Finally scored a S&W M&P Revolver

salvadore said:
That's not a tyler T grip, it was probably made by [Pachmayr]. [corrected for spelling]
GaryED50 said:
The grip adapter says "Sure Grip Adapter" Mershon Co. inc. Glendale Ca
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My understanding is that Pachmayr bought out Mershon many decades ago.

I know that the Pachmayrs came in 3 different sizes; does the Mershon have a size stamped on it? I've never seen one of them close up.

FWIW old S&W grip adapters are collectible in their own right, and the hard rubber or plastic ones can become brittle with age. I suggest taking it off for range use. If you like the feel, you can still get a Tyler. :)
 
One other thing...

GaryED50 said:
Thanks The SN is S 844xxx I would guess that could still be from the late 40's
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I think the stocks (grips) are wrong... but they might not be.

The checkering texture doesn't look right, and it looks like the bottom edges are rounded, which identifies them as PC (for "Plain Clothes") Magna stocks, which were introduced later.

Then again, the dim light in the photos may be playing tricks on me. :o

You'll know for sure if you check the underside of the RH panel for the numeric portion of the serial number. I'm not certain how familiar you are with taking apart old Smiths, so I'll share an important tip: if the stocks are stuck, do NOT pry up on the panels! Loosen the screw so that 1/8"-1/4" is sticking out, and gently tap on the projecting screw head with a plastic hammer or wood block. This should loosen the opposite panel. Once it's off, it should be easy to push out the other panel by pushing it with your fingers through the grip frame from the opposite side.
 
Congrats on your "new baby"! You're going to love that M & P!

I bought a Combat Masterpiece (1956) and a M & P (1952) a while back - both at the same time as I couldn't turn either of them down and not regret it later.

My M & P has a 5 inch barrel and is one of my nicest shooting revolvers - I love it. Mine has some legit holster wear on the muzzle and the cylinder in spots - didn't have the original grips. It was around $300 and after looking at it, handling it, etc. - I would have gone higher. I felt that I got an exceptionally good buy on mine. Now, after shooting it a number of times, I wouldn't take twice that much for it - I love it that much! One of the reasons was that it left the factory the same year I was born. I think you did fine on what you paid . . . some will say "too much" . . . others will say "too little". Whatever the case may be . . . forget it and just enjoy it. I know from my own experiences that if you had walked away from it, you'd regret it later. I've owned a lot of revolvers over the years and my M & P is by far one of the nicest "shooters" i've ever had.

Let us know how she shoots! :)
 
I think the stocks (grips) are wrong... but they might not be.

The checkering texture doesn't look right, and it looks like the bottom edges are rounded, which identifies them as PC (for "Plain Clothes") Magna stocks, which were introduced later.

Then again, the dim light in the photos may be playing tricks on me.

You'll know for sure if you check the underside of the RH panel for the numeric portion of the serial number. I'm not certain how familiar you are with taking apart old Smiths, so I'll share an important tip: if the stocks are stuck, do NOT pry up on the panels! Loosen the screw so that 1/8"-1/4" is sticking out, and gently tap on the projecting screw head with a plastic hammer or wood block. This should loosen the opposite panel. Once it's off, it should be easy to push out the other panel by pushing it with your fingers through the grip frame from the opposite side.
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Thanks as you may imagine I'm nervous about doing anything to this little gem

Gary
 
You have what is called a transitional model. It was assembled and sold after WW II (1946-47) but uses mostly pre-war parts. It is what we call the "long action" type as opposed to the 1948 and later "short action."

The stocks look correct and didn't you say the serial is stamped on one panel? That would be correct.
 
SaxonPig said:
The stocks look correct...
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Now that I've had a chance to look at them on a different monitor, they do NOT look like incorrect PC Magnas.

FWIW the lower edges of a PC Magna are rounded with about the same radius as a cheap ballpoint pen. If those stocks have a pronounced lip rather than a radius, they are NOT PC's.
 
More info

There was no size marking on the grip adapter and the last three digits of the SN are stamped on the RH grip panel

Gary
 
Beautiful gun! As stated elsewhere, that's not a T grip. All my K-frames wear them. It still looks nice, though. I take a 19 year old shooting regularly and today we shot my 6 inch Model 10. He loved it! He's a new shooter, but he was able to keep them in the center of 6 inch plate at 10 yds shooting DA. Isn't it refreshing that in today's "tactical" world, a 19 year old would find so much joy in shooting such an "old school" gun?
 
Wildest thing was

When I got the revolver home the cylinder was acting gummed up, a little hard to turn. once home I removed the crane and cylinder dissembled it and the ejector rod. thoroughly scrubbed the parts, dried all tossed in a little gun oil and all is good as new.

Gary
 
Howdy Again

Not sure if that gun has the reverse thread on the extractor rod or not. With the old guns, the rotation of the cylinder could back out the rod slightly, just enough to cause things to bind, so they changed the thread to a left hand thread, so the effect of the cylinder turning would be to tighten the thread.

If you took it all apart, you have probably figured out which way the thread goes. If it screws together normally, be sure to snug up the thread every once in a while so it does not back out.
 
Thanks everyone for the great replies. I just sent away to Smith & Wesson for the history letter for this gun. I'll let you know what I find out

Gary
 
Very nice Gary! You are going to love that one! Most of my Smiths have "character" . . . i.e. holder wear to some extent. I think it just makes them shoot better! :D Enjoy and thanks for sharing! :)
 
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