please help me identify two guns i bought.

[MR. IHC]

i recently purchased a revolver that was sold to me as a model 1905-3 m+p. but after talking with a guy on gunbroker am not sure what it is. the serial # is c148xxx. it has a 5" barrel and blue finish. there is no model # in the swing out area. it says made in usa in english and spainish. was told it was made in 1915, then was told it was made in the 40's. was also told it is a pre-10. would like to know the actual model and year of manufacture. the other gun was sold to me at gander mtn. as a model 10 special. was told it has a 4and1/8 barrel. the serial # is s939xxx. has no model number in the swing out just the letter s and some other numbers. was told the s stood for special. it says made in usa only.(dont know if this would help date it or not) any info would be very helpful. thank you.

 

[geoff40]

Going by the SN only, the C gun is a post WW2 M&P, 1948-49 most likely. In other words, a pre Model 10, pre by a decade or so.
I am not sure what a Model 10 Special is, or what they meant. There was a post war run, using the S prefix, from 1945 to 48. If the gun is another M&P (I think it is) this one with the S is a bit older than your C prefix gun. Some of these are transitional guns, in that they have pre war long actions on post war frames, and are neat M&Ps.
Post some pics if you can, we'd like to see your revolvers. And, welcome to the forum!

 

[MR. IHC]

here is some photos of the s model, the other gun isn't here at the moment.thanks.

 

[Art Doc]

Both of your guns are Military & Police Models (M&P for short). In 1957 this model was assigned the Model 10 designation.

Both were made shortly after WW II in the 1946-1948 period. S&W used the S prefix until they reached S999,999 and then they stared using the C prefix. The S gun is what collectors call a "transition model" in that the features are those of the pre-war guns (and many parts may have been left over from before the war and then used) but it was actually assembled after the war. That is a 4" barrel.

The C prefix gun may indeed have a 5" barrel as this was also a standard length along with the 4" barrel. The 5" will bring a few more dollars when sold.

Here's a photo of a 5" M&P made in 1942 (identical to so-called pre-war guns). Note the shape of the hammer. Your S serial gun has this same hammer, a sign of it being a transitional model. The pair of 2" guns pictured below were made in 1949 and have the post-war hammers. I bet your C serial gun has one similar to these.

The M&P is one of the great, classic revolvers. S&W made millions of them in various barrel lengths and blue or nickel. Like I said, when model numbers were assigned in 1957 the M&P became the Model 10 and some folks refer to the early guns as "pre 10s" and some totally unknowledgeable people call all M&PS Model 10s out of ignorance.

 

[walnutred]

Wow, that is probably the cleanest S model I've seen posted for a while.

 

[MR. IHC]

thank you so much for the info. and yes you are correct the c model does have that style hammer. funny story, i was told the 5" was owned by a washing machine company for their security guard to carry, up here in syracuse.

 

[MR. IHC]

thanx!

 

[bk43]

M&P #C145250 shipped in March of 1951. It's a fairly safe bet that your #C148xxx was shipped later in 1951. Not a sure bet, but probably.

Bob