Help dating a S&W 1905?

[thor745]

I recently purchased a S&W 1905, at least that is what the gun shop stated as I can not find 1905 stamped anywhere on the gun. It has a bright blue finish with a skinny pinned six inch barrel. Can anyone help me dated the year it was manufactured? The serial number is 424XXX. Also a C is stamped before the serial number. Any ideas on what it designates?

 

[Old Fuff]

The Smith & Wesson 1905 Hand Ejector was more commonly known as the “Military & Police†or “M&P.†It evolved into the Model 10. Your revolver is a Model 10 or 10-1 and was made in 1959. The model number should be stamped on the frame under the barrel, and can be seen after the cylinder is opened. You may find another number unrelated to the serial number which is an assembly number. The serial number is on the butt where you found it. A 6†barrel is not rare in the “C†serial number series, but it is scarce.

 

[thor745]

I opened up the cylinder and found the assembly number but there is no model 10 stamped anywhere.

 

[Albert Shear]

That serial # dates from 1957-59. S&W did not satert to use model #'s until 1957. It is conceivable that the frame left the plant before it was stamped with the new model # designations.
Al

 

[Old Fuff]

I agree with Al. It is likely that S&W was still using up older frames that were made before the "10" stamping was used. The production date of your gun occured just when these changes were being made.

You can write S&W and for a $30.00 charge their Historian, Roy Jinks, will research your particular revolver and reply with a factory letter with all of the details their records show. This is the only way to know exactly what you have.

Given the information I now have I would describe your gun as a:

Smith & Wesson 1905 Hand Ejector/Military & Police (Postwar) Pre-Model 10. Date of production is between 1957-1959 with the later date being most likely.

Understand that S&W would make large production runs of frames, serial number them, but not actually build them up into guns until sometime later.