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

[RKmesa]

One of the most beautiful S&W ever produced was the pre-war M&P Target guns. The tapered barrel, the one- and two-screw rear sights contoured to the frame, the glassy high polish blue, and the proportions that were... JUST RIGHT.

To start it off - here is SN 642784, a 1905 4th Change that shipped in May 1933, with the one-screw rear sight. The box numbers to the gun.











I am hopeful that we will fill up several pages with photos of these beautiful guns.

 

[Truckman]

Richard, forgive me if my poor example does not fit the criteria you established with your opening post, but currently my only pre-war M&P Target is my carry gun for today...Now just a crippled veteran having had its barrel amputated after years of faithful service, it continues to serve in the only way it knows, honorably...Shipped 3/1/1927 with a 6" barrel and a Call gold bead front sight, it still wears its original rear sight, but now serves its intended purpose with the ramped front sight of its current 2" barrel of unknown parentage...

Seen hear with the Model 15-2 it replaced in my EDC rotation, it also wears stag grips of about the same age furnished by another member here, LLOYD17...Its birth information comes from its birth certificate sent through the courtesy of Don Mundell......Ben

EDIT: I hasten to add this was also a single gun order shipped to an individual in Waterville, Maine, with the invoice marked as being an NRA acquisition...

 

[22hipower]

Very nice Richard. I have just one, which is "pre" both wars. S&W 1905 3rd Change Target, 38 Special, 6 inch, probably 1914, stocks are numbered in pencil to the gun, SN 225673.


https://flic.kr/p/2pMTmYu https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

https://flic.kr/p/2pMNVJF https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

https://flic.kr/p/2pMVGF5 https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

 

[Rodan]

My M&P Target is a 4th change, shipped in February of 1920. At some point the front sight was modified with a white bead blade. These are indeed very elegant revolvers.

 

[andyinlz]

Which War?

Here is a fairly early one:

 

[dwh]

In my humble collection of target 32-20's. There are the following. All are single screw sights.
1902 6.5in Paine front sights.
1902 1st change 6in(factory rebarrel) marbles copper sheard.
1905 1st change 6.5in plain blade.
1905 2nd change 6.5in plain blade.
1905 3rd change 6.5in Lyman bar dot bar _._
1905 3rd change 6.5 in Lyman ivory bead.
1905 3rd change 6in Kings gold super police.
1905 4th change 6in plain blade.

 

[RKmesa]

Great guns so far!!! And please feel free to post ANY M&P Target that shipped pre WWII (which would include all those beauties shipped pre WW I). Note: those RB 1902 Targets are way cool (I would love to own one of them).

My earliest two are 154998 and 158135 - both shipped in 1910 with 6.5" barrels.

154998 (Aug 1910) has a checkered trigger and a frame mounted trigger stop. At some point the barrel was swapped, as the barrel is SN 165183. This gun was a shooter for someone.







159135 (October 1910) is more "traditional" for the period.





Let's keep 'em coming

 

[stu1ritter]

I owned this one for a few years. 31788x was about 1,000 numbers into the heat treated cylinder. It was quite a nice shooter.

Stu

 

[hkcavalier]

Not a beauty queen, but got it for very little $. 3rd Change with a 6.5" barrel that shipped March 1911.

 

[22hipower]

I'm my humble collection of target 32-20's. There are the following. All are single screw sights.
1902 6.5in Paine front sights.
1902 1st change 6in(factory rebarrel) marbles copper sheard.
1905 1st change 6.5in plain blade.
1905 2nd change 6.5in plain blade.
1905 3rd change 6.5in Lyman bar dot bar _._
1905 3rd change 6.5 in Lyman ivory bead.
1905 3rd change 6in Kings gold super police.
1905 4th change 6in plain blade.

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

 

[boykinlp]

One of the most beautiful S&W ever produced was the pre-war M&P Target guns. The tapered barrel, the one- and two-screw rear sights contoured to the frame, the glassy high polish blue, and the proportions that were... JUST RIGHT.

To start it off - here is SN 642784, a 1904 4th Change that shipped in May 1933, with the one-screw rear sight. The box numbers to the gun.











