What Do You Think?
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DWalt
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Snubbie, shipped about 9/47, don't think I've seen one with a HB hammer. What's the engraving say? Maybe Det. somebody? Grips don't fit very well. Plastic?
Watchdog
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I like it. The way that stock's slipped down, it looks as if you might be missing the grip pin or grip pin dowel, whichever you want to call it. If so, you can get one for a couple of bucks from Numrich or Brownell's.
Oh, I just noticed...the name engraved on the side...is the surname Adams? I'd like to see a closeup of that.
EDIT: If it is missing the stock locator pin, I actually have one. If you need it, PM me with your mailing address, and I'll stick it in an envelope and send it to you. It's a simple fix.
Or...you could just sell the gun to me, and I'll take care of it.
Oh, I just noticed...the name engraved on the side...is the surname Adams? I'd like to see a closeup of that.
EDIT: If it is missing the stock locator pin, I actually have one. If you need it, PM me with your mailing address, and I'll stick it in an envelope and send it to you. It's a simple fix.
Or...you could just sell the gun to me, and I'll take care of it.
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If I could see radial layers on the bottom of the stocks I would say they were shrunken ivory, but Franzite also shrinks like that with time. If the inner surfaces are flat, maybe ivory even if I don't see the expected structure. If you see mold marks, they came from Chicago. I'm guessing ivory because it appears to be a presentation piece.
Det. Leslie (X) Adams / Feb. 1, 1954. I Can't make out the middle initial. E? D? There are several people named Leslie Adams in the SSDI records who were old enough to have retired from LE work in the mid-'50s.
EDITED TO ADD: Based on the better photo posted below, that now looks to me like "Det. Leslie J. Adams / Feb. 1, 1943."
Any long action postwar M&P with a two-inch barrel should be acquired on the spot. If you are considering this one, just buy it. If you already did so, congratulations.
Ivory will "reinflate" to a degree if you wipe it with or even soak it in mineral oil, but iakes a long time. Don't just dunk them on my superficial say-so, however. Look up ivory restoration and see what curators and ivory carvers say about how to manage the process.
Not an HBH, by the way. That's the standard prewar/early postwar long-throw hammer profile. It just looks humpier than usual because of the closeness of the camera.
Det. Leslie (X) Adams / Feb. 1, 1954. I Can't make out the middle initial. E? D? There are several people named Leslie Adams in the SSDI records who were old enough to have retired from LE work in the mid-'50s.
EDITED TO ADD: Based on the better photo posted below, that now looks to me like "Det. Leslie J. Adams / Feb. 1, 1943."
Any long action postwar M&P with a two-inch barrel should be acquired on the spot. If you are considering this one, just buy it. If you already did so, congratulations.
Ivory will "reinflate" to a degree if you wipe it with or even soak it in mineral oil, but iakes a long time. Don't just dunk them on my superficial say-so, however. Look up ivory restoration and see what curators and ivory carvers say about how to manage the process.
Not an HBH, by the way. That's the standard prewar/early postwar long-throw hammer profile. It just looks humpier than usual because of the closeness of the camera.
DWalt
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You are right. It must be the angle or something. It just appears that the spur was sticking up somewhat higher than typical.
I agree with DWalt that this gun very likely shipped in September, 1947. A whole batch of 2" M&Ps shipped that month.
I think it is very possible the stock locator pin is missing, as Watchdog suggested.
I'm also with David in not being able to say for sure what those stocks are. I have to say they look more like plastic to me, but one just cannot tell from the photographs. In any case, getting them to stay in the right place will be an improvement.
Otherwise, you might consider picking up a pair of early postwar Magna stocks - the kind with the sharp shoulder. But if the locator pin is missing, you'll need that anyway. If those turn out to be ivory, I would just keep them on it.
Here's a picture of one from my collection that probably left the factory at about the same time as yours. The stocks on it are incorrect, so I'll also post a second picture of the correct stocks on a 4" gun.
Bottom gun in this picture has the proper stocks for your revolver.
I think it is very possible the stock locator pin is missing, as Watchdog suggested.
I'm also with David in not being able to say for sure what those stocks are. I have to say they look more like plastic to me, but one just cannot tell from the photographs. In any case, getting them to stay in the right place will be an improvement.
Otherwise, you might consider picking up a pair of early postwar Magna stocks - the kind with the sharp shoulder. But if the locator pin is missing, you'll need that anyway. If those turn out to be ivory, I would just keep them on it.
Here's a picture of one from my collection that probably left the factory at about the same time as yours. The stocks on it are incorrect, so I'll also post a second picture of the correct stocks on a 4" gun.
Bottom gun in this picture has the proper stocks for your revolver.
OP
gaucho1
Member
Watchdog, Thank you for the kind offer. I will check status
of pin when I receive the "Snub".
I am between 99.9%to99.99999% certain those are plastic
stocks. What a buy if they were ivory!
To bad about the fit, the flat quality of the surface and color appeal to me.
Those sharp high shouldered magnas are my favorites............but seem to be both scarce and pricey................
I purchased this on a online auction.
I won't disclose the price because in this case it may be injurious to a broad number of readers feelings.
