New to me today

[guesser]

Last date on the barrel is '14. 5", half moon front sight, 38 Special, grips without medallion, S/N 9612XX.
If I have my terminology right.....Model of 1905, 4th change, probably mid 1920's.
Seemed very nice to me so I paid for it and here I am requesting verification or refutation; whichever is applicable. Please tell me about this old girl. 3 pics if I can get them posted.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

The ejector Rod is post-war. Are you sure you didn't leave an S off that serial number.

Guy

 

[guesser]

Yes, there is an "S" several spaces away, like clear over in the corner.
OK, I see where the grips aren't for this later gun. Thanks.

 

[Absalom]

Indeed. A 5" barrel on a 961-serial from 1942 would indicate a parts gun, as by that time only 4" Victory-style revolvers were produced in .38 Special. In view of the round front sight, it can only be an S-prefix.

....
OK, I see where the grips aren't for this later gun. Thanks.

Those actually aren't factory grips at all; they are aftermarket. S&W did not make magna tops without medallions; the 1920s non-medallion stocks had rounded tops.

 

[JP@AK]

Yes, Absalom my friend, it is actually S9612xx (see post #3).

It is in the midst of a run of 5" revolvers in the S961xxx range. They were shipping in the first half of 1948. What is interesting is that this part of the S serial range runs rather wild. In the S961xxx to S970xxx segment, I show guns shipping anywhere from December, 1947, to June, 1948, with no distinguishable pattern. Before you get to the S960s, there is a fairly dependable pattern with only the occasional flier. Not so in this range.

 

[DWalt]

FWIW, the two closest SNs on my list are S9613xx shipping in 1/48 and S9618xx shipping in 12/47. Yours is probably close. It's a postwar Military and Police model, made shortly before the long action was changed to a short action, creating the so-called "pre-Model 10". BTW, the last known use of the barrel-shaped extractor rod knob on the M&P is thought to be at around SN S903xxx (not to say that lower SNs cannot have the knurled rod tip), so yours is well into the knurled rod tip era.

 

[LEO918]

Welcome to the Smith & Wesson Forum. Great start!

 

[guesser]

Thank you for the info. I realize S&W numbers are hard to pin down. So Post WW II, I don't mind at all. it is a nice gun and tight. Can anyone direct me to or post a pic of the correct for period grips??

 

[Absalom]

......Can anyone direct me to or post a pic of the correct for period grips??

The attached picture is S961030 with original stocks.

 

[JP@AK]

Guesser
Absalom's picture is correct. Notice that the upper shoulder on the stocks go high and then drop off sharply to the frame. The shoulder is not tapered as the later Magna stocks are, beginning in about 1953.

 

[ParadiseRoad]

...had to be very near the end of the one line address...

 

[DWalt]

...had to be very near the end of the one line address...

The four line address block engineering change order was issued in April of 1948. So this one's manufacture must pre-date that. My SN list indicates that the four line addresses seem to show up first on those M&Ps with 6/48 shipping dates. At least I don't show any four-line K-frames having earlier shipping dates.

 

[Absalom]

The four line address block engineering change order was issued in April of 1948. So this one's manufacture must pre-date that. My SN list indicates that the four line addresses seem to show up first on those M&Ps with 6/48 shipping dates. At least I don't show any four-line K-frames having earlier shipping dates.

I seem to remember that we've discussed this before, but are there any S-prefix guns on record with the four-line? I have seen C-prefix guns with four-digit and (my memory once again is hazy) maybe even five-digit serials that still had the one-line.

 

[DWalt]

I seem to remember that we've discussed this before, but are there any S-prefix guns on record with the four-line? I have seen C-prefix guns with four-digit and (my memory once again is hazy) maybe even five-digit serials that still had the one-line.

Probably no S-series M&Ps (that weren't re-stamped during repair), as the first C-series was supposedly manufactured on 3/22/48, before the four-line engineering change order was issued. But it would be likely for an early C-series to have one line. I list C85xx as a one-liner.

 

[guesser]

This particular gun has a 2 line address/pat. date stamp.

 

[murphydog]

The "stamp" usually refers to the one on the lower, forward right frame - before 1948 it would have been Made in U.S.A. After this the "four-line".

 

[guesser]

Thanks, learning....learning.....learning!

 

[jimbo728]

I like the configuration of your revolver. I hope it gives you many years of enjoyment. I bet it shoots very well.
Jim

 

[guesser]

Was the 5" barrel as common as 4" & 6"??