Model 1905 info needed

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Hey folks I just received a new toy and would appreciate any and all information on this puppy. I think it had a factory re-bluing, this gun is really in beautiful shape!
Thanks for the help…Tom
 

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It is a .38 Military and Police, square butt variation.

I'm having a bit of trouble making out the serial number. It appears to be 3280 plus something. That, and the stocks, put it in about 1919. It possibly shipped in 1920. It has the optional 6" barrel.

As you pointed out, it went back to the Service Department at some point - star on the butt and barrel. Under the left stock panel you should find a date stamp (like xx.xx). That's when the service was accomplished.

Nice older piece.
 
As above, I can't make out the SN clearly, but it is undeniably from the 1919-20 period. The grips would be consistent with that. That makes it too late to be a Model of 1905 because S&W ceased using that Model of 1905 terminology immediately prior to WWI, when they started calling it simply the .38 Military and Police (M&P) Model. Nonetheless, many collectors and even some "authoritative" reference sources have continued to use the Model of 1905 terminology in regard to all square butt M&Ps made until WWII, even though it is technically incorrect. The other side of the coin is that there were only a few engineering and cosmetic changes made in those K-frame revolvers manufactured between 1905 and 1945.

One thing you should do is to determine if all serial numbers match. The main ones are those on the butt, the rear face of the cylinder, on the back side of the extractor star, the flat on the bottom of the barrel, and the back side of the right grip panel (which may be penciled and difficult to make out). There is another location I won't mention as it is difficult to see. If all do not match, there have probably been some parts changes. It could be a re-blue, but if so it is a good job. On the left side of the metal grip frame, there may be a stamping something like 8.28. That would indicate that it went back to S&W in August 1928 for some type of service work, which could well have included re-bluing.
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Nice find none the less, looks very nice hammer trigger color nice. The six inch barrel is a new quirk for me have a mid fifties to pick up Monday. New fondness for that particular model.
Thanks
 
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