New 1899 1st Mod M&P

[H Richard]

I was able to obtain at an auction over the weekend another Mod 1899. A 5" Nickel, with a few changes. First note the 4 line address on the frame.

It is the first one I have seen, and I'm told it stems from the gun being returned for refinish, and the factory updating all the rollmarks, (until Roy Jinks stopped the factory from doing it, as it muddied the history of the gun). It does look a little strange with the ejector rod just sticking out there and the 4 line address showing.
The gun was refinished May 1978 per the R-N 5 78 stamped on the left side of the frame. .

At the time the stocks were evidently replaced with what appears to me to be early post war service stocks.

The finish overall appears to be almost as it was immediately after the refinish, I don't believe it has been shot since. The action was very gummy from congealed oil which I cleaned out. The chambers and bore are like new.

Here's a picture along with my 4" blued 1899 1st Mod M&P.

The front sight also was slightly reshaped, a little more along the lines of a 70's model than the original 1899.


I don't know if the gun was originally nickel, I think so as there is no "B" stamped on the barrel flat, but there is a "*" on the flat and on the cylinder by the s/n. The two guns were shipped within one month of each other, 12/1900 and 1/1901. Who knows they could have been on an assembler's bench both at the same time. The s/n's are only 589 apart.

 

[Babysitr]

You know what you have....very nice revolvers....they're in good hands

 

[S&WIowegan]

Very nice

You have a high grade pair of the earliest hand ejectors. I'm pretty ignorant on pre-1900 guns. Is it correct that they are the first of the hand ejector line-up?

 

[DWalt]

You have a high grade pair of the earliest hand ejectors. I'm pretty ignorant on pre-1900 guns. Is it correct that they are the first of the hand ejector line-up?

The Model of 1896 (.32 Long) was actually the first S&W hand ejector revolver. Colts were earlier.

 

[Bob L]

A very nice pair of hand ejectors. Congratulations!

 

[delcrossv]

They're a lot of fun with Black Hills HBWC's.

Very nice acquisition!

 

[tenntex32]

Neat revolvers.

Would one have to specifically request a nickeled hammer and trigger as I was under the assumption S&W did not normally do such with regards to their nickel finish? Is the extractor star nickeled as well?

I only have one factory nickeled S&W example and it is a much later 10-5...…...but I was under the understanding it's non-nickeled hammer, non-nickeled trigger, and non-nickeled star extractor were the norm with regards to S&W nickel finishes.

Thanks,
Dale

 

[H Richard]

The extractor star is not nickel, but the hammer and trigger have a very thin coating. The parts of each that have been exposed are mostly disappeared.

 

[glowe]

I was discussing this gun with another SWCA member after seeing it for sale and our thought is that the hammer and trigger could have been plated outside the factory?? If you look at the high quality plating on the gun, you will notice that the plating on the trigger and hammer is deteriorating what looks like an inferior plating job??

The contrast is quite dramatic on a high finish nickel revolver with a dark case colored hammer and trigger, so maybe an owner had more plating done?? Some people can never have too much bling!!

 

[H Richard]

The finish on the hammer & trigger is quite thin, and deteriorating in exposed area's. I agree, it is possible and maybe probable these were done outside the factory. I don't know if S&W would do them by request? As it has been said many times, never say never about S&W.

I plan to get a letter and then a research on it. I'm thinking it might have been original nickel, but then I checked my blued one and it isn't marked with a "B" on the barrel flat either. We'll see what the future tells us. The refinish marks do appear to be an "N", then a "R-N" stamped over the previous "N".

 

[H Richard]

I got the letter some time ago and just recalled I needed to post here. It did letter as original nickel, and verified the re-nickel and re-stamping and new grips. I did contact Historical Foundation but records from 1978 have not been digitized yet and no further search has been made.



The barrel and cylinder show no signs of having been fired since it was redone, so "was the hammer and trigger re-nickel by the factory in May of 78? Maybe some day we will know.

 

[merl67]

I think these are a neat variation a time when Smith and Wesson would do their best to accommodate a customer even on a gun thst was at that time way out of production. Yes it is a bit strange seeing the four line address, but it is part of its history.

 

[rincar]

When I first started as a Police officer in a very small town in 1972. I was issued a Badge and a 1899 S&W M&P with a 6 inch barrel. I placed the S&W M&P in a drawer. Then I went to the local gun shop and purchased a newer used M&P with a 4 inch barrel. Not that the 1899 was not a fine revolver. Its just that I thought that a newer revolver was called for.

 

[Muley Gil]

When I first started as a Police officer in a very small town in 1972. I was issued a Badge and a 1899 S&W M&P with a 6 inch barrel. I placed the S&W M&P in a drawer. Then I went to the local gun shop and purchased a newer used M&P with a 4 inch barrel. Not that the 1899 was not a fine revolver. Its just that I thought that a newer revolver was called for.

I'm drifting off topic (AGAIN!), but I had a good friend who started in law enforcement in a small Alabama town. The chief asked him if he had a uniform. Gary said No and the chief dug around and found a uniform shirt. Gary was tall and lanky and the chief didn't have any trousers to fit him. The chief then asked Gary had a handgun and once again the answer was No.

So, Gary started on the night shift wearing a uniform shirt, blue jeans and carrying a department owned shotgun on his shoulder. He did a walking beat, shaking door knobs downtown.

 

[rincar]

How nice the old days of Police work were.