M&P I've never seen before

[whelenshooter]

I purchased a pre-model 10 M&P that has a combination of features I've never seen before. It is a 5-screw with a 4-inch barrel. The gun is in pristeen condition, but the guy I bought it from didn't have the box. It has SN: S883xxx with diamond magna grips serial numbered to the gun. What is unusual is that it has the old style long action, but it has the new style hammer block. I've never seen any Smith & Wesson with this combination before. Are M&Ps or any other model S&W with the long action and the new style hammer block as uncommon as I think they are, or do I just live a sheltered life? I paid $450 for it. Did I do OK? Is it OK to shoot +P .38 Special ammunition in this gun?

 

[whelenshooter]

I purchased a pre-model 10 M&P that has a combination of features I've never seen before. It is a 5-screw with a 4-inch barrel. The gun is in pristeen condition, but the guy I bought it from didn't have the box. It has SN: S883xxx with diamond magna grips serial numbered to the gun. What is unusual is that it has the old style long action, but it has the new style hammer block. I've never seen any Smith & Wesson with this combination before. Are M&Ps or any other model S&W with the long action and the new style hammer block as uncommon as I think they are, or do I just live a sheltered life? I paid $450 for it. Did I do OK? Is it OK to shoot +P .38 Special ammunition in this gun?

 

[cgt4570]

In the early post-war years, long action 'transistional' guns were produced using long action hammers for K and N frames. These all had the wartime hammer block modification. If you look in with the hammer cocked, you can see the square cut.
Chris

 

[linde]

Just to add to Chris's reply . . .
I understand that postwar transitional K frames with the long hammer throw and hammer block can be found from serial number S811120 to S990184. Early in my S&W collecting days I bought one and enjoyed it so much I've added several more (as early as S814xxx and late as S976xxx). The quality of these early postwar M&Ps is great and I personally enjoy the feel of the long hammer throw lock-up when shooting double action.

Enjoy your new treasure, Russ

 

[whelenshooter]

Do you guys know if it is OK to use +P 38 Special ammunition in an M&P of this vintage? I'd hate to shoot something in it I shouldn't; it is far too nice of a gun to risk damaging it. I've heard from some that you shouldn't use +P ammo in the pre-war M&Ps, but others have told me it is fine to use it. This is a transitional gun with the old long action, but I have no idea how or if the steel or heat treating in this gun differs from earlier or later M&Ps. I'd appreciate any information that people can give me.

 

[john traveler]

S&W advises that it is okay to fire +P .38 Special ammo in revolvers marked with the model number, i.e. post 1957 or so. Prior to that, there was a period during which S&W used a mild grade of automotive steel in it's barrel forgings, and it is not advised to fire +P in guns made before the model stampings.

You can ask any old time police armorer type how often he encountered S&W revolvers from the 1930s through 1950s with bulged cylinder chambers and split forcing cones. With the advent of high speed jacketed .38 Special ammunition in the early 1960s it happened quite a bit.

I would restrict it to lead bullet, standard velocity 158 RN and 148 WC ammunition only.

 

[whelenshooter]

Thank you! I appreciate the information.

 

[tac803]

Not trying to hijack the thread, but what constitutes a long action vs a short?

 

[john traveler]

The S&W K frame guns up to the end of WWII used the "long action" in which the trigger stroke resulted in a longer movement of the hammer to complete the DA cycle.

Post WWII K frames used the "short action" in which the trigger stroke resulted in a shorter movement of the hammer to complete the DA cycle.

Many of us old timers believe that the long and limber DA stroke made for much smoother and accurate shooting. The famous Ed McGivern, exhibition shooter used the long action guns to establish his still standing records.

 

[Combat]

This is a pic of SN S 910xxx,with a 5" barrel.Just in case someone wanted to see one of these guns.

 

[pace40]

Originally posted by tac803:
Not trying to hijack the thread, but what constitutes a long action vs a short?

221 thousandths of an inch

 

[mikepriwer]

Mike

That pair of calipers is wonderful. I got on the Lyman site, wondering if they were the same
company that made the Lyman blades back in 1900, etc. Yep - they go all the way back to 1878 !

Regards, Mike Priwer

 

[Jebus35745]

As far as price, at the last show someone had a 6" version for 400 and he wouldn't budge on the price. You did OK on the price. Larry