someone identify this S&W?

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.45ACPLove

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can someone identify this thing for me? i just got it from a guy super cheap. he left it under the seat of a truck for 3 years, a truck that didn't run. he just has no use for it. it looked a lot worse before i did a quick clean. serial # 9354xx

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Looks like an S&W .38 Military and Police, Pre-Model 10 "Victory" model with kinda fugly non-original stocks.

Too bad about the rust - but somebody here who actually knows what they're talking about can probably help you with that. Should be a good shooter.

I will now step aside for the real experts here to tell you precisely what you have.
 
It's a pre-model 10 .38 Military & Police model of 1905 4th change made between 1942 & 1945. It isn't a victory model as these had a V prefix to the serial number. It should have a 'long' action; that is not compatible with current model 10s. The grips are aftermarket, the lanyard swivel is correct for the military issued Victory models, which suggests it was made concurrently with the Victory model for commercial sale.
 
Some peole call all of the M&Ps made for the war effort "Victory Models" and this does appear to be a military contract gun. Millions were made with most being 5" guns in 38 S&W for Great Britain and the rest were 4" models in 38 Special for domestic use. The V serial prefix was added when they got to serial 999,999 and started over at 1. You can see that yours is close to this change. Probably made in late 1941 or early 1942.
 
kleen it, oil it , get it in reliable operation & put it under the seat of your truck!!!!

no really, nice peice of smiff history!!!
& my model 10 is not for sale either!!


GP100man
 
thanks for the responses guys! yeah i planned on cleaning it up some more, putting it in a soft padded case in the glove box of my truck. maybe one day later on i'll get correct grip panels and refinish it since any original value has long since passed.
 
...maybe one day later on i'll get correct grip panels and refinish it since any original value has long since passed.
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Some loving care, original stocks, a Tyler T-Grip - and I'll bet you'll have one of your favorite shooters. I'm curious what the trigger is like?
 
It's a pre-model 10 .38 Military & Police model of 1905 4th change made between 1942 & 1945.
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The problem with this ID is that is a post-war barrel, made after 1946. Indicating it should be a S prefix (1947 with that number). But the problem with that is the loop lanyard. Confusing. Sure there isn't a letter before the S/N, either where it is stamped under the barrel, grip frame bottom or cylinder face (all three should match, fyi)? It may just have been re-barreled at some point, though that doesn't look likely.

Also, if you take to shooting it, please note that it looks like someone has backed out the mainspring screw - the screw bulging out of the front of the grip frame. Tighten that fully before shooting. You might want to also take it out and make sure no one has filed on the end of it to shorten it, also. Shortening it, or loosening it, are common kitchen-table hacks that are not safe.
 
thanks for the tips guys! esp that about the screw. i don't know much about wheel guns. anyway yeah there is an S prefix stamped under the barrel.

rainbow bob: the trigger is actually quite nice. i have a pre 1930's 5 inch barrel nickel .38 spcl Smith with an amazing trigger, best trigger i've ever felt in any da/sa. this beater smith feels almost as good in s/a but no where near as good in d/a. maybe 8 1/2-9 lbs in d/a. sub 3 1/2 in s/a.
 
Oro is right. I just noticed that it is a post-war gun with the long action so it's a transitional model. The lanyard may be factory or may be added later. But it's not a Victory Model. The serial should start with the letter S. (And I continue to wonder why so many folks omit letters when giving serial numbers. Why do they think the letter is there? For fun?)
 
(And I continue to wonder why so many folks omit letters when giving serial numbers. Why do they think the letter is there? For fun?)
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You are a cruel man. ;) But I agree. The number of folks who omit the letters is frustrating...
 
This raises an question of ethics for me. How does a person manage to just forget about a handgun under the seat of a truck?

Not a responsible action to me.

Ralph
 
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