My First M&P - The Rescue Begins

[TAROMAN]

With a safe full of S&Ws, one that I've never owned is the seminal M&P, the very essence of the company. I've always liked the look of the slim barreled 6 inch ones, but just never came across one before.
Traded a Mosin for this one - a "birthday" (1947) gun. Overall, it retained most of its original (thinning) blue with some light rust areas. Bore was like a mirror. original numbered stocks, somewhat dinged up.
As is my norm with old revolvers of unknown provenance, the first item of business is to open it up. Screws were un-marred(!). A hint of what was inside. 60+ years of hardened grease, oil and who knows what else. After several Kroil soakings, brushing and blowing out, it finally came clean.
I lightly polished the exterior with 0000 steel wool and more Kroil. Then did a light fingertip polishing with Mother's and a micro fiber rag. Was pleased with the nice satin glow that it now shows:

The stocks will need some sprucing up. Happily, the right (numbered) one is pretty nice. The left took some hits, I'd guess that whomever carried it back in the day was a lefty:

Anybody got an extra left stock they don't need?

I'll post an update when it's all done.

...just wanted to share.

 

[DCWilson]

One of the best feelings you can get in the S&W world is the feeling of satisfaction after you clean out and spruce up an old timer that was allowed to get stiff before its time. Good for you!

 

[TAROMAN]

One of the best feelings you can get in the S&W world is the feeling of satisfaction after you clean out and spruce up an old timer that was allowed to get stiff before its time. Good for you!

Well said! I guess it could be said it's one stiff before his time old-timer helping another out..

 

[Dragon88]

The stocks are fine, they add character to the gun. To me the original numbered stocks on a gun like this are more appealing than a set of replacements, even with some dings.

 

[Lee Barner]

i picked up a five inch a few years ago and it was so gummer up you could watch the hammer fall, almost in slow motion. wouldn't even dent a primer. like yours, after a good soaking and cleaning it is one slick puppy. enjoy it. lee

 

[ar15ed]

that is cool. be sure and post some pics when you get it back together!

 

[Walter Rego]

I would use some chemical paint stripper on those stocks and an old toothbrush to get all the gunk out of the checkering. Then maybe a soak in acetone to make sure any old soaked in oil comes out. I would try to steam some of the dings out, a soldering gun tip on a sopping wet cotton cleaning patch can apply spot heat to small areas. Avoid sanding as much as possible.
After that, try some Watco Danish oil, applied per directions on the can. Give that stuff 48-72 hours to cure, then some Tru-Oil rubbed in thinly on everything BUT the checkering. The Watco oil will finish that area just fine and not clog them up. I'll bet they will clean up nicely and still retain some character.

 

[TAROMAN]

Starting to reassemble. Carefully inspecting the trigger, sear, hammer, cylinder stop and rebound slide, I'm amazed at the smooth finish on these. While 60+ years of use obviously counts for a lot, the original level of finish seems to me to be much better than the '70s and later guns I've worked on.
Rebound spring is ruined (cut), so the project is on hold for now.

 

[125JHP]

some light work with a single tooth checkering tool and/or file will clean those grips right up.

 

[TAROMAN]

some light work with a single tooth checkering tool and/or file will clean those grips right up.

Exactly what I figured to do with these. I just ordered a pointing tool and handle from Brownell. Start with a good acetone soak and scrub. A friend has a 99% in the box Combat Masterpiece that will be the perfect example of how these once looked. They will always show their age, but should improve.
I have restored a few in the past. These were really battered with a chunk knocked out of them. Spliced in a piece of walnut and oil finished them. Sold those to a forum member a year or so ago.

 

[TAROMAN]

M&P Finished, Range Ready

Finished her up last night, so today its photo time then off to the range. As this gun had apparently been used in competition at some point, I retained the vintage "target" hammer as its part of its history:

As suggested, I bathed the stocks in acetone. Then pointed up the checkering. 3 coats of Watco Danish and finished with Feed-N-Wax. They retain their character and are servicable:

 

[GyMac]

Your gun turned out beautifully. You should be very proud of it.

 

[Bat Guano]

Nice old timer. The stocks came out nicely, too.

 

[sandspur6]

If I missed it, I'm sorry, but what is the SN range? I've got a 4" M&P i'm trying to date. My SN is C2030xx. Thanks.
Beautiful cleanup job, by the way.

 

[cornfused]

I've got an old M&P I need to do something with aswell... hmmmm...

 

[TAROMAN]

If I missed it, I'm sorry, but what is the SN range? I've got a 4" M&P i'm trying to date. My SN is C2030xx. Thanks.
Beautiful cleanup job, by the way.

Mine is one of the last of the post-war "S" K frames:

S852XXX

1945-1948: S811120-S999999

Yours would date to 1948, according to my SCSW:
1948: C1-C223998