My .38 M&P Second Model (Model of 1902)

[mzack66]

My Dad carried this in the 50's as a Patrolman - Department issued! Shows some wear for sure but overall in really nice original shape. From my research it falls into the early run of the serial numbers stated below! I think I'm right? I guess this is pretty rare?

.38 S&W Special and .38 Military cal., civilian and standard models barrels have a 2-line marking ".38 S&W SPECIAL & U.S. SERVICE CTG'S" with the "Maltese Cross" emblem stamped both before and after the caliber, 6 shot, fluted cylinder, 4, 5, 6, and 6 1/2 in. barrels, blue or nickel, "S&W" monogram checkered hard rubber or checkered walnut grips. 12,827 mfg. 1902-1903. Serial number range 20,976-33,803.

 

[DCWilson]

I wouldn't call it rare, but you don't see a lot of them in the marketplace. Sounds like you have the original Model of 1902 with the straight barrel. The 1902/first change guns had a flared bell at the back of the barrel and a slightly larger thread diameter on the barrel shank where it screwed into the frame.

Can you post photos? There are lots of fans of the early M&P revolvers on this forum.

 

[mzack66]

I'm trying on the photo's, I took some with my cell, but they keep failing to upload. I don't think they're too large I'm not sure what else to try. Mine is pretty neat, sn# 22xxx. Looks like only a little more than 12,000 made.

 

[DCWilson]

Thanks for the photos. That gun is not in bad shape considering the century-plus of experience it has had.

The "U.S. SERVICE CTG" mentioned on the barrel is the .38 Long Colt. The .38 Special is a slightly longer cartridge derived from that round, but S&W was not about to put the world "Colt" on the barrel of one of its revolvers. At the time, the Army did use the .38 Long Colt as a standard round, but upgraded to the .38 Special very soon thereafter.

I have a 1902/first in very similar condition and numbered about 20000 higher than yours. Aside from the barrel profile, it looks identical -- even to the stocks. That wood is not commonly seen in that condition, by the way.

There is no really good definition of rare, though total production of only 1000-1500 units is a pretty good indicator of that status in collectors' eyes. If the survival rate of a larger production run is low, that model could be called rare too, but it's a different type of rare. Similarly, high demand for a model that was produced in 3000-5000 units could confer "rare" status on a model simply because they aren't often seen in the market. That doesn't mean they are rare in an absolute sense, just that most of them are locked up in collections and demand is high.

You don't see a lot of 1902s in good to really good condition, so I would say you have a nice one. And the fact that it is a family heirloom just makes it all the more valuable.

 

[mzack66]

Thanks David, I've never even shot it, I probably will though. I assume the .38 Special is okay to shoot in it from your comments? I always thought it was a .38 Special load, and had read some about the Colt round it was designed for, but like I said, I've never taken it to the range. Thanks for the comments on the grip, they are in really nice shape, especially considering he wore it as his service revolver in his early years. There's a lot of holster wear, but that's just nice patina to me!

 

[DCWilson]

Any standard .38 Special round should be OK. I shoot lower pressure 148 gr match wadcutter loads in my old M&Ps. You don't have to coddle these guns, but why stress them any more than you have to?

Avoid +P ammo. The gun probably wouldn't come apart on you, but jolts are jolts. After a century that one has earned the right to soft duty.

 

[KEN L]

YOU are lucky man! What a wonderful family heirloom. I think .38 special cowboy loads would be perfect for that gun.

 

[mzack66]

Awesome, thanks guys.

 

[mikepriwer]

That is a good gun. It has a fair amount of surface wear, but I don't notice any dings
and dents. The nicest part is the grips. Those are in very nice condition. If this
gun was carried as a duty weapon, then either those are a replacement pair of grips, or
the gun was carried with a different set of grips. They appear to show no wear, which
is typically inconsistent with a gun that was carried in duty.

The 4" M&P's were probably the most common of the early model of 1902. I would guess
there was at least 5000 of them made, in that configuration.

Mike Priwer

 

[mzack66]

Thanks Mike - my father says he carried it for a few years, and it had been issued to him out of the armory at his department (small town at the time). He said he never changed the grips, and when he got it it had previously been carried by others. It's been in his possession since 1953. The grips are in nice shape.