Just wanted to draw upon the knowledge of this forum and see if anyone could roughly date and/or tell me what kind of revolver this is...What kind of value would a S&W like this have? Thanks in advance!
Thanks gentleman for the information! I inherited this revolver after my grandmother passed away. Funny thing is, after she passed we found a total of 6 different revolvers (some loaded/some not) in various places around her townhome. It made me laugh anyway...The story behind the S&W pictured is it was my grandmother's dad's (my great grandfather's) daily defense weapon. In the part of Tennessee where it spent most of it's time, lots of people open carried right up until the 1960's from what I've been told. Now after coming to that area, it seems like the culture has changed in such a way that it would be very alarming to people if someone open carried there (although its still an open carry area/state). I don't know how old that gun is...it has so much sentimental value that I'd never sell it. It was left in an old shoe box (shoe box was probably 60 years old at least judging by the artwork/graphics) but again, I have no clue how old the gun is exactly...
As a side note, I've been told by a couple people that sometimes the holsters for some of those guns are worth just as much or sometimes MORE than the gun itself. It came in the very ornate holster pictured above. Unfortunately, it was stored in the holster for many years and I understand this is bad for firearms apparently?
I agree. It looks like one of the earlier ones, possible made soon after they went from a free standing ejector rod to the current style of having a support added to the barrel. If you can come up with a serial number you might be able to search for it and figure out approximately when it was manufactured.
If you can come up with a serial number you might be able to search for it and figure out approximately when it was manufactured.
You can do better than that, for a price. The short story is that Roy Jinks, S&W's in-house historian, can research the company's records and tell you the exact date it was shipped from the factory, and to whom. Of course there's a fee- $50 if I remember correctly. Visit the S&W web site for details.
Man ,I think I got the ages on my mod 10 and 36 on this site, look back in the archives around 8/09. someone on here I think has a S&W cat. whitch gives the dates.
It is in fact a M&P I'm guessing since it says Military & Police on the side of the barrel. I'm kind of ignorant about revolvers but having fun with this one. I have shot some non +P .38 special ammo through it and it is surprisingly accurate for how old it is. Its a really fun revolver to shoot actually...
Thier is a fellow member , I can't for the life of remember his name but his collection of S&W handguns is pure gun porn, stick around he'll show up , I'd make sure the +P is ok to use , and you will be in good hands with him .
I had a local gunsmith look it over and do a quick functionality check before firing it at a local range here. He seemed to think it was an M&P (estimated manuf. 1910's)??? He did recommend NOT shooting ANY +P .38 through it considering how old he was thinking it is. He was explaining to me that the metals used back then weren't as hard as the ones used on modern day firearms that can handle the higher pressure +P ammo, so on and so forth...I took his advice seeing as how I definitely didn't want the thing blowing up in my hand for any reason
Just wanted to draw upon the knowledge of this forum and see if anyone could roughly date and/or tell me what kind of revolver this is...What kind of value would a S&W like this have? Thanks in advance!
Hello
What you have there is an M&P Hand eject. These were made prior to them being called a Model 10 which started in 1957 when they started stamping model number's in them at the factory. I can't tell without the guns's serial number what variation it is, but S&W has Made the M&P Hand eject since the late 1800's. They are the Highest produced S&W revolver ever made and used to be the Staple Police side arm. By the looks of it's medallions it is from the late Teens but before the Nineteen Twenties time span. Condition is Everything when pricing any S&W so with the High wear your's has it has no collector interest. I would say it would be worth about $200.00-$250.00 Tops. These gun's shot their best using a 147 Grain wad cutter lead bullet target ammo and will hit on target at Point of aim... I hope this helps, Hammerdown
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Yeah though I Walk Through The Valley of Death, I shall fear no evil as I carry with me my S&W
Here is an M&P from 1939 that I have. it is in about 99% Original condition. it has the Very Hard to find 5" Barrel length. I gave $300.00 for it and have turned down $500.00 for it... Hammerdown
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Yeah though I Walk Through The Valley of Death, I shall fear no evil as I carry with me my S&W
It looks to me like a S&W Military & Police, Model of 1905. (If used with the current S&W numbering system, it would be a Model 10-4.) It has the half moon front sight, underbarrel support for the ejector rod, and the tapering barrel that is the visual identifier of that model.
The key to identifying it is going to be the medallions on the grips. Those big medallions weren't used after the mid-1920s, if memory serves. It might be from just before World War I.
It looks well used and well cared for; it takes awhile to wear down the checkering on the grips! If you were hoping to make a killing on a rare pistol, you are going to be disappointed. The M&P/Model 10 pistols are common as crabgrass because they were the standard cop gun in this country for more than 80 years. It ought to be a good shooter, though.
Just don't run any +P loads through it. The later Model 10-5s with bull barrels are certified for them, but the earlier M&Ps aren't. If you are thinking of it for home defense, Hornady Critical Defense ammo would do right for you. Make sure you DON'T get the +P version of that load, though; Hornady makes it both ways.
What you have is a family heirloom that will be fun to shoot. I hope you enjoy shooting it.
Just to give everyone an update: I took the revolver to an indoor range near where I live with some non +P Magtech ammo. Loaded 6 rounds in the wheel and let them rip! This thing being as old as we all have thought it is shoots straight as an arrow. It took me a few rounds to figure out the aim/sites but once I figured that out I was getting pretty good groups at 20-30 yds. It shoots straight and its probably one of best times I've had shooting in a while. It feels like you're shooting history (and you arguably are). I couldn't be happier with inheriting something that awesome...and while it might only appraise at $200...its priceless to me since it was my grandmother's father's pistol. He was apparently a gun toting preacher from Tennessee from what I've been told. He was a nice man but loved guns and was not afraid to protect himself and his family with them according to family members. haha
Model 10 
