Nice Pre War M&P .38 with a fun Serial Number

[LEO918]

Picked up this Pre War M&P .38 Special a couple weeks ago, very nice condition and serial number would indicate it possibly shipped in 1942.
The fun part is the serial number reads the same forward and backward.

SN: 695596

Found it nearly impossible to photo with lighting conditions and my poor skills with my cell phone.

 

[JP@AK]

Cool palindrome Leo. Nice catch.

However, I believe you are dating it a bit too late. M&P serial numbers reached 720000 by the end of 1940, and by that time production was nearly all British Service Revolvers. The latest this one would likely have been assembled is probably early 1940, perhaps a bit earlier. In April, 1942, the sequence hit 999999.

 

[LEO918]

Thanks, Jack. I referred to the Standard catalogue and we all know the numbers are approximate.
I also suspicioned my estimate was off and the M&P most likely shipped earlier.

 

[Engine49guy]

My closest are
Serial  683698 Shipped May 1940
Serial 844737  Shipped Oct 1941

Those late 30's early 40's M&Ps are the high water mark of production with smoothest actions and best blueing , fit n finish IMO.

 

[Gun Relics]

Found it nearly impossible to photo with lighting conditions and my poor skills with my cell phone.

On the serial numbers or fine details, try holding the phone further away and zooming in a bit on the serial number until focued (to zoom in and out, put your pincer fingers on the screen and slide them together or apart) once you have the right distance, it will focus. The other thing you can do is when you're in camera mode, touch the screen on where you want to focus.

 

[Truckman]

The other thing you can do is when you're in camera mode, touch the screen on where you want to focus.

I hadn't heard that one...Good to know, thanks......Ben

 

[LEO918]

Well thanks to my new friend Gun Relics kind help, here's the serial number again.

 

[Frailer]

I will admit that I am more intrigued by “fun” serial numbers—and more willing to purchase guns with them—than I should be. My only “palindromic” serial number is Chiefs Special #8338.

 

[Truckman]

Well thanks to my new friend Gun Relics kind help, here's the serial number again.

I get 659596...I'm glad they got away from those hard to read earlier fonts......Ben

 

[BC38]

Regardless of whether or not the serial number is a palindrome, that is definitely one gorgeous M&P.
Looks like it barely even has a turn line. Hard to imagine how it has survived 85-90 years in such beautiful condition.

 

[DCWilson]

Very nice pickup, Leo. Congratulations.

Dates: I have 755557 -- another magic number or palindrome -- that shipped in March 1941. I also have a 38 M&P Target with serial number 649954 that shipped on 7 June 1935.

An interesting feature of your revolver is the small logo on the left side instead of the large logo on the sideplate. The production change order to move the logo's placement was issued in December 1936 and began to get immediate implementation in January 1937.There was a short period in which revolvers with the logo stamped in both places were coming out of the factory. With a serial number 10,000 higher than my second data point and a left-side logo, I would guess your revolver was produced and perhaps even shipped in the fall of 1936.

 

[JH1951]

I'm a sucker for serial numbers sometimes. I have a Mod. 1917 .45ACP with SN 191745......

 

[Truckman]

My personal favorite among mine is my Aces & Eights (11188) .32-20 M&P...It's on my "yet to be photo'd" list, so no pics at this time......Ben

 

[LEO918]

Thank you, David. Very enlightening. Hadn't given any thought to the logo location, I'll take 1936 all day long.

 

[JH1951]

My only palindrome serial number is a short one on a Chiefs Special.

 

[rct269]

Your serial number beats my (almost) fun serial number all to Hell and back!

Mine was 11112---that's what's known as "A day late, and a dollar short!"----or "Close, but no cigar!"

Ralph Tremaine

 

[LEO918]

I know what you mean Ralph. I have a colt Singlle Action Army with serial number 123455.

 

[Marshal Tom]

That is just a thing of beauty. It is hard to think that guns like that survived all that time in that sort of condition, but I for one am glad it did!

 

[BC38]

I'm a sucker for serial numbers sometimes. I have a Mod. 1917 .45ACP with SN 191745......
View attachment 686286

For my money that is about as cool as a SN gets!

 

[RKmesa]

That is a BEAUTY - just like you said.

Thanks for sharing,