Old K Frame Snub Arrives
- Thread starter Buick
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Is there a "K" prefix on the serial number?
I "think" you are looking at 1940 for a birth year.
Probably in the summer. But I don't know squat
about prewar M&P's
Probably in the summer. But I don't know squat
about prewar M&P's
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Probably 1941-1942.
DWalt
Member
It is quite a prize. Very few of these were made. Probably 1940, but it could well have shipped after the war. Worth getting a letter.
38SPL HV
Member
Beautiful firearm, a museum piece...yes, get that S&W letter. Thank you for sharing!
Buick
Letter that gun! There is a very high likelihood it was one of the 2" round butt M&P revolvers that shipped in August and September of 1946. An unknown quantity of those units had prewar serial numbers in the 694xxx range.
Contemporary production 2" M&P revolvers were in the S833xxx range. At least 100 were made in that run. What we don't know for sure is how many of that 100 (if any) were actually prewar frames. All we know for certain is that some prewar round butt frames and some postwar round butt frames were assembled with 2" barrels and shipped at about the same time. 10 of the units went to a distributor in Seattle. Others went to various distributors around the country. At least one ended up in service with the Boston Police Department.
If you have indeed located one of these special revolvers, you are a very fortunate man. Early postwar M&P collectors like myself would give our eye teeth to add one to the collection.
By the way, these unusual revolvers were the subject of an article in a recent issue of the SWCA Journal. It was excellent reading, but even the research that went into that article failed to unveil the whole story behind this particular batch of revolvers. My own S prefix research has turned up a few parts of the puzzle. Over time, I hope more of the story will become known.
Once you get a letter on your gun, please share the results with us here on the Forum.
Letter that gun! There is a very high likelihood it was one of the 2" round butt M&P revolvers that shipped in August and September of 1946. An unknown quantity of those units had prewar serial numbers in the 694xxx range.
Contemporary production 2" M&P revolvers were in the S833xxx range. At least 100 were made in that run. What we don't know for sure is how many of that 100 (if any) were actually prewar frames. All we know for certain is that some prewar round butt frames and some postwar round butt frames were assembled with 2" barrels and shipped at about the same time. 10 of the units went to a distributor in Seattle. Others went to various distributors around the country. At least one ended up in service with the Boston Police Department.
If you have indeed located one of these special revolvers, you are a very fortunate man. Early postwar M&P collectors like myself would give our eye teeth to add one to the collection.
By the way, these unusual revolvers were the subject of an article in a recent issue of the SWCA Journal. It was excellent reading, but even the research that went into that article failed to unveil the whole story behind this particular batch of revolvers. My own S prefix research has turned up a few parts of the puzzle. Over time, I hope more of the story will become known.
Once you get a letter on your gun, please share the results with us here on the Forum.
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I don't know how facetious your wording is meant to be. Original pre-war 2" M&P's more commonly are presented in threads starting with "I fought two other potential buyers to the death at a gun show" or "I bet the kids' college fund on Gunbroker".
As others have indicated, the gun is quite valuable; the last one that sold here on the forum (with letter and police provenance) went for over two grand. You will need the letter to confirm the original configuration. Post-war barrel replacements, sometimes hard to identify, have been discussed here.
After consulting with my database a bit more, I want to add a tidbit.
You listed your serial number as 6940xx. I have one listed in the spreadsheet at 694074. That has to be very close to yours. That particular revolver left the factory in mid-September, 1946, and was one of the 10 I mentioned earlier that went to a distributor in Seattle.
You listed your serial number as 6940xx. I have one listed in the spreadsheet at 694074. That has to be very close to yours. That particular revolver left the factory in mid-September, 1946, and was one of the 10 I mentioned earlier that went to a distributor in Seattle.
Are there patent markings on the back of the trigger and hammer? If not, that would further support JP@AK's thought about it being shipped in 1946. The rebound slide stud being polished flat also supports that position.
Blackcloud2
US Veteran
Some edification from the more experienced, but aren't those stocks from an era earlier than 1940? I would have expected to see wood stocks, where am I going wrong?
max503
Member
Serious question - Are you going to shoot it? I would have to try out that double action trigger stroke.
You can't make something like that on a 3-D printer.
You can't make something like that on a 3-D printer.
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Very nice, thanks for sharing.
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