M&P 5" 38 Special

[StrawHat]

This came home with me from a flea market.

A bunch of holster wear but it is still tight.

Anyone know where to get a correct set of grips?

It needs a good cleaning and then I'll post better pics.

Ser # 6670xx

 

[StrawHat]

This came home with me from a flea market.

A bunch of holster wear but it is still tight.

Anyone know where to get a correct set of grips?

It needs a good cleaning and then I'll post better pics.

Ser # 6670xx

 

[digi-shots]

Nice find! Is the barrel marked .38 special or .38 S&W Ctg.?

Before you swap out the grips, you might take a look at the inside of the right grip. There should be a 6 digit number stamped on it.

Is there a letter prefix before the serial number on the butt?

 

[StrawHat]

The barrel is stamped

38 S.& W. SPECIAL CTG

The right grip is stamped but with a number about 2000 higher than the gun, 6620xx.

With the grips removed you can see on the frame they have been on the gun quite a while but I thought the original style was a half round at the top of the grip, not a curve.

Three patent dates on top of the barrel.

Matching numbers on the bottom of the grip, cylinder and under the barrel.

No letter prefix for any of them.

The knurled end of the ejector rod is different from a couple of 32-20's I have.

As I get the chance to go over it I am sure more things will become obvious.

 

[geoff40]

The hammer alone is a great score. For that reason alone you should letter this one, an M&P with a humpback hammer, we certainly don't see those everyday.

 

[smith17]

StrawHat:
The gun is probably from about 1937 and either shipped with checkered service stocks with a silver medallion or might even have had pre-war magnas. The ones on it are post war magnas, probably from early to mid 60s. As Geoff said, a letter should indicate the hammer and the stocks it was shipped with.
Ed

 

[victorylarry]

strawhat,
That's a very interesting pre war m&p, considering the humpback hammer. The hammer alone may be worth as much as the gun. I second smith 17 in regards to the grips as
it probably had silver medallion service grips. Nice flea market find!

 

[digi-shots]

Yep, you might want to write to S&W and get it lettered to find out for sure when it shipped and what grip stocks were on it when it shipped.

It has the looks and serial number of a pre-war "commercial" gun. It might have sat in inventory during the war and then shipped afterwards.

I've seen examples in the 693,xxx to 694,xxx that shipped during the 1946 to 1947 time frame.

Are the grip numbers exactly 2000 numbers off? I'm thinking maybe the 2 on the grip might actually be a 7. The grips do appear to be early post war magnas and are a little different from the later modified magnas you see starting in the 1960's or so.

A pre war gun should have the checkered medallion service grips with the round top... but with S&W, never say never!

Let us know how it shoots!

 

[mikepriwer]

The hammer and grips, both, can't be original . The hammer is
prewar, and the grips are probably late 50's, early 60's. Unless
it really got lost for 20 or more years, in the factory.

Indeed, its worth a letter.

Later, Mike Priwer

 

[StrawHat]

Had a chance to look at it again. This time I might pay attention to what I found.

The revolver is numbered 6670xx and the grips are numbered 6620xx, or +/- 4000 lower! I know that can't be correct.

I think an inquiry to Mr Jinks is in order for this one.

 

[BBBS]

Interesting gun. Here is S 8362XX with grips that are #ed to the gun. Notice the hammer and the ejector rod end. This is from N.E. Ohio too.

 

[Calaveras Slim]

Glad I found this post. I just picked up a 5" Smith M&P but mine has after market grips. Need a set of original. mine is at my dealer for some smoothing out and then home again. Will post some info then and hopefully someone will guide me to the proper grips.

 

[Jellybean]

Where was the flea market?

Very nice piece of history you have there.

 

[mikepriwer]

BBB

Your gun is exactly correct. Its a very early post-WW2 production. It
has the correct standard hammer and the correct extractor rod, and the
very early post-WW2 magna stocks.

If you tilt the gun, in the light, and look at the left side of the frame,
just below the cylinder release thumbpiece, you will see the end of the
hammer stud. Its polished flush with the frame, so its hard to see.

Later, Mike Priwer

 

[BBBS]

Thanks Mike. I do see the pin you mention. I love this gun

 

[Greesy]

*987654321

 

[StrawHat]

Found a set of grips in my "box o'grips".

Not being a collector, I am not sure if these are correct but they do look better than what came on the gun.

 

[mikepriwer]

The 667xxx serial number is the late 1930's - like 1938 or later. These
gold-medallion grips are 1910 to 1920. Get yourself a pair of small silver
medallion grips.

However, if you get a letter on it, and had noted the humpback hammer, and if
the letter indicates that the gun shipped with that hammer, it may well
indicate that the gun was shipped with magna stocks, also.

So , I'd suggest waiting for the letter before deciding on a pair of grips.

Later, Mike Priwer

 

[ladder13]

Here's S888XXX

 

[mkk41]

Nice score! The 5in barrel just seemed so , perfect.

 

[Kamerer]

I like the 5". Below is my early post-war transition one, still with the one-line address and long action.

I have some correct silver medallion grips for that if you'd like to trade, or I need some gold medallions like that for an N frame. The condition of my gips are not great, though. Can add a few dollars to make it fair if you'd like. Picture below.

5" and custom holster

Silver medallion 20's grips:

 

[Mundo]

I also have a M&P with but with a 6' barrel. I found an old manual on the Model 10 that shows a 4" Heavy Barrel option. Does anyone have any information on this option?

 

[tjpopkin]

I have a post war gun that could be a sister...
same hammer too....

Terry

 

[StrawHat]

Keep them coming folks, I enjoy the M&Ps, especially the 5 inch barrels.

Thanks all.

 

[Kamerer]

Originally posted by tjpopkin:
I have a post war gun that could be a sister...
same hammer too....

Yep, that's the tell-tale hammer of a gun still outfitted with the "long action" that was being phased out with these transition guns. What's your serial start with? Mine's S934xxx. I ask as it is said the short action started at S924xxx, but mine says that's not true - wondering if you could provide another data point.

Also, is that box original to your gun? I ask as I have a 5" gold box like that (not original), but have been told early S guns usually shipped with maroon boxes until the back stock of those ran out. But it stands to reason to me that 5" guns may have been different, since they likely had a larger back stock of maroon boxes for 4" and 6" since they were more common.

Anyone have a clue roughly what the production breakdown was for barrel lengths? I don't see 5s as often as 4s and 6s, but they aren't completely rare, as this thread kinda prooves.

 

[Allen-frame]

These wartime transition guns sure are fascinating.
If the earliest post war M&P started with S811*** would S817*** be about 1945 also?

Just won this at auction ,,my first transitional M&P,,
auction pictures, I pick it up next week

,,,Al

 

[Kamerer]

Originally posted by Allen-frame:

If the earliest post war M&P started with S811*** would S817*** be about 1945 also?

With a number like that, I guess it would be 1945 either way, whether you believe the 12/44 or the 9/45 start date. Of course, a letter would help clear it up.

That is a great looking gun. Where on earth did you find it? I thought I found gold with mine, but clearly there's more out there! I really, really like these guns.

If you like these, check out a .455 HE Mk.II. These were the WWI version of the "lend-lease" victory models - made for British and Canadian service. I got one of those last month and it's a blast, too.