Pre-War Target M&P Thread - Post Your Photos

[RM Vivas]

Model 1946 Mexican Target Model

Technically not pre-war but still in the pre-war style.

Model of 1946 Mexican Target Model that was a one gun shipment to Frank Jonas at Jonas Arms & Aircraft.

Sold the gun, wish I still had it. One of the jewels I stumbled across.

Best,
RM Vivas

 

[dwh]

That collection certainly deserves some adjectives, humble isn't one of them. Don't think I've ever seen a 32-20 target for sale in the wild much less eight of them. Very, very nice!

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Actually every revolver in the picture is a 32-20 including the 1899. The goal is to acquire one of each of the engineering changes and the work on the different barrel lengths. Unfortunately I'm still on the hunt for an 1899 and a 1905.

 

[bruce5781]

One of only 2 32-20 targets I have.

Sent from my SM-G781U1 using Tapatalk

 

[RKmesa]

I'll start with my early 1899 targets...

Mike:

So glad you posted all those rare guns!!! What an amazing collection.

Thank you,

 

[glowe]

A couple of scarce revolvers fell into my lap last year. I first picked up a very nice 4 screw square butt revolver, serial number 61192 that shipped from the factory in December 1905. I had been looking for an example of an early 4 screw square butt target gun for a long time and finally ran across this one. Call it a Model 1902 or Model 1905, but I call it a tough gun to find. The serial number range ran only from 58000 to 62450, or 4450 of both round butt and square butt guns. Tracking those found in this range, I determined that about half were square butt guns. Estimating that less than 5% were targets. in these early years of K frame production, that ends up being only 178 guns. How many survived is more of a guess, but it is hard to believe that more than 100 are around today. That borders on rare in my book, seldom seen.

Now for the rest of the story. About a month later, I ran across another 4 screw square butt!! Was fortunate to be able to purchase it. Best part is that it was serial number 61196, just 4 numbers away from my first purchase. The odd fact was that it shipped in February 1905, about 10 months earlier than its cousin. A year later, and I have not found another one out there for sale, but am thrilled to have this pair. I totally agree with Richard that they are some of the most beautiful S&Ws ever produced.

I like the long barreled K frames, so was very happy to find an 8" Pope barreled 38 Target. Just a great look! The gun is serial number 106688 and shipped in April 1908. It was shipped to Bourne & Bond, Louisville, Kentucky. Oddly enough, Roy; factory letter stated the gun was part of a 2 gun shipment and were both were special orders with no barrel length stated. I have shot it and it performs very well.

 

[bruce5781]

5" nickle 32-20 has seen better days, but I still enjoy it.

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[Truckman]

A couple of scarce revolvers fell into my lap last year.

That's one of my major failings - I'm always sitting under the wrong tree when these things happen......Ben

 

[rct269]

NOW he calls for these things---and mine are all GONE!!

I had at least one of all the N frames, 14 M&P's from the 1902's through the 1905's, and 2 I frames---and only posted pictures of one of them---a good while back. That was a very spiffy King Super Target Triple Lock. Richard pretty much forced me into doing that one, and I thank him kindly!

It was fun while it lasted!

Ralph Tremaine

 

[S&W ucla]

Here is one of my favorites. 5" Target with factory ivory bead front sight. Shoots great, nice holster to go with it

 

[DCWilson]

Oops! Mistakenly posted an N-frame. Deleted.

 

[mikepriwer]

Here are some more early K-frame target revolvers.

The first revolver is serial 085. It's the engraved 1905 presented to Charlie Call on his 25th anniversary with the factory. The cylinder has what is left of its original gold washing.

The next picture is the 2-line caliber roll marking on the left side of the barrel.

The next picture is the engraving on the right side of the barrel.

The last picture is the date of the presentation, which is the date of his 25th anniversary at the factory.

Regards, Mike Priwer

 

[rct269]

Now THAT is an item!!

Ralph Tremaine

 

[DARE]

.38 M&P Model of 1905 3rd Change. Shipped May 1913 to Hamburg, Germany. Has German proof marks. Lyman Ivory Bead front sight.

 

[Truckman]

For some reason I forgot I have this one...My usual clumsy cellphone pic...

The letter states it shipped 3/26/1924 with non-monogrammed walnut stocks...All the metal numbers match, but although the fit is excellent the service stocks are not numbered......Ben

 

[PALADIN85020]

This beauty was shipped in my birth year on June 7. Note the verified original hump-back hammer!


(Click for enlarged view)

John

 

[ACORN]

I think this meets the criteria though I don't know the ship date.
Stocks are incorrect but has a humpback hammer.

 

[mikepriwer]

Do you know what was done to it when it went back to the factory?

Mike Priwer

 

[RKmesa]

Here is the most recent addition to my 1905 4th Target herd. It is SN 657323 and shipped from the factory in September 1936. A couple of unique attributes are the nice set of pre-war magnas (no numbers) and the gold tip added to the front sight. The box numbers to the gun and the owner added some personal instructions for adjusting the two-screw rear sight.















Thanks for letting me share!

 

[ACORN]

Do you know what was done to it when it went back to the factory?

Mike Priwer

If you're asking me, I have no idea, but I would not be surprised if it was re-blued.

 

[RKmesa]

I think this meets the criteria though I don't know the ship date. Stocks are incorrect but has a humpback hammer.

Do you know what was done to it when it went back to the factory?

If you're asking me, I have no idea, but I would not be surprised if it was re-blued.

Acorn:

Your gun is a beauty. I love the HBH!!! With the star on the butt, is there a date stamped under the grips? I have an RM that has a star stamped, but no date and the star is stamped through the blue, so I don't think it was re-blued. Perhaps it needed a fine tuning before it left the factory. As to when it shipped from the factory, that is one of the higher SNs that I have seen for a pre-war K-Frame target revolver. So I would expect that it shipped sometime in 1940.