M&P Date of Manufacture - Policeman’s service gun

[1000island]

Hello!

My first post. A close friend of mine has a pre-model 10 M&P with a heavy barrel. It was his deceased Father's service weapon. I love old revolvers and it's captured my attention. I am trying to date it for him. He feels it could be as old is 75 years.

The S/N from the frame butt under the Diamond grips is C3876xx.

It does have a trigger guard screw, no model number in the yoke but there are what I believe are "manufacturing numbers". What I find really interesting is it has a pinned front partridge style front sight. I'm certainly no expert but the finish looks factory original even though the sight is staked through the top side of the barrel.

If I knew how to post the photos I have, I would. Sorry, you're dealing with a real Forum Rookie here!

Appreciate any thoughts or help I can get. Thanks!!!

 

[22hipower]

Probably 1955/56 on the manufacture date, you'd need a letter to get actual ship date and ship to location. Can't help on the sight question but others will be along soon I'm sure. Welcome to the Forum.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[1000island]

Thanks!!

Thanks Jeff!!! I may have figured out how to post a photo

 

[murphydog]

Welcome! Jeff has the approximate manufacture date correct. The heavy barrel style did not appear on the model 10 until about 1961, so I suspect the barrel and/or front sight modifications were aftermarket.

 

[1000island]

Sorry, spell check made my original post "partridge" not "partridge" as I typed it

 

[hkcavalier]

Sorry, spell check made my original post "partridge" not "partridge" as I typed it

I think your spellcheck is still firmly in control of your posts.

It's a handsome piece even if kludged together. I also doubt if it really came with a target trigger and hammer from the factory.

 

[1000island]

Probably all aftermarket stuff as you said... Supposedly back then (1950's) his department was issuing some sort of Colt revolver to their officers but he did not like it and bought this instead.

I think I will get a factory letter on it and find out where it was shipped. It is a real old school "fightin' gun" if I ever saw one!

Thank you to everyone for your thoughts. Please know they are most appreciated!!

 

[1000island]

Lol! I can be such an idiot- it come naturally, without any practice too!! ��

 

[rincar]

It looks like your friends father knew his guns and what he wanted. That is a excellent rendition of a 1950s and 1960s combat revolver.

 

[RWJ]

Interesting. There are indications that guns approx. 4k earlier than yours shipped in April of 1957, The SCSW lists the introduction of the 10-1 heavy barrel as 1959. It would seem that the frame is one which was set up from the outset at being for a heavy barrel, given the correct juncture of the frame and barrel, as opposed to a re-barreled frame from a standard tapered barrel.

 

[Targets Guy]

My 10-1, s/n C507xxx, shipped 6/1961.

 

[Muley Gil]

I wonder if something happened to the revolver bearing this serial number and it was replaced with a newer frame and the serial number was re-used.

 

[1000island]

I know its been a long time since my original post but I have had some interesting results in my research of the history of this revolver. I just wanted to share this with anyone who may be interested.

According to the S&W historical foundation this revolver was a bit unusual. It shipped in September, 1958 to the Chief Deputy, US Marshal in Springfield, IL, with a heavy barrel, target hammer and target trigger from the factory and only ten of them have been made with that combination of options. After a number of back and forth discussions on the subject, it is their opinion that the patridge front sight was added later by an after market gunsmith.

The son of the original owner of this revolver said his father, now deceased, was an FBI agent who carried it for the rest of his career. He originally had some sort of Colt revolver that he did not care for (reasons unknown). He said he could shoot better with this gun and apparently really liked it because he carried it until he retired.

According to his son, his father had a friend help him order it - perhaps it was the Deputy US Marshall - which seems likely because his father was indeed working in Springfield, IL in 1958.

Offered for whatever its worth….

Stay safe, God Bless…..

 

[rincar]

Cool story and a really neat gun

 

[Waveski]

I am not generally a fan of the heavy barrel , but yours is an extremely interesting revolver.
Not common to see an M&P with a target trigger and custom sight. Very cool indeed.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

1 of 10 made is REALLY interesting!