I am hopeful that we will fill up several pages with photos of these beautiful guns.

GREAT SCOT, Richard, that revolver just oozes class! The bluing actually looks liquid. Colt Royal Blue has absolutely nothing on the bluing on your gem. The tapered barrel and high front sight are great looking. I bet that sight would play havoc on a holster though. I also really like the box style. I may be wrong, but isn't that the same style box the very earliest K22 Outdoorsman came in? Thanks for sharing that beauty!

BTW, all you other folks that have shown your examples of your pre-war M&P Target guns have some amazing examples too.

hkcavalier, what is that style front sight called? It is as today's kids say, "Dope"! I like it a lot.
Larry

 

[Keith Brown]

Prewar M&P Targets are without doubt my favorite S&W revolvers, they speak to me ! Here are my first two, the one in back is the first, bought right here in the classifieds years ago from member J38. It's a dandy and I've shot over 2000 wadcutters through it alone.

 

[boykinlp]

Prewar M&P Targets are without doubt my favorite S&W revolvers, they speak ! Here are my first two, the one in back is the first, bought right here in the classifieds years ago from member J38. It's a dandy and I've shot over 2000 wadcutters through it alone.

Great examples, Keith! Grips are too shabby either!
Larry

 

[raljr1]

I got this one just a short while ago for $500. Some bluing loss on the sideplate.

 

[22hipower]

I got this one just a short while ago for $500. Some bluing loss on the sideplate.

View attachment 679094

Now there was $500 well spent!

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Modified]

... ANY M&P Target that shipped pre WWII (which would include all those beauties shipped pre WW I)...

Any?

 

[bruce5781]

These were the first two I ever found.
The top, a 4", was special ordered with an ivory bead by a son of "Devil Anse" Hatfield who was later killed in a shoot-out over bootlegging territory.
Bottom, a 5", was purchased here on the forum.

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[bruce5781]

A 5" 1899 I picked up a couple years ago.

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[mikepriwer]

I'll start with my early 1899 targets, which I have in both blue and nickel.
The first pair is the 4" barrels.

The next pair is the 5" barrels.

The next pair is the 6" barrels.

The next pair is the 6 1/2" barrels.

The last pair is the 8" barrels.

This next section is the 4-screw 1902 (round butt) and 1905 (square butt) targets. The two guns in each set are identical, except for the butt configuration. These are very rare pairs of targets. They show wear, but are none-the-less very rare.

The first set are a pair of 5" targets. (I was fortunate to be able to buy the round butt from Stu Ritter recently, and the square butt many years ago from Ed Cornett)

This next set are 6 1/2" targets, and belong to Chris Taylor. He sent me these two pictures in conjunction with some other project. These two guns, as the 5" pair above, are a very rare pair of target revolvers

(It's worth noting that the early 4-screw 1905's only exist, along with the 1902's, from serial number 58000 to serial number 62449. This group of 4449 revolvers encompasses all round and square butt frames in fixed and adjustable sights, all the barrel lengths, in both blue and nickel finish. The survival rate for these early revolvers is conservatively estimated at 50%.)

Moving along the time-line, this next pair are 32-20 4" targets from 1908 and 1910.

Regards, Mike Priwer

 

[RKmesa]

Richard, forgive me if my poor example does not fit the criteria you established with your opening post, but currently my only pre-war M&P Target is my carry gun for today...Now just a crippled veteran having had its barrel amputated after years of faithful service, it continues to serve in the only way it knows, honorably...

I love that little snubbie target!!! I too have one that has been cut. It had 2" cut off and the front sight re-attached. It is a great gun!

SN 594552 (shipped September 1928 - and modified some time after it shipped):

I...really like the box style. I may be wrong, but isn't that the same style box the very earliest K22 Outdoorsman came in?

Larry: The box style is often called the "patent box" as it has the patent information on it. It is a very cool hinged box and yes some of the earlier K-22 Outdoorsman Revolvers also shipped in patent boxes, like this one in the box that numbers to the gun (note the "22-38 H.E." stamp in the upper left of the box):

 

[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.

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[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.