Should I or not?

Leave it as is, including stocks which are probably
numbered to the gun's serial number. Add a
Tyler T or BK grip insert if you like.

Chopped down 4-inch guns always look, to me
at least, like a Bubba gun with any of its value
totally destroyed.

Right now maybe it isn't worth much but it still
stands as a classic Smith & Wesson.

Another "leave it as it is" vote. A 4" barrel M&P made back in the late '40s is one of those all-time iconic guns that should be a part of anyone's collection.

Besides it gives you something to do; like go looking for a 2" barrel M&P to keep your 4" model company in your gun safe!

I say leave it as is.

S&W has made the M&P and its direct descendants for over a century. There are a bazillion of them out there. They are not rare or worth much money.

I have an old finish-challenged M&P with a 4" barrel. If I wanted another 2" K-frame, I would have it converted with no qualms.

If it were a rare variation, or in extremely good shape, I wouldn't do it. But a plain old Model 10 or "pre model 10" is still relatively cheap and common at this point in time.

Snub guns are my favorite guns, so....

BOARHUNTER

Leave it alone.

If you want a gun of that configuration for use, buy a new one. The price will be close enough.

It's very handy AND concealable in its current state.

I'd leave it. The 4 inch skinny tube will sure allow a much wider variety of projectiles to expand should you want to have it at hand.

If it were in rougher shape, I'd respectfully beadblast to soften, and reblue, but I wouldn't chop it off.

As is, it looks quite nice. I wouldn't change it.

Another vote for “leave it as is”.

Last December I traded a G26 for a Colt Detective Special. When I first got the photos of the gun I thought “I will have it reblued”. I then found out it was actually carried by a real detective. I decided to leave it as it was. I am glad I did. The wear was honest wear.

If you know the Constable that carried the gun, I would get a photo of him and have him autograph it and put in a shadow box with the gun. I have always found gun with history interesting.
A 2” Model 10 probably wouldn’t cost much more the what it would to have the 4” cut down property. I picked up one a few years ago for $350.

I personally wouldn't. I When I come across a neat old gun with a story, I like to leave it as is. And as was pointed out, the cost of the work - at least with a reputable gunsmith - would get you most of the way to a 2" gun anyway.

It’s costing me $350.00, plus the cost of a new sight, to get a 8 3/8” barrel Model 14-3 cut down to 5” after the original owner bulged it with a squib. That’s pretty much the cost of a new S&W Model 442.

It’ll probably run you the same $$ to cut that down to 2”.

I had a chopped down 2” Victory Model once. It didn’t do much more than my other snub 5-shot guns so I sold it. Since you already have a nice smaller and somewhat more concealable 36, I’d just keep it at 4” as many others above have stated.

Stay safe.

Leave it alone. While I agree with Gunny USMC I would just look for a 2" Model 10 if you want another 2" revolver.

Ron

Leave it and look for a 2" Model 10

Somebody git a rope.

Howdy

If you cut it down, are you sure the smith would put the correct front sight on it?

I bought this 2" 38 M&P that shipped in 1950 a few years ago. Paid $400 for it. Of course, it would probably cost more today.





If it was me I would leave the 4" tapered barrel alone and look for a 2" 38 M&P or Model 10.

I was working on an old Camaro years ago, and told a friend some of my plans, and asked his opinion, his response: "I don't care if you want to haul coal with it, it's your car." And truly, it's your gun, I wouldn't put too much stock in what my opinion is, but you asked.

Would a 2" M&P be more functional for you? If not you're not doing it for a functional purpose, you're doing it simply for the satisfaction of having it the way you want it.
Nobody but you can determine whether the original configuration or a custom M&P will be more satisfying for you, so what anyone else says doesn't matter. As long as you actually do what you want with it, you're doing the right thing.

Naw, leave it.

Here's my idea of a great looking old M&P - grips and all!

Personally , it would please me greatly to possess that 4" tapered , half moon sighted .38 just as she sits.

Leave it alone and go buy a snubbie. A four inch S&W 38 Special is a sweet shooting pistol, something worth taking out to the range and practicing sight alignment and trigger pull. My M10 S&W is one of the few pistols I can double action and keep all six shots on a 12 inch gong target at 50 yards. Something like that encourages you to get better. A snubbie is a blast, but if I can put half the shots on a 12 gong target at 50 yards, single action I am doing good.

If you want another snubbie, how about a nice Taurus. They are going to cost less than the barrel job, and there will not be any conversion issues.

Like one of these, a five shot light weight



Or one of these, a six shot lightweight.



One of these, a stainless five shot snubbie.



What's a little powder residue anyway?

The snubs are out there. I only paid 399.00 for this one locally at a gun store a couple of months ago. It goes very well with its cousins.

If you want 2” get a Charter Police Undercover, or buy a factory 2” barrel and install it. Just like old engine blocks in pickups, if it’s original then it’s original and it only gets that way once. Rebuild it, make it pretty, but don’t go altering it from the very useful thing it was meant to be. If you want different buy different, or at least do something that can be reversed fairly easily.

I have one of those, with the same kind of history. Was leaving a little gun show and saw an older gent (older than me, at the time I was 65) walking toward the door with a paper bag in his hand. I asked if he was selling something. He said, "yeah, my old duty gun and I won't take less than I paid for it.) It was a 4" M&P, kind of rough but tight. I told him I wouldn't pay what he paid. I'd pay more. He asked how I knew what he paid and I said it wasn't more than $56 because that is what it sold for when it was new, or there about. I pulled out four twenties and offered it to him. He said I was nuts but here you go.
Loaned it to my younger son when he lived in a sketchy suburb of Chicago. He kept it on the shelf in his closet in a zipper case, loaded and ready for business. The roof leaked. It got wet. Now it is still rough, and a little pitted but it is still tight and shoots fine. I'm leaving it as is, also (with the rust cleaned off and well oiled.) M&P, or K frame Smiths have always had the smoothest action of just about any factory gun.