M&P .38 S&W pistol...

[silversport]

Hello,

I am trying to find the manufacturer date and any other information on a revolver I have. It appears to be a M&P or Model 10 (my S&W recall is failing me right now)...it is a blue steel, 4 inch 6 shot revolver with a half round or hump front sigh and a notch for a rear sight...it has no model markings on it other than the usual S&W info and engraved with the previous Chicago Police Officer's name who owned it...said to be the father of a woman who is in her '60's...serial number is 24411...any information would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,

Bill

 

[silversport]

if it helps at all...the "&" between the "S" and the "W" seems to be elongated...I have never seen one like this...it seems to have a nickled grooved face target trigger and the hammer is also nickled with a wide cross hatched beavertail...I believe these to be S&W parts but refinished by the origianl owner...also it has what appeared to be MUCH newer unmarked S&W type hand filling grips, not the slim ones I usually see on these revolvers...I know these were replaced because some of the added script..."Chicago Police Officer" in now underneath these stocks...
Thanks,
Bill

 

[silversport]

well I learned from an old THR response to a similar question (found by googlin...not the search function) that the numbers I provided are assembly numbers and the correct serial number on the but under these grips is: C23191...I learned from that thread that the "C" means it was a "K" frame Smith...also since that guy's serial number was later than this one and it was decided there that his was a 1948-1949 model...I sure would like to nail this down though...Jim Watson and others help me from the past......Thanks!
http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-56977.html
Bill

 

[silversport]

...still...anyone with a definitive answer from the book would be greatly appreciated...
Bill

 

[Ron James]

The serial numers C1 through C223998 were used in 1948-1951.

 

[Old Fuff]

silversport:

The answer to your question (when was my gun made) might seem easy, but it isn't.

This is because S&W would make and serial numbered frames in advance of making them into complete revolvers. If that wasn't bad enough, sometimes frames numbered in a particular series might be made into several different model revolvers. "The Book," (Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, by Jim Supica & Richard Nahas) can say that a certain serial number falls within a block of numbers made between certain years, but they can't say that a particular revolver was necessarily made during a specific year.

To learn that, call Smith & Wesson's Customer Service Department, and have the full and complete serial number (on the gun's butt) ready. They will tell you the year the gun was made, but nothing else. Contact information can be obtained at www.smith-wesson.com

 

[silversport]

thanks...I do appreciate it...it was still loaded with 2 rounds of +P LSWCHP and 4 rounds of SuperVel...ahhhh, the old days...
Bill