The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > Hogan's Alley > Handguns: The Revolver Forum

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old April 18, 2018, 09:44 AM   #1
Venom1956
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 4, 2008
Location: WI
Posts: 3,656
4" M&P 1905 Pre War nickel?

I just bought this off a guy at work said he needed fast cash and had a Smith and Wesson.

Just looked like a nickel model 10 last night with nice target grips. It was a favor so I honestly didn't really care, and I was tired and cold, so I didn't look very close.

Now this morning Im looking at it again and it seems to be a 5 screw nickel 1905? stamped 10052 on the crane? serial is 388xxx? I am not up to snuff on my pre model guns so any info you guys can get me is appreciated. Shame it doesn't have the original grips.



__________________
E-Shock rounds are engineered to expend maximum energy into soft targets, turning the density mass into an expanding rotational cone of NyTrilium matrix particles, causing neurological collapse to the central nervous system.- Yeah I can do that.
I guarantee you will know it if a bicyclist hits your house going 1000 mph. -Smaug
Venom1956 is offline  
Old April 18, 2018, 10:10 AM   #2
Jim Watson
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 25, 2001
Location: Alabama
Posts: 18,486
It is in the large block of Fourth Change guns made from 1915 til 1942.
It is from early in that period, the "mushroom head" extractor rod shows it was pre-1930. If the markings were legible, it could be tied down a little closer. Somebody on the S&W board would likely have one close, although that is not a guarantee because Smith did not ship in serial number order.

There should be a letter on the bottom barrel flat next to the serial number.
N or B? That shows the original finish, nickel or blue.
Jim Watson is offline  
Old April 18, 2018, 10:31 AM   #3
Venom1956
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 4, 2008
Location: WI
Posts: 3,656
I can get better pictures of the markings I just snapped some quick ones to get an over all picture. No N or B on the barrel flat there is a N by the mainspring on the frame. Ill get some more pictures when I have time.
__________________
E-Shock rounds are engineered to expend maximum energy into soft targets, turning the density mass into an expanding rotational cone of NyTrilium matrix particles, causing neurological collapse to the central nervous system.- Yeah I can do that.
I guarantee you will know it if a bicyclist hits your house going 1000 mph. -Smaug
Venom1956 is offline  
Old April 18, 2018, 01:08 PM   #4
Jim Watson
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 25, 2001
Location: Alabama
Posts: 18,486
Good, that N means it is factory nickel.
Jim Watson is offline  
Old April 18, 2018, 04:39 PM   #5
Venom1956
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 4, 2008
Location: WI
Posts: 3,656
Any idea what grips would've been on it? Guy I bought it from if willing to check if he has them but needs to know what to look for.

I'm assuming it's the little half grips did they have Smith logo?
__________________
E-Shock rounds are engineered to expend maximum energy into soft targets, turning the density mass into an expanding rotational cone of NyTrilium matrix particles, causing neurological collapse to the central nervous system.- Yeah I can do that.
I guarantee you will know it if a bicyclist hits your house going 1000 mph. -Smaug
Venom1956 is offline  
Old April 18, 2018, 07:51 PM   #6
lamarw
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 12, 2010
Location: Lake Martin, AL
Posts: 3,311
I have serial number 577063 (M&P Model 1905 4th Change). It was shipped from the factory on Nov. 29, 1929 and shipped to Allen and Jemison Company (hardware company) in Tuscaloosa, AL.

You have a beautiful 5 screw revolver significantly earlier than mine. You may want to get it lettered by the S&W Historical Association. The stocks (grip) on mine are original and is checkered walnut with a diamond escutcheon around the stock screw. The top portion of the stock are plain. (see attached picture) It is possible your earlier version may of come with hard rubber stocks. I do not know. A Letter would identify the type of stocks. Mine is blued with a 5" barrel. It is in decent condition but not in as nice of a condition as yours. As Jim stated yours was factory nickeled if it shows the N under the barrel flat visible with the cylinder opened. This is where mine is marked with a B for blued along with the serial number as is the serial number on the butt and on the face of the cylinder. Yours could of been re-nickeled at some point, but I am no expert to make such a determination. Often these determinations are made by observing the amount of buffing leaving less crisp emblems, letter and corners to the right side plate. It would be hard to tell with your photos.

