M&P "Pre-Model 10" 4 digit C serial - March 1948?

[yo1dog]

Looking for any information I can get on my M&P.

• Yoke model number: none
• Type: Hand Ejector
• Serial Number: C 7080 (butt, cylinder, and barrel)
• CTG: 38 S.&W. SPECIAL CTG
• Barrel Length: 4"
• Sights: Fixed
• Screws: 5

Pieced together some information from these two informative threads:

• Pre Model 10 Number Range??
• "C" prefix serial #?

Please correct me if I am wrong, but I believe mine has the short action "high speed" hammer and no model number which is considered a "Pre-Model 10":

it makes sense to limit the term [Pre-Model 10] to those M&P's which in all essential engineering features ... are Model 10's in all but the number. And the last major engineering change was the introduction of the short action in 1948.

I believe the low C-prefix serial of C7080 dates it to March or April of 1948:

broadly speaking, numbers C1 through about C44,000 left the factory in 1948. C1 was actually assembled on March 22, 1948

here is a sampling of known ship dates ... C33066 April, 1948

I believe the stocks are original as they appear to be the period-correct post-war diamond Magna stocks (not PC).

Finish looks original to my untrained eye, but is it typical for the wear on the side of that ejector rod to be more than anywhere else?

I got it for $600 (+$40 shipping +$40 taxes/fees +$25 FFL transfer...). Not the best deal, especially with no box. I've seen Model 10s go for $300-400. But I was impatient. And I really wanted those diamond Magnas and the condition looked good. And I thought the low serial number was cool. What do you think?

Thanks!

 

[JP@AK]

Hi yo1dog

You have it right. I would refer to it as a postwar .38 Military & Police, but it is not incorrect to call it a "pre-Model 10."

It is possible that it shipped as early as April, 1948, but the closest number for which I have a confirmed ship date is C7827. That one shipped in June, 1948. Keep in mind, they did not leave the factory in serial order.

There are a couple noteworthy factors with your revolver. One is the one line address on the frame - Made in U.S.A. Shortly after your unit was assembled, S&W went to the four line address, including the Marcas Registradas line. Another is the sharp shoulder on the Magna stocks. That lasted only until sometime in 1952. And you are correct that the PC style Magnas had not yet made their appearance in 1948. I believe if you take those stocks off, you will find the gun's serial number impressed into the wood on the inside of the right panel (minus the letter C).

One item I cannot see in your photos is the top of the barrel. Do patent dates appear there? At C7080, I would anticipate their presence. They seem to show up as late as C8500, but they disappeared around that time.

As for the wear on the extractor rod, that is not at all unusual. It just means the extractor has been used a few times. I also seem to see a slight bit of holster wear at the muzzle. Again, no big deal. Overall this revolver appears to be in excellent condition and is certainly in collectible condition. I personally don't think $600 is out of line at all.

It definitely has the High Speed Hammer. That first appeared in the S prefix range at S990184, a revolver that shipped on April 7, 1948. It is extremely rare to find a C prefix unit that has the long action. In fact, in all my years researching the M&P, I have found only ONE .38 Special unit with a C prefix that had the older long action. Some of the .32 Long chambered units did have the long action. But there were not many of those made.

There is one other difference between your revolver and the later Model 10 Military & Police units. Yours still has the fifth frame screw. That was eliminated in 1956, roughly two years before there were any Model 10 revolvers produced.

Congratulations on finding a very nice example of an early C prefix .38 M&P.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Hello yo1dog! Welcome to the forum! That's a very nice .38 M&P. Congratulations!

 

[Retired W4]

I agree with Guy. Very nice. What interests me is the one line address on a C prefix gun. I have C8583 which shipped July 14, 1948, with a one line address and short action (high speed) hammer. I don't think there are very many C prefix/one line address guns out there.

 

[yo1dog]

Thanks for the info!

It is possible that it shipped as early as April, 1948, but the closest number for which I have a confirmed ship date is C7827. That one shipped in June, 1948. Keep in mind, they did not leave the factory in serial order.

Ah I see what you mean about them not shipping in order. Is the idea that guns with close numbers were likely shipped together or around the same time?

One item I cannot see in your photos is the top of the barrel. Do patent dates appear there? At C7080, I would anticipate their presence. They seem to show up as late as C8500, but they disappeared around that time.

I will check.

Thanks again!

 

[Retired W4]

One item I cannot see in your photos is the top of the barrel. Do patent dates appear there? At C7080, I would anticipate their presence. They seem to show up as late as C8500, but they disappeared around that time.

Now you made me go down to look for the patent dates. C8583 does not have them.

Just some data for your data base, Jack.

 

[JP@AK]

C8583 does not have them.

Just some data for your data base, Jack.

Thank you. Just added that to my data.

C4484 is the highest (so far) that I've recorded with confirmed patent dates. It does, of course, have only a one line address.

 

[JP@AK]

I don't think there are very many C prefix/one line address guns out there.

Probably more than you might think. They consistently show up well into the C7000 range. Yours is still the highest one I have found.

 

[Retired W4]

...Yours is still the highest one I have found.

David W. thought it was unusual in that respect as well.

 

[yo1dog]

Sorry for the delay!

Hi yo1dog
One item I cannot see in your photos is the top of the barrel. Do patent dates appear there? At C7080, I would anticipate their presence. They seem to show up as late as C8500, but they disappeared around that time.

No, there is nothing on the top of the barrel. Added that picture and more of the various markings.

 

[yo1dog]

More close ups.

 

[Retired W4]

That is one clean looking 38 M&P.

 

[yo1dog]

That is one clean looking 38 M&P.

Yea now that I finally had a chance to take a close look at it, to my untrained eye it looks like this thing has barely ever been fired. Other than bit of holster wear at the tip of the barrel and a bit on the ejector rod, I see basically no wear. Looks new. She's real pretty for 76yo!

Maybe too pretty... its intention was to be a working gun - thrown in a holster or bag in the back of the UTV in the off chance a hog or coyote crosses my path while working my ranch out here in South Texas - and some plinking. Now I feel like I need to baby her!

Maybe I get another to be my working gun... never hard to convince me to buy more guns.

While I think on that, any suggestions on another classic, must-have sidearm that is not too hard on the wallet? My only other revolver is a S&W 629 Deluxe 44mag. I do already have 2 1911s. I don't own any colts yet... I've also thought about the M9 a lot... hmmm.

 

[murphydog]

Yea now that I finally had a chance to take a close look at it, to my untrained eye it looks like this thing has barely ever been fired. Other than bit of holster wear at the tip of the barrel and a bit on the ejector rod, I see basically no wear. Looks new. She's real pretty for 76yo!

Maybe too pretty... its intention was to be a working gun - thrown in a holster or bag in the back of the UTV in the off chance a hog or coyote crosses my path while working my ranch out here in South Texas - and some plinking. Now I feel like I need to baby her!

Maybe I get another to be my working gun... never hard to convince me to buy more guns.

While I think on that, any suggestions on another classic, must-have sidearm that is not too hard on the wallet? My only other revolver is a S&W 629 Deluxe 44mag. I do already have 2 1911s. I don't own any colts yet... I've also thought about the M9 a lot... hmmm.

A 4" barrel model 65 (fixed sight) or 66 (adjustable sight) in .357 would be a good choice. Can use .38 Specials in them also.