M&P ?

[Chukar60]

I know very little about pre-model # guns. I ran across this fairly clean example of what I believe is an M&P.
Gun is a 5 screw, 38 S&W CTG, believe it is a 5" barrel. gun is in 90% + condition
SN C134***,
Any information I could get on this including some idea as to value would be appreciated.
Thank you in advance for the information.

 

[crsides]

looks clean, maybe new except for the scuff on the cylinder in first pic.

I would think early 50's gun, $400 would be a good deal.


Charlie

 

[DWalt]

That SN would likely be from late 1950 to early 1951 as a shipping date. It looks to be in pretty good shape, and grips seen correct. I'd agree with the earlier $400 estimate for a private sale, maybe a little higher on a good day.

 

[DCWilson]

Crucial question: does the barrel read .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG or .38 S&W CTG? I can't tell from the photo.

The former was produced primarily for North American sales, but the latter, which chambers a shorter cartridge, was produced under contract for Commonwealth countries. The .38 Special M&P became known as the Model 10 in 1957, whereas the M&P in .38 S&W became the Model 11. The Commonwealth guns, a few thousand of which were sold to South Africa in the 1950s and 1960s, are a little more valuable to collectors because they are scarcer. But the .38 Special models are preferred by US shooters because they chamber a slightly more powerful cartridge.

Other M&Ps serialed in the C134xxx range are known to have been shipped in 1950. Because of the company's inventory management policies, this gun may have shipped up to a year later.

 

[DWalt]

I think I see .38 S.& W.SP....... stamped on the barrel. I don't have a C134xxx on my listing, but I do have bracketed serial numbers on either side which would indicate late 1950-early 1951 as a probable shipping period. But nothing is certain aside from a factory letter.

 

[Chukar60]

Thanks for the information. Was relatively sure it was an M&P, condition is pretty good. I was told it was a 38 S&W and not a 38 spcl. Seller is asking $599.00 and is not inclined to dicker at this point. Wait and see if they soften up a lot. A little is not going to work for me

 

[bedbugbilly]

My 5" M & P has the serial # C1847XX. I was told on here that mine was shipped sometime in 1952 so your's would have to predate that if that helps any.

I love mine and it's a great shooter - the one you are showing is a nice one but on the high side $ wise from the ones I've run across. Hopefully it will work out that you can get the guy down to a fair price.

 

[JP@AK]

In pic #3, it looks like the letters immediately following S&W are SP. This seems to me to indicate it is chambered for the .38 Special, since the alternative would be for the next two letters to be CT.
Just an observation that may not be correct, but that is what it looks like.

 

[DWalt]

$599 is pricey for this M&P. Something closer to $400 is more like a fair price.

 

[Jaymo]

$599 is pricey for this M&P. Something closer to $400 is more like a fair price.

This is true.
HOWEVER, prices have gone crazy. Especially on any that are in that nice of condition.
If it's all original, including finish, it's not like it's going to be going down in value.

I hate to admit it, but I'd probably fork over the money for it.
My 1964-65 10-5 snub wasn't cheap. $425, IIRC.
However, I had to consider how badly I wanted it, how often I see them for sale (almost never, locally) how nice the condition was (virgin), and how often I see them in that condition (never).

All those thoughts ran through my mind in a fraction of a second, and I made the decision to get it, while I was holding it.
I wasn't about to put it down, for fear someone would snatch it up.

I'd offer him $500 cash.
I'd probably still pay him the $599, if he wouldn't come down.