S&W pre-10 identification

[il_10]

I just bought/traded for a S&W revolver, that I was sure at the time was a model 10. It was under $300, bluing in about 90-95%, gorgeous trigger in single and double, just an all around great gun. I've been doing some research, as I'm not as up on my smiths as I should be, and I'm now pretty sure it's an early post-war transition gun. The serial is S848***, it's a 4", and though it has later grips, the numbers on them don't match the gun. I noticed the barrel is pinned, but the cylinders aren't recessed. It has a hammer with tight checkering on the top, so I take it that means it's a long action? I know it's the best trigger I've felt on anything to date...
If anyone could tell me anything about these guns I would really appreciate it! I'll try to get pics up in a day or two.

 

[StrawHat]

First, a photo (or several) will help make the identification much easier.

A pinned barrel is a nice feature but the only non magnum cylinder that was recessed was cut for the 22 so a non recessed 38 Special is the norm for this revolver. The type of hammer spur is not indicative of the long action. The long actions were generally set up on revolvers that had a pin visible under the cylinder latch. That is not a great description but it helps you know where to look.

I have several of the long action S&Ws and like the way they feel but a properly set up short action is also good. My competiton revolvers were all built with the later action.

Congrats on your find, enjoy shooting it.

 

[SaxonPig]

The S serial prefix means it was made 1947-1948. Correctly called the Military & Police Model it became the Model 10 in 1957.

 

[madcratebuilder]

Frommy S&W motes on the M&P

Production of new law enforcement/civilian Military & Police revolvers began on September 12, 1945 using a new “S” letter pre-fix in the serial number to denote the addition of a new hammer block that made it safe to carry the revolver with all six chambers loaded. The number itself (811,120) started where the Victory Model (SV 811,119) had left off. In 1948 the new, redesigned version came out and they bore a letter C serial prefix. The S prefix on the K frame was only used 1946-1948.