M&P 1902 1st Change

[spin132]

Won this M&P 1902 1st Change (at least that is how it was advertised) on auction tonight. Not even sure what possessed me to bid. I know virtually nothing about these older models. It's far from pristine, but I got it for less than $500 shipped. I don't believe the stocks are factory. Wondering if someone would be kind enough to confirm model and perhaps share some comments. SN 43981. Photos are from auction site.

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[Muley Gil]

Yes, those are custom grips.

 

[dwh]

I'm glad someone on the site won it. Had it been a 32-20 you would had a challenger.

 

[rct269]

Assuming it's a square butt frame under those grips, Mike Priwer (and his followers) and S&W will tell you it's a Model of 1905---never mind there's no screw in the bottom of the frame ahead of the trigger guard (if in fact there's no screw in the bottom of the frame ahead of the trigger guard), which is to say it's a "pre 5 screw 4 screw", with a leaf spring against the trigger by way of a monkey motion lever system. Given that, at such time as you might wish to disassemble it for a proper bath (and then get it back together again), that trigger spring will give you fits!!!

The fits can be avoided by way of a special tool developed by Mike Priwer, which can be fashioned from a piece of 3/8"-1/2" wooden dowel rod-----and works like a charm.

Ralph Tremaine

As an aside, if you attempt to disassemble/assemble the trigger spring assembly in accord with Chicoine's instructions in Antique Firearms-Assembly/Disassembly you will very likely break your pin punch (during disassembly) and then create/endure such frustration (during assembly) as to find yourself a candidate for commitment to the loony bin. So do yourself a favor: Get a hold of Mike Priwer, and ask him please, pretty please to tell you about the Priwer special tool for pre 5 screw 4 screw S&W actions.

 

[spin132]

Assuming it's a square butt frame under those grips, Mike Priwer (and his followers) and S&W will tell you it's a Model of 1905--



The fits can be avoided by way of a special tool developed by Mike Priwer, which can be fashioned from a piece of 3/8"-1/2" wooden dowel rod-----and works like a charm.



Ralph Tremaine



/.

Thanks Ralph! Looks like a round butt...

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[DWalt]

Yes, the round butt is a defining characteristic of the Model of 1902 in that SN range. On my list is SN 43786, a 1902 which shipped in 5/1904. The dual caliber barrel stamping continued until around SN 150000, ca. 1910-11. The U. S. Service CTG was the .38 Long Colt. Odd grips, I don't remember ever seeing others like those.

 

[rct269]

Well, "You can please some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time." So it was written-------a looooooooooooong time ago!!

The only pre-5-screw 4 screw square butt I ever had was also regarded by some as a 1902 first change-------right up until Mr. Priwer and his followers, AND S&W called it a 1905! All that aside for the moment, you can clearly see that evil trigger spring sitting there just waiting for you, and you still need Mr. Priwer's magic little piece of wood----or suffer the consequences!! (And you don't want to suffer the consequences!!!)

Trust me----been there----done that----ain't gonna do it again!!!

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Hi, Mike! Nice looking Model 1902 and the grips are intriguing. Caleb will be along sometime and perhaps he knows who made them. BTW, is this the gun you wanted grips for? We only discussed square butt grips but I have some Grashorn elk horns in round butt. PM me if you are interested.