The heat treated cylinders began with SN: 316648. The factory nickel version are worth a premium. In excellent condition (if not re-nickeled) your revolver would be worth around $600.00 plus the premium for a factory nickel finish. The book "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson" 4th Ed. by Jim Supica and Richard Nahas does not mention the premium value.

Here is a picture of my revolver's left stock.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Model 1905 4th Change Stock.jpg (115.3 KB, 25 views)
lamarw is offline  
Old April 18, 2018, 09:42 PM   #7
Driftwood Johnson
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 3, 2014
Location: Land of the Pilgrims
Posts: 2,032
Howdy

This old M&P is SN 3394XX. It shipped in May of 1920. Although they have a lot of wear on them, these are the grips this revolver shipped with. This style of grips was used from 1920 to about 1929. Notice the grips are convex at the top.

The photo of a grip that lamarw posted is what these grips looked like when they were new.

While it is true that S&W often did not ship revolvers in Serial Number order, it is a safe bet that yours shipped a bit after mine.









This 38 M&P Target Model shipped in 1917. This is style of grips was used from roughly 1910 to 1920. Notice the recessed gold medalions.






An even earlier style of grips, from about 1904 to about 1910. Notice these grips are convex, or 'flattened' on top.






P.S. the number stamped under the yoke is just an assembly number and has no meaning.
Driftwood Johnson is offline  
Old April 18, 2018, 09:55 PM   #8
Jim Watson
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 25, 2001
Location: Alabama
Posts: 18,486
Thanks. Too bad the SCSW doesn't include such tidbits.
Jim Watson is offline  
Old April 18, 2018, 10:07 PM   #9
lamarw
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 12, 2010
Location: Lake Martin, AL
Posts: 3,311
Revolvers with some character. I particularly like the target model with I suspect a 6" barrel. Don't see too many of those around.
lamarw is offline  
Old April 18, 2018, 10:50 PM   #10
Driftwood Johnson
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 3, 2014
Location: Land of the Pilgrims
Posts: 2,032
Quote:
Thanks. Too bad the SCSW doesn't include such tidbits.
If you're talking about the different styles of grips, the SCSW does.

Up front.
Driftwood Johnson is offline  
Old April 18, 2018, 11:14 PM   #11
Ibmikey
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 1, 2013
Location: Now relocated to Texas
Posts: 2,943
The grips are from the late seventies—eighties, earlier ones were dished out but not cut out for the speed loader. The pistol is nice and the grips would sell for over a $100.
Ibmikey is offline  
Old April 19, 2018, 10:45 AM   #12
Jim Watson
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 25, 2001
Location: Alabama
Posts: 18,486
Quote:
If you're talking about the different styles of grips, the SCSW does.
Well, sure enough, there it is. I was looking under the gun sections.
Jim Watson is offline  
Old April 19, 2018, 02:15 PM   #13
RickB
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 1, 2000
Location: Boise, ID
Posts: 8,511
Action shot of my nickeled, '05 4th Change.
The grips are like those in Driftwood's first pic, slightly rounded at the top.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg DSC_0080_01.JPG (78.5 KB, 36 views)
__________________
Runs off at the mouth about anything 1911 related on this site and half the time is flat out wrong.
RickB is offline  
Old April 19, 2018, 04:09 PM   #14
HighValleyRanch
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 15, 2005
Posts: 4,063
^^^^
Cool photo of weak hand reloading technique with the smoke still coming out of the barrel!
__________________
From the sweet grass to the slaughter house; From birth until death; We travel between these two eternities........from 'Broken Trail"
HighValleyRanch is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:14 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.06656 seconds with 9 queries