M&P S Prefix Transitional 5 inch. New to me.

[Checkman]

Picked this up a couple days ago. I'm very pleased with it. Very clean and in good mechanical shape. Timing is dead on. No end shake. Forcing cone is in good shape. No bulging in the barrel. Original finish. Very clean and shiney bore.

I believe it was made in 47. Serial number is S964XXX. As you can see it has only the Made in USA on the right hand side of the frame and the long action. As well as the new safety introduced by S&W in December 1944.

The grips don't have the same serial number but everything else matches. I've been wanting a nice older M&P with a 5" barrel. I was hoping this was a pre-war model, but hey I'll take a transitional S model. I paid $300.00 for it at a local pawn shop.

Old Fuff I'm buying the 38 K frames when I can. Espeically the five screws with the long action. Love the darn things.

 

[SaxonPig]

That is indeed a transitional M&P. The 5" barrel is really cool. Good price.

 

[Walkalong]

Very, very, nice. Great pick up.

 

[Old Fuff]

That was a super buy!!!

I seek out transitional M&P models over earlier ones (all other things being equal) because they can be safely carried while fully loaded, and in the overall picture are far fewer in number then pre-war revolvers and harder to find - especially in good, original condition. Most of them were sold to police departments, and rode hard and put away wet. When they were in bad enough shape they were either traded in or junked.

This is not to suggest that'd I turn down a good buy on an earlier pre-war revolver, especially one made before the first World War.

 

[Checkman]

In the past couple years I've been finding more and more older Colts and S&W revolvers and pistols for sale. In some cases models that I've never seen except in books/magazines or the Internet. I suppose it's a sign of the economy, but nevertheless it's given me a chance to add to my collection without breaking the bank. I'm a collector with a modest budget. Thanks for the compliments.

 

[bannockburn]

Checkman

Very nice M&P 5" model. And at a great price too. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Oro]

Even with the wrong grips, that was a steal at $300. Yes, 1947 is right for the gun if not the grips. I have one of these and it is one of my very favorite S&Ws and most accurate guns. The correct grips for it are "high horn" post-WWII magnas, and they are rare as hens' teeth. But don't sweat that, that is a great gun at a super price.

This photo was several years ago, poorly lit and badly shot (I do better now!). But the grips are correct, squared butt, and there is a pronounced ridged up near the horn. After about 1951/52 this was made rounded instead of defined.

 

[Lucky Derby]

Very nice.

 

[Onmilo]

Easy way to tell if it is a 46 or a 47 is the locvation of the serial number.
Guns made in 46 still had the serial placed to the end of the grip strap to provide space for the lanyard pin hole.
In 47 S&W moved the serial number to a more centered location on the grip strap.
This is a 1946 made 4th Model Hand Ejector that stupid me didn't bother to take a picture of the gripstrap before I sold it.


and this is my Victory Model to give you an idea of what I mean by the lanyard hole location.

 

[Maj Dad]

Your Pistol's Older Brother

Here's a '46 vintage (same as its current owner ) I picked up earlier this year for $290. Stocks are original, but someone refinished them Still a terrific buy and a beautiful piece

 

[Checkman]

Thanks for the info. The S prefix is at the end of the strap to make room for the lanyard. So mine was made in 1946. Good to know.

 

[Shear_stress]

Great thread!

Here's my post-war, 5" barreled, long-action M&P that I had rebuilt by the S&W Performance Center. The serial number is S837xxx, which puts production in late 1945 or 1946. Check out those crappy Franzite grips! They were the hot ticket back in the 1950s, better-living-through-chemistry era.