they’d be Mershons. No markings at all on either side.

 

[squid8286]

I hope that Garris finds a good home. Cool find!

 

[JP@AK]

I looked closely, because I thought they’d be Mershons. No markings at all on either side.

Thank you. I don't know what they are then. I'm pretty sure Mershon always marked theirs.

 

[ColbyBruce]

You did real well with that purchase.

 

[petepeterson]

I'd find a way to package that up with the pooch. Good looking dog!
Nice revolver, too.

 

[Truckman]

I think I'd be checking Cabelas daily. Good show!

I check them at least weekly online, and I saw that one...I almost made the call, then I looked at what I've spent on guns this month and slapped some sense into myself (hurt too)...I think I just wanted the grip adapter for my carry gun......Ben

 

[boykinlp]

Isn’t it crazy that the Cabelas Gun Library manager doesn’t know how to measure the barrel correctly?! I might not expect the “regular” employee to get it right, but I would expect the pricing person to. But, their loss is certainly your gain, nice pick up!
Larry

 

[bruce5781]

Nice catch !
Thanks for looking after the dogs. That's my dream job, if I ever get to retire.

Sent from my SM-G781U1 using Tapatalk

 

[Muley Gil]

A "like" for the revolver and for the doggie too!

 

[mikepriwer]

That is a nice gun for the money. There is a question in my mind about the grips being original. I only have a couple early post-WW2 guns with magna stocks, and they have a sharper shoulder on them. These don't seem to be that sharp, but I could be wrong. If they number, then they are original to the gun.

One of mine is shown on page 175 in "History of Smith & Wesson" by Roy Jinks. This is a Mexican Model with serial number S832XXX.

I noticed a couple other minor points. One is that the rear face of the forged front sight blade looks to have been filed to create something like a ramp, instead of its original half-moon shape. The other is the nob on the end of extractor rod. It has a smooth shiny appearance, instead of what probably should be fine knurling. Maybe these are just artifacts of the pictures.

Regards, Mike Priwer

 

[Retired W4]

Excellent find. Garris looks like a real smart Husky.

 

[JP@AK]

There is a question in my mind about the grips being original. I only have a couple early post-WW2 guns with magna stocks, and they have a sharper shoulder on them. These don't seem to be that sharp, but I could be wrong. If they number, then they are original to the gun.

Mike
In my research on the S prefix M&P revolvers, I've noted three different profiles on the sharp shoulder Magna stocks. This is one of them. I suspect they were cut by different hands at different times, perhaps even different subcontractors. They all have a sharp shoulder but differ slightly. The serial number would tell the story, but I suspect these are original.

the rear face of the forged front sight blade looks to have been filed to create something like a ramp, instead of its original half-moon shape.

I agree. The sight does seem to have suffered a slight alteration.

the nob on the end of extractor rod. It has a smooth shiny appearance, instead of what probably should be fine knurling.

I had trouble seeing the knob well also. In fact, I recorded it as a knurled end, but I'm uncertain about it. It almost appears to be one of the barrel shaped knobs that was phasing out at about this serial range. If it is the older knob, it is the second highest number I've found that still had that knob. By that time, nearly all of the revolvers with longer than a 2" barrel had the knurled end. (The 2" barrels always had the knurled knob, as you well know.)

 

[Jim Watson]

Looks like it has been tightened with pliers enough to wear the knurling off.

 

[Frieda's Boss]

The universe rewarding you for your kind work with those dogs. Congratulations on the nice find!

 

[sigp220.45]

Here are some fresh pics now that the gun was released with time served.

Grips aren’t numbered to the gun, but there was a label with what I assume is a previous owner’s name.

All serial numbers match, including the barrel. I know it is supposed to have a half-moon front sight but it has what sure appears to be a factory ramp. If its a modification I want to shake the hand of the guy who did it.

(Edited to add - I have found posts from some big city PD armorers who routinely modified the half-moon sights on issued M&Ps to the ramp style. If that is the case, big props on a job nicely done.)

The ejector rod knob looks normal to me. No signs of aggressive plier usage.

The grip adapter is completely unmarked, except for a tiny “A” on the inside.

All else is as expected. This is the cleanest used gun I’ve bought in a while. All wipes and patches looked new after use.

The name was unusual enough that I think I found the previous owner. WWII navy vet, almost 30 years with Denver PD, then 12 more with a Sheriff’s Department. Died in 2016. His obit said he enjoyed taking in stray animals to give them a home. Some things are meant to be.

I might letter it just for gee-whiz.

 

[j38]

That is a handsome old revolver. You did well!

Jerry