Factory nickel 5-screw S&W pre-10!

[evan price]

I just picked up this little gem. It's a Smith & Wesson pre-model-10, 4" barrel, factory nickel, diamond magna grips, with short action hammer. It's a C-prefix serial number. According to the SCSW it's most likely made from 48-52. Looks barely ever fired, nickel is about perfect with only a couple tiny imperfections. The reflection made it hard to take a good picture.
$300 plus C&R shipping seemed a fair price!
I normally don't go for nickel guns all that much but this one just struck my fancy. It also has an unusual serial number. "C 30XXXX" where all the X's are actually the same number.

 

[susieqz]

great gun.
old s&ws are great machines.

 

[bannockburn]

evan price

Sounds very much like a win/win for you with a classic S&W in great condition, at a great price and nickel plated at that!

 

[AZAndy]

There's something really timeless about those old half-moon front sights. Good find!

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

My read of your Serial Number puts it between 1954 and 1956, unless I am not understanding your description of the SN.

1954-1956 C277555 - C402923

By the way, that style of hammer is sometimes known as the 'speed hammer'. I have a few 38 M&Ps and a couple of K-38s with that style hammer.

 

[evan price]

My read of your Serial Number puts it between 1954 and 1956, unless I am not understanding your description of the SN.

1954-1956 C277555 - C402923

"C"-prefix started in 1948. SCSW says the round front sight went away in 1952. If we figure roughly 100,000 units per year that should put C30XXXX roughly 1951 which jives with the round front sight ending in 1952.

However as we know S&W is known for their consistently being inconsistent especially when we are talking production that is on the edge of some sort of change.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy Again

As you say, you cannot always depend on S&W information such as when the round front sight was discontinued. If you go to the back of the book, page 399, where serial number blocks are located, you will see the information I quoted.

1954-1956 C277555 - C402923

Bear in mind that S&W often stamped serial numbers onto frames and put them in inventory before they were assembled into finished guns. And no telling when the last of the round front sight barrels were used up out of existing stocks. The date quoted about discontinuing the round front sight would have been when S&W made the general changeover to the ramped front sight, but Smith was no different from many other frugal firearm manufacturers who used up parts in inventory before using brand new parts. I have a Winchester Model 12 that has a barrel on it that was clearly made several years before SN on the frame indicates the gun was made. I have a few Smiths that have a similar history.

The only way to know for sure the history of your gun is to letter it. And even then, all you will learn is the actual date it shipped, not the date it was made.

 

[evan price]

Sound like you have a 3rd SCSW, I have a 2nd which doesnt list dates. I'm waiting on the 4th edition to upgrade.

 

[Tallball]

Sweet piece! I bet it's a great shooter.

 

[Jim NE]

Love the gun! I won't tell you how to shine up the nickle finish since some folks say some methods can remove too much plating, but once you get it shiny, Windex is a good way to keep it shiny. I honestly prefer it like it is, though. Have fun!