New (to me) M&P Snub

[StevethePirate]

Picked up a new to me M&P round butt snub. I've been searching for an affordable one ($500 or less) for a while, and it looks like I got lucky. It's not in the best shape ever. The insides look like they haven't been cleaned up in a long time and the rebound spring was barely longer than the rebound slide once I got it apart. Cleaning and spring swapping followed. Unfortunately, a little surface rust appears to have come with the overall finish wear and scuffs, but I'm hoping that won't be a big deal. On the plus side, with the new rebound slide spring, the trigger press is very smooth and trigger's return forward is no longer laggy. A bit more elbow grease to clean up the rust, and it'll be ready to take out to the range.

I'm guessing it dates to about 1949, based on the C55XXX serial number, which would match it up to a 32 Hand Ejector Improved I-Frame snub I have as well.

 

[JP@AK]

Pretty good for the money. C55000 almost certainly left the factory in 1949. Here are a couple comparables:

C55161 2” RB shipped March 14, 1949
C56491 2” SB shipped in September 1949

In addition to the issues you mentioned, someone cut the spur off the hammer.

The prewar style stocks are cool.

 

[StevethePirate]

Yeah, the bob job isn't the cleanest I've ever seen, but I prefer a bobbed hammer anyhow, so I'm okay with it.

The S/N is right in between those two examples, so probably fits in there nicely.

And yes, the prewar grips (I can never quite tell why some are called grips and some stocks, so forgive me if I'm in the wrong here) are a really nice bit, and something I was hoping to find. They are quite a bit thinner than more modern grips though. Not bad, but different.

I also have an older Tyler T-grip on the way for it.

 

[jimmyj]

Did you take the side plate off without taking the top most screw out ?

 

[Alk8944]

And yes, the prewar grips (I can never quite tell why some are called grips and some stocks, ... are a really nice bit, and something I was hoping to find. They are quite a bit thinner than more modern grips though. Not bad, but different.

I also have an older Tyler T-grip on the way for it.

The difference between grips and stocks is simply semantics. Most people call them grips, but the S&W correct nomenclature is stocks. Blame S&W.

When that gun was made the factory was using both Walnut and Hard Rubber stocks on the round butt guns, with no apparent rhyme nor reason why a particular gun would be fit with one or the other. If you would like to have a set of reproduction Hard Rubber stocks for it N.C. Ordnance sells good copies. The Stocks for the .44 Double Action revolvers are correct for the S&W M&P round butt frame, I have bought several sets over the years: Smith & Wesson .44 DA Grips

I have wanted one like that gun, snubby with the round sight, for a long, long time, but the only one I ever found locally that was when I had the money had pawn shop "wriggle-work" engraving and they wanted way too much for it!

 

[crows]

That gun, as it lays there, just has "the look". People can complain about the finish, the bob job on the hammer, or argue that those grips aren't correct, but that gun just has " the look". I like it.

 

[GaryinOKC]

I bid on that one. Glad someone here got it.

Picked up a new to me M&P round butt snub. I've been searching for an affordable one ($500 or less) for a while, and it looks like I got lucky. It's not in the best shape ever. The insides look like they haven't been cleaned up in a long time and the rebound spring was barely longer than the rebound slide once I got it apart. Cleaning and spring swapping followed. Unfortunately, a little surface rust appears to have come with the overall finish wear and scuffs, but I'm hoping that won't be a big deal. On the plus side, with the new rebound slide spring, the trigger press is very smooth and trigger's return forward is no longer laggy. A bit more elbow grease to clean up the rust, and it'll be ready to take out to the range.

I'm guessing it dates to about 1949, based on the C55XXX serial number, which would match it up to a 32 Hand Ejector Improved I-Frame snub I have as well.

 

[StevethePirate]

Did you take the side plate off without taking the top most screw out ?

I did. However, I loosened the screw a good bit before tapping the grip to release the side plate. I did not force it out.

 

[cgt4570]

Here's mine. It has the rarely seen post-war checkering pattern non-magna round butt stocks. No, they aren't modified magnas. There are no washers on the back. C137684 would make it circa 1950.

 

[boykinlp]

Steve, you will really like your find. It should be really a great carry piece. Here is one of mine that is kinda close to your serial number. It is C58706 and shipped in June 1949. Mine plus the ones JP@AK gave the serial numbers for definitely show how S&W didn’t ship in serial number order.
Larry

 

[StevethePirate]

Unfortunately, I can't see Chris's picture(S), but Larry, that's a damn fine looking firearm!

I'm torn between sending mine out to Dave Laubert for a little action and cosmetic work, or to just try to get the rust off as gently as I can and keeping the metal treated with a bit of Renaissance Wax (as recommended in general by Bryan Eastridge). While it's not beautiful, every scuff has a story even if I don't know what it is.

 

[Jimmyjones]

C3148xx

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Here's its sister that shipped on the day before I was born, July 13, 1949.

 

[JP@AK]

C137684 would make it circa 1950.

Yes. C137684 2” RB shipped in December 1950.

 

[1blindref]

I love guns that look like they have a soul and a story to tell. That one sure does fit the bill. I'm glad that one got a good home and will be well cared for.

 

[robertrwalsh]

Those things are cool. I also have one from mid-1949 that belonged to the Portland, OR P.D. according to the letter. I have qualified with mine (it is slightly older than me but only slightly) and actually carry it every now and again.

 

[heeter3]

StevethePirate,I love those patinaed beauties.Yours looks great the character of the ones like yours are priceless.Once you tune it up It'll probably spend a lot of time partnering up with you.

 

[RKmesa]

They are great guns. This is C90449 and it shipped in September 1949...

 

[H Richard]

M&P Snubs are hard to pass up.

 

[Piwo]

I love those snub K frames. It would be nice for S&W to bring out a snub version of their recent no-lock, round sight model 10. Perhaps they could sell it as their classic "noir" model. The examples posted here are beautiful. These guns were rather pedestrian back in the day. The last one I bought back in 1993 or so sat in the local gunshop for some years. The serial number indicates a 1988 ship date! I carried one off duty for a time and loved it. I usually use them now as an extra gun for the car for trips, vacations, and such. They blend compactness and simplicity of use for family members who are familiar somewhat with guns but not confident with semi auto pistols.