It would be to mine.
I think the haphazard fit of the grips had something to do with it.
The highly detailed pictures show good case color on the hammer and trigger. The rear face of the cylinder and recoil
shield show very little wear.
The sideplate screws appear untouched by normal humans.
Thank you for your replies.
John
of pin when I receive the "Snub".
I am between 99.9%to99.99999% certain those are plastic
stocks. What a buy if they were ivory!
To bad about the fit, the flat quality of the surface and color appeal to me.
Those sharp high shouldered magnas are my favorites............but seem to be both scarce and pricey................
I purchased this on a online auction.
I won't disclose the price because in this case it may be injurious to a broad number of readers feelings.
It would be to mine.
I think the haphazard fit of the grips had something to do with it.
The highly detailed pictures show good case color on the hammer and trigger. The rear face of the cylinder and recoil
shield show very little wear.
The sideplate screws appear untouched by normal humans.
Thank you for your replies.
John
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Alk8944
US Veteran
What do I think?
1) I like it just as-is.
2) The stock pin is missing.
3) Stocks may still not fit well when the pin is replaced, but it would be nice to see "after" pics.
1) I like it just as-is.
2) The stock pin is missing.
3) Stocks may still not fit well when the pin is replaced, but it would be nice to see "after" pics.
DWalt
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I'm no expert in Ivory stocks (had one pair many years ago, though), but those look like plastic of some type to me. If so, I'd replace them with sharp shoulder Magnas, as shown previously. Many pairs show up on eBay. I've bought 5 pairs there since the first of the year, some nicer than others.
OP
gaucho1
Member
So at least I know why it has been hard to get those stocks
I may use some service stocks with a tyler.........
Then again, maybe I will find a proper pair....
Why does this thread have stars?
One time I bought two in the same month, and someone on here complained I was hogging them. What can we say about you, DWalt???
FWIW, the post war trans M&Ps in a snub are rather uncommon to scarce. Any of the M&P trans guns are not too common, but they are available. The snubnose variant is rather hard to find. Congrats! I like the inscription - hopefully you can dig up some info there!
FYI - the gun, due to its post war trans status has the pre war grip frame, and thus requires sharp shoulder magnas. If you got later stocks, from the 1950s or later, they will be noticeably shorter when looking at the bottom of the grip frame. Most pre war grips would fit fine, but the gun should have the so called "sharp shoulder" magnas from the post war years.
FYI - the gun, due to its post war trans status has the pre war grip frame, and thus requires sharp shoulder magnas. If you got later stocks, from the 1950s or later, they will be noticeably shorter when looking at the bottom of the grip frame. Most pre war grips would fit fine, but the gun should have the so called "sharp shoulder" magnas from the post war years.
OP
gaucho1
Member
Inscription Picture
Does that look like 1943 to anyone else? If it is an 8, it is a strange one.
Any S prefix guns before 1943? Post war purchase for a retirement gift? The mystery deepens..........
Does that look like 1943 to anyone else? If it is an 8, it is a strange one.
Any S prefix guns before 1943? Post war purchase for a retirement gift? The mystery deepens..........
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donadler
Member
The "Bible" shows that serial # to be from between 1945 and 1948, with 1948 ending at S999999, if I read it correctly.
The serial number and other features won't admit to shipment earlier than about mid-year, 1947. Very close serial numbers all moved out in September, 1947, and were also 2" guns. So I don't think it is likely this gun dates any farther back than that, and it definitely does not go back to 1943.
How about this? Maybe Feb 1, 1943, is when the good Detective was promoted to Detective. He later retired and was given this revolver as a departure gift. How's that for a theory?
How about this? Maybe Feb 1, 1943, is when the good Detective was promoted to Detective. He later retired and was given this revolver as a departure gift. How's that for a theory?
OP
gaucho1
Member
How about this? Maybe Feb 1, 1943, is when the good Detective was promoted to Detective. He later retired and was given this revolver as a departure gift. How's that for a theory?
Given the date of shipment period, makes great sense.
With the disruption of WW2, many things could have been postponed to a later date.
I found three Leslie J. Adams in SSDI, but my follow up was
fruitless. Appears that being a paying member of something like ancestry.com is the way to fly.
Given the date of shipment period, makes great sense.
With the disruption of WW2, many things could have been postponed to a later date.
I found three Leslie J. Adams in SSDI, but my follow up was
fruitless. Appears that being a paying member of something like ancestry.com is the way to fly.
Yes, 1943. And I can now see that the middle initial is J, so I revised my previous post. Thanks for the better picture.
I still can't find a Leslie J. Adams who was engaged in law enforcement. The best bet for finding him would be the 1930 or 1940 census, but if he is listed without the middle initial it will take a lot of time to read and evaluate all the candidates.
I too think the inscription is necessarily a later addition that commemorates a prior milestone.
I still can't find a Leslie J. Adams who was engaged in law enforcement. The best bet for finding him would be the 1930 or 1940 census, but if he is listed without the middle initial it will take a lot of time to read and evaluate all the candidates.
I too think the inscription is necessarily a later addition that commemorates a prior milestone.
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