Mysterious old M&P Target

[Modified]

Huge thanks to Mike for the process of this dream gun coming into my hands.

Some may know what this is, but I can say that I had no idea these existed until Mike showed me his. Even after seeing them, and him explaining, and seeing the letters... somehow the extreme rarity meant that I would never have one.

But, now I do, and it's everything I dreamed it could be.

The S/N is 43097 and it numbers in the .32-20 M&P serial range. Shipped out in 1909. You may note however that the chamber marking on the barrel is not present.

Roy states in this letter he has seen 4 of them, but I'm told that this gun now makes #6 known in collections currently.

Was playing with the camera, here's a glamour shot with the small gold collection I have been putting together over the past couple years at garage sales, thrift shops, and a bit of online auctioning;

And here's a set of early chisel checkered Ropers I put on for trying out shooting the gun. It shoots like a dream, as expected. But realistically not different enough to justify cataloging it.

 

[22hipower]

Very nice and certainly on the list of rare S&Ws. Only issue I note is that it doesn't appear to have enough modifications to meet your usual collection criteria. Great gun, enjoy and perhaps we'll see it at the next Symposium?

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Truckman]

Only issue I note is that it doesn't appear to have enough modifications to meet your usual collection criteria.

I suspect just being diverted from the original factory intent of being chambered in .32-20 might be enough to satisfy a whim toward being "modified"...If not I'll be happy to provide shelter for it......Ben

 

[murphydog]

Perhaps I am missing something or a previous post…but is this a K frame Target in .32 S & W Long?

 

[22hipower]

Perhaps I am missing something or a previous post…but is this a K frame Target in .32 S & W Long?

1905 Second change target. The S&W letter is posted on the SWCA members Forum.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[dwh]

I think Alan nailed this one. A 1905 32S&W long target in the 32-20 sn# range. What else could it be with Mike and Roy involed

 

[Modified]

Perhaps I am missing something or a previous post…but is this a K frame Target in .32 S & W Long?

 

[murphydog]

Thanks for the letter image. This reminds me of a post a while back:

What is a rare Smith & Wesson? Roy Jinks has never owned one.

What is a super rare Smith & Wesson? Roy Jinks has never heard of one.

 

[Modified]

Thanks for the letter image. This reminds me of a post a while back:

What is a rare Smith & Wesson? Roy Jinks has never owned one.

What is a super rare Smith & Wesson? Roy Jinks has never heard of one.

Well, in the letter he calls this one "very rare".

So, here you have one we can call rare!

 

[austintexas]

32 long target

Darn! Another one I'll have to add to my Grail list. Just as I find one another pops up.
SWCA 892

 

[THREEDFLYER]

Nice find Caleb, congrats my friend!!

 

[Modified]

Darn! Another one I'll have to add to my Grail list. Just as I find one another pops up.
SWCA 892

Yeah, that's what happened to me when Mike showed me his pair of 4" guns in this batch.

I believe you can see them in his Rare Pairs post.

 

[SS336]

Wow, beautiful Target. Thanks for sharing the pictures with us. It is really special with those old Ropers on it.

 

[N7BLW]

Mine target is a little lower S/N

Huge thanks to Mike for the process of this dream gun coming into my hands.

Some may know what this is, but I can say that I had no idea these existed until Mike showed me his. Even after seeing them, and him explaining, and seeing the letters... somehow the extreme rarity meant that I would never have one.



But, now I do, and it's everything I dreamed it could be.

The S/N is 43097 and it numbers in the .32-20 M&P serial range. Shipped out in 1909. You may note however that the chamber marking on the barrel is not present.

Roy states in this letter he has seen 4 of them, but I'm told that this gun now makes #6 known in collections currently.

Was playing with the camera, here's a glamour shot with the small gold collection I have been putting together over the past couple years at garage sales, thrift shops, and a bit of online auctioning;

And here's a set of early chisel checkered Ropers I put on for trying out shooting the gun. It shoots like a dream, as expected. But realistically not different enough to justify cataloging it.

Beautiful piece. My 6 1/2 inch target is a real 32-20. S/N 42044.
I 've always assumed it was about 1909 vintage.