Please Help Again....

[Revolver Rookie]

I'm still working on my inventory sheet and would like the correct terminology of exactly what I have. .38 Special, 6 1/2"inch Barrel, 5 screw, serial # 122014* It's the only gun in my collection with a star after the numerical serial Number.
Thank you very much for helping me again.

 

[Wrangler Rich]

The star indicates that your .38 went back to the factory for some reason. If you take the stocks off, you should see a date that this trip was made. Should look something like: 08.50 (August, 1950)

WR

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

You have a 1905 M&P made between 1906-1909. I believe the star denotes a return to the factory for repair. The stocks are not original and date from the twenties.

John

 

[Revolver Rookie]

The star indicates that your .38 went back to the factory for some reason. If you take the stocks off, you should see a date that this trip was made. Should look something like: 08.50 (August, 1950)

WR

You are absolutely correct 8.12

 

[Revolver Rookie]

You have a 1905 M&P made between 1906-1909. I believe the star denotes a return to the factory for repair. The stocks are not original and date from the twenties.

John

1905 M&P
So is this a no change, or a first change? Or do you not consider the change?
Sorry I just want to get it right on the inventory list.

 

[DARE]

.38 M&P Model of 1905, 1st change.

 

[JP@AK]

.38 Special, 6 1/2"inch Barrel, 5 screw, serial # 122014*

Others have identified it correctly.

110xxx (I'd have to look up the last three digits) is a 6 1/2" target model. It shipped in April, 1908, to Portland, Oregon. No guarantee, but yours likely shipped a bit later, possibly in 1909. The 6 1/2" barrel was mostly discontinued in 1909, leaving the options at 4", 5" and 6".

According to your 2d post, it went back to the Service Department in August, 1912. Hard to say what work was done at that time, but the Historical Foundation might be able to find some records. If you are interested in that procedure, let us know. It will cost you some money.

Thanks for showing us this nice older piece (even though it has stocks on it that are more than a decade newer than the revolver).

 

[DWalt]

"So is this a no change, or a first change? Or do you not consider the change?"

Note that the "Change" designation was not used by S&W. It is something invented by gun collectors back in the 1930s to unofficially indicate (usually) minor design changes made over time. Its use is optional. I would say that yours very likely shipped sometime in 1909 or 1910 based upon my SN list. Your grips are of the design used by S&W throughout the 1920s, therefore they are not original to the gun.