Yard Sale Find/M&P?

[geronimo1969]

Found this at a yard sale today...I really don't know much about these older wheel guns;but thought it was a good deal and brought it home w/me...The blue is original and all the #'s match the gun except the grips(but of course)...Are these what would have come on this?And is an M&P or something else??I looked on Gun Brokers and found some kinda like it;but none of them had the same barrel stampings on them..
And if possible about the year of manufacture..SN:105,XXX range..

 

[Art Doc]

I believe the gun has been reblued. If the serial is 105,000 range it is a very early revolver (like a "1905 1st Change" or "1905 2nd Change" made 1905-06). Did the number come from the bottom of the butt between the stocks?

 

[ladder13]

The hammer and trigger are signs of a re-blue.

 

[DWFAN]

I'm blind. Someone read me the barrel markings. Take a photo of the top please.
DW

 

[mikepriwer]

The gun is about 1908, the grips from 1948 to 1950. It looks reblued
to me, as well.

Later, Mike Priwer

 

[RWJ]

I'm blind. Someone read me the barrel markings. Take a photo of the top please.
DW

Looks like S&W 38 Special
U.S. Service Ctg

 

[tac803]

I just got back up into the chair after falling out of it. I live in NY...we don't find those at yard sales! I gotta move! Nice find, even if it's reblued! Do you mind me asking the "yard sale" price?

 

[geronimo1969]

I called the guy I got this from today..And he failed to mention that it was a factory reblue;and his numb nutted son in-law for some some reason blued the hammer and the trigger..Said the gun has been passed down from his family and has been in it since it was purchased...Also it has some little dents in the bottom;said they came from his wife..Said she got mad at him one day and decided to use it for a hammer and hammered a few nails in the wall to hang some pics..The way he told it;I almost started to cry cause it was funny as heck!!!Said he was getting old and was just selling a few things to make ends meet...Think he's about 75 or so...
As for the #'s;they did come of the butt and the cylinder...

 

[geronimo1969]

That's the great state of Va. for you..Be surprised at what you can come across at these things...I gave him $400.00 for the gun...Still think that was a steal...Plus I just wanted to help them out....Now if I can find the right grips at a reasonable price...

I just got back up into the chair after falling out of it. I live in NY...we don't find those at yard sales! I gotta move! Nice find, even if it's reblued! Do you mind me asking the "yard sale" price?

 

[tac803]

Nice of you to help those folks out. I think it looks great...you did good.

 

[smith17]

Nice find. I think the reblue is OK. Here is one which was not and it is not pretty.

Mike:
What was the approximate breakdown of Round Butt to Square Butt of the guns which were stamped with both caliber designations? At first, I thought his gun was probably a RB with SB stocks but the full pic appears to be a SB. Just wondering.

Ed

 

[cgt4570]

Correct grips don't turn up too often. That early, it would have had pre-medallion concave (dished-top) checkered walnut.

 

[geronimo1969]

Can anyone give me a descent estimate of this in it's current condition;and would it be in my best interest in replacing the the hammer a trigger??

 

[MaineProbation]

Your miracle find!

The general consensus is to never refinish a collectable. However, since it is already done, I would not replace the hammer and trigger as they are probably nicely mated through years of use. There are a couple of gunsmiths who use a treatment to re-do the nice color case hardening finish of years past. It is easy enough to chemically remove the bluing on the trigger and hammer. Without removing any metal, an experienced case-hardening refinisher will make that hammer and trigger look like new. Even with the refinishing, I believe that piece is easily worth $800 to $1000, more if the factory letter provides a good historical context.

 

[depicts]

I bought this M&P two days ago. It's newer than yours, about May 1947. I paid $475 for it with the correct original box and numbered grips. I don't think it's been fired except by the factory. While I think I paid a "bit" on the high side, I think the gun is worth it.

 

[sw44spl]

very nice older gun i would have paid $400 for it.

 

[geronimo1969]

Thanks for all you're help on this;but would you believe I already traded the thing for a blued 19-5 in 6" this morning at the Kingsport,TN. show...The fellow wanted $500.00 for it and I gave that to him and a "c" note for it..Now I'm gonna have to sell the 586-1 in 6" to put some bills back in my pocket as I really don't need 2 357's..