Pre-War Hand Ejector Value

[palmetto99]

Howdy folks.

I came across a 5-screw .38 hand-ejector today. It's in almost pristine shape. Lock up is tight. If it has been shot, it's not vey much. The seller does not have box or papers. The serial no. puts it between 1929 and 1941. The asking price is $540. Would like feed back on that price.

Also, I thought that all pre-war hand-ejectors had rounded front sight (half-moon?), this example has a ramp front sight. Is that correct?

 

[DCWilson]

Alarm bells are going off in my mind. Good prewar M&Ps can be had for "shooter grade" prices because so many of the guns exist. A prewar M&P at $540 would have to be pretty special for me to give it a second look -- like 99% or better without a box, or 97% with a box.

The fact that this gun has a non-standard front sight kills some value. Perhaps it's a matter of a prior owner simply filing down the back of a half-round blade because he wanted a ramp sight, or perhaps a later barrel was screwed onto a pre-war frame. Is there a serial number on the flat underside of the barrel? If so, does it match the numbers on butt and cylinder back surface?

I would be suspicious of a reblue. A new-looking but modified 80-year old gun? That does not compute.

Even without seeing photos, I think I would let this one pass me by.

 

[ar15ed]

i agree. it sounds too fishy. keep walkin'!

 

[diamonback68]

Other possibility is a modern barrel was installed.
As David said look to see if the same serial number is stamped on the flat under the barrel.

 

[mikepriwer]

Its very uncommon to put a ramp front sight on these guns. They
have forged front sight base and half-moon blade. As David suggested,
perhaps its the half-moon blade that has been shaped into a ramp.
Otherwise, it would be something rather unsightly, because it would
have to be attached over the existing forged front sight base.

Telling us the first part of the serial number is helpful. Its also
helpful, but not always 100% meaningful, if you confirm that the
serial number is the same on the butt, rear face of the cylinder, and
the flat under the barrel.

A picture ( or two ) would help confirm if its the original barrel, or a
later replacement.

Mike Priwer

 

[murphydog]

Another possibility, is there a letter prefix to the SN? A C prefix would make it more likely to have the ramp front sight, but it would be post-war by a fair time margin.

 

[handejector]

You sometimes see a half moon filed into a ramp.
That's all the factory did when they started offering the ramp. (with machinery, of course)

In the 1952 catalog, they offer your choice on the 38 M&P.
Below is a hand done job on a 1950 44 Military. Neatly done.

 

[palmetto99]

Thanks for the input so far folks.

I forgot to mention it's a 2" barrel.

The serial no. is 292892 if someone wants to back check the years of production.

It'll be a couple of weeks before I'll be able to visit that shop again, but I'll be sure to take my reading glasses and get a better look at that barrel and front sight.

 

[handejector]

NO way that number is an original 2 inch if there is no letter prefix.
WAY too early.

 

[Muley Gil]

Sounds like a cut-down Victory model.

 

[Goony]

I forgot to mention it's a 2" barrel.

The serial no. is 292892 if someone wants to back check the years of production.

It'll be a couple of weeks before I'll be able to visit that shop again, but I'll be sure to take my reading glasses and get a better look at that barrel and front sight.

Factory 2" barrel M&P's were not made until the early 600000 serial number range (circa 1934). Serial number C292892 (circa 1954) could be a viable possibility, however, including its having a ramp front sight.

 

[palmetto99]

Ok, a couple more things come to mind about this revolver.

The trigger was smooth. I know sometimes that grooved triggers were smoothed out, but that was not a factory option at that time, was it?

The stocks seemed to be the later style diamond magna's come to think of it.

 

[DCWilson]

More and more this sounds to me like a postwar revolver. I like the idea that the gun's serial number has a C prefix that was simply not noticed.

If so, $540 is WAY too much.

 

[palmetto99]

No letter prefix in the serial no. I may have not had my reading glasses, but I could tell there were no letters. The dealer read the number out for me.

I've come across pre-war hand-ejectors that have been refurbished and those have some signs of having been out in the world (dents n' dings). This one seemed to nice. Lock up was to good. Stocks were pristine.

Let me ask a dumb question (shock). When does the frame get a serial number in the assembly process? Could a frame with a serial number get assembled later than the number suggests? I want to say I read some where that at some point after The War, S&W assembled some "parts" guns. Just wondering.

I will agree the price is way high. The dealer that has this ALWAYS starts high.

Anyway, thanks for all the input folks. This is a great place.

 

[mikepriwer]

Its possible that, if it is a post-WW2 gun, the C part of the serial
number could be away from the the other digits. It could be almost
to the edge of the butt, with a 1/2" to 3/4" gap between it and the
digits. Also check to see if there is a serial number on the rear
face of the cylinder, and one the flat under the barrel. Look for a
C there, as well. Some people just don't associate the C with the
serial number, when its far away from it.

One thing that has not be asked yet - does the barrel has a lug
under the cylinder, to catch the extractor rod ?

Its very very unlikely that a 292XXX frame lay around for 14 - 15 years
before being completed into a gun. That is about the time span
between guns of this serial number range, and when the 2" barrel
first came out. Its remotely possible, but I doubt any betting person
here would take that bet.

Another thing that was not asked - does the gun look post-WW2, or
pre-WW2 ? Post-WW2 guns have a different hammer, if you know
the difference.

Its also possible that the barrel has been replaced with a legitimate
2" pre-WW2 barrel, and that someone filed the front sight blade into
a ramp.

As we've said before, pictures would sure help.

Mike Priwer