New York Police Target Model ++UPDATE 08MAR24 ++

[RM Vivas]

Robert

The upper right corner of the first panel has 'CA 1923' , probably in pencil. Based on this, I would say the sights were introduced sometime around 1923.

The sights described in this document are exactly what are on the engraved presentation gun I showed in my earlier post. The factory letter describes the gun as a police target. This document makes the claim that the new fixed sights are as good as the conventional target sights. Since the M&P's were, probably primarily, being used by police, I'm guessing that eventually became known as police target sights.

The first cataloging of the Model of 1899 describes the gun as a Military model. That did not work out very well, and some time later, they added Police to the description, thus bringing the name to M&P. Police departments were big buyers and users of these guns. It's not surprising, to me, that the NYPD adopted the name New York Police Target, but I have yet to see any factory advertisement with the name New York Police target. After all, a lot of these guns were sold and used by Police Department around the country.

Regards, Mike Priwer

My memory isn't what it used to be, but I do believe I saw some advertising that used the term New York Police Target Model.

Obviously, it appears on numerous internal documents and internal correspondence as I've shown in some posts.

I seem to recall seeing some advertising that used the term, but again, the memory banks are a bit faded. I'll hunt around.

I think at some point in the somewhat distant future, an article on the New York Police Target Model might be in order!

Thank you for the Service Sights info!

Best,
RM Vivas

 

[glowe]

When were those Service Sights introduced?

Best,
RM Vivas

To add another data point to Mike's 1923 flyer, the 1923 S&W Catalog D-3 also highlights the new service sight as shown below.

 

[mikepriwer]

Robert

There were about 18 or 20 individual orders from West Point Cadets for 6" 1899 M&P's, with a lanyard ring. The factory took guns from the vault, drilled through the center of the butt, and stamped the serial number over the main spring tension screw, under the grips. This happened with the 4th year (seniors) class of 1900, and a few orders from the classes of 1901 and 1902.

Your guns would have received the same treatment.


Regards, Mike Priwer

 

[tt66]

Such a neat thread.

When the 1923 Manual was posted, I thought it looked familiar. Sure enough, I have one. The New Sights are also mentioned on page 2 which is a "Notice" page.

Tim