Pawn Shop M&P Snubbie

[gomer]

I was out cruising the pawn shops today and came across this. It looks like it has been carried a good bit, but I don't think it's been shot too much. It locks up tight and feels real solid. I don't think I did too bad for $200 out the door. Btw, the Ser # is C 304xx That would put it as being a pretty early 1948 manufacture date I think. I don't see alot of M&P snubbies around, does anyone know the percentage breakdown on 2in vs other lengths made in 1948?

 

[dbarale]

Really nice! Great deal! Great catch...

 

[Starter52]

Very nice catch, gomer.

I am not a fan of K-frame snubbies, but for $200 I would have bought that gun in a second.

 

[Will5A1]

Man you stole that thing, I paid more for mine and it wasn't in as nearly as nice condition as your appears to be. I have no idea as to ratios of 4" vs. 2", or SB vs. RB, but those halfmoon sights on 2" barrels are way cool. Check your grips, they look pre-war to me, but I understand Smith used some pre-war grips in limited numbers post war. The serial number should be on the inside of the right one. Good buy, enjoy it.

 

[Old Fuff]

The stocks are pre-war, from the 1920's. They may be worth half the price of the gun. During the 1948 era the 2" version was scarce, but not rare.

 

[DougDubya]

<===colored jealous. That's a sweetheart!

 

[Otony]

I'll give ya 300 bucks for it right now!

 

[mossy141701]

Great buy , I recently came across a newer version in about the same condition for $350.00 which I thought was a little high.

 

[gb6491]

That's a great find. The "five screw" Smiths had such a great action to them. I saw that one, similar to yours, sold on Guns America last year for $650.
Regards,
Greg

 

[bannockburn]

Very nice indeed; a great find.

 

[keyboard commando]

Very Nice !

Good deal! I have a 5 screw,five inch,#C395xx that letters as being shipped Dec 07 1948.

 

[gomer]

I took the stocks off just now and looked for the ser# on them, the grip has the number 159510 written on them. It's strange that someone had changed the grips out on this old boy.

 

[Old Fuff]

Something strange...

The serial number 159,950 would date around 1910 or '11, but the style of the stocks is that of the 1920's. I wonder if the number might be an assembly number rather then the serial number. Open the cylinder at look at the number stamped on the frame inside the yoke cut-out. See if there is any match there...

And double check the numbers on the stocks. Sometimes they are hard to read.

As for a reason to switch stocks - the ones now on it are much more compact and easier to conceal, then the service/Magna style that came on the revolver.

 

[gomer]

I just checked the number again. It is pencil written 159510, I've also attached a pic of the number. The number inside the crane is 42579 in both places. That is strange about the grip number being odd.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Nice, I'm envious.

 

[Old Fuff]

Looking at the picture, I suppose it might be 169,510. The two 5's look different, but even if I was right that wouldn't change anything. It is remotely possible that S&W had some older frames stuck away that they found and assembled later during the 1920's - but I think this would be highly doubtful.

One other possibility comes to mind. If these stocks were taken off of a .32 WCF 1905 Hand Ejector Model, the serial numbers would be in the 65,701 in 1915 to 144,648 in 1940 range. The stocks between the .32 and .38 models were identical within any given time period, and if we discount the "1" as a scratch, ding or mistake, and change the "5" to "6" at the start of the number, the remaining 69,510 would fall in place as a 1920's .32-20 Hand Ejector.

This is a long reach, but possible.

 

[Moonclip]

You did ok, especially with those grips. I like those type of snubs, I have a more modern 1965 version I use a lot.

 

[wundudnee]

I fell into a similar deal a couple of months ago. At a local gunshow I bought my M&P FTF for 275.00. I wasn't even sure what I had bought because it had a S serial # and the one line Made in USA address. It was made in 1947 I think. Anyway, you made a very good deal on yours, especially with those grips. Here's mine, I'm very happy with it.


Here it is with its younger sister, a 64-2