M & P oldie

[Bullmoose]

I found an old M & P at a gun show a few weeks ago. The serial number (265XXX) dates it to around 1916 or so, only a year after the Fourth Change began. The stocks look so good, I think they may be replacements. Amazingly, the bluing is about 80 to 85%, so it's been carefully preserved.

But it was not a safe queen; there's a pretty deep gouge from flame cutting.

If anyone would be kind enough to advise how to post pics, I will do so (giving up after 45 minutes of unsuccessfully attempting to use the "manage attachments" feature).

 

[pace40]

Welcome to the forum

With a serial number that early, the "deep gouge" you see is probably a fouling cup, not flame cutting. This feature was left over from the black powder models and was there to give unburned powder a place to go. You don't see a whole lot of flame cutting in 38s.

Here's a how to for photos

http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-forum-office/78728-posting-photos-forum-new-format.html

 

[diamonback68]

I have M&P 249XXX from April 1916, so yours could be late 1916 or early 1917. HTH

Edited: After checking around your M&P was probably shipped in April 1917.

 

[cgt4570]

Agreed about the fouling cup. It's almost unheard of to see any significant flame cutting on a .38.

 

[linde]

Bullmouse,

Your post count suggests you are a new member of the forum but your handle sounds familiar. Your recognition that you have a 1905-4th change, however, suggests you are knowledgeable on S&W M&Ps. If you are new, you'll find a lot of great folks here who are very knowledgeable and helpful. Welcome aboard!

Your newly acquired M&P is a great find. Many of those early guns were used pretty hard. You may also be aware that S&W did not ship in serial number sequence but, adding to what's been said, s/n 2573XX shipped in August 1916.

There are differing opinions on what ammunition can be used in these early M&Ps, but I prefer to stick with standard 158 grain loads. S&W introduced heat treated cylinders around s/n 3166XX.

Enjoy your new treasure,

Russ

 

[Bullmoose]

 

[Bullmoose]

Oldie M & P -- now with photos

Thanks for the help with pics and with history of the M&P. I bought it believing it was from the 1930s, so I was surprised to see how it dated in the SCSW.

These show the "fouling cup" on the underside of the top strap just above the forcing cone.

As I said in my post, I don't believe these are original grips:
http://i1032.photobucket.com/albums/a404/Bullmoose03_2010/militaryandpolice1917/IMG_4028.jpg

 

[DCWilson]

Thanks for the photos. That is indeed a fouling cup, not flame cutting.

The stocks on your gun are postwar diamond magnas, With the sharp shoulder they are maybe late 1940s/early 1950s. The proper stocks for your gun would look like the ones on this gun, a .32-20 shipped about the same time as your gun: