An ugly gun

[gb6491]

A local shop had a sale on used handguns recently. I picked up a pretty much LNIB, stainless LCP for under $200 and was about to head home when I noticed a revolver on a lower shelf. It turned out to be a S&W 1905 (4th change). It had a lot of wear, a replacement front sight, and some other peculiarities. After looking it over, I asked if I could put a few rounds through it and we headed over to the shop's range. The old Smith shot right to it's sights at 10 yds, grouping nicely. I decided to buy it. The plan being to see if the front sight stays on with some shooting (I'm guessing the sight is silver soldered on) and if it does, rust bluing the gun or parkerizing it. After getting it home, I realized that the barrel has been cut back, now measuring 4.5". The "new" barrel crown was done well. So, while the finish is rough, the work on the barrel and sight look to have been done with some skill. I'm really hoping that the sight stays put. The trigger and hammer have been blued, but I'm undecided if the frame has been re-blued. If it was, they did a decent job. The vintage, faux stag grips have been repaired at some point with epoxy. There was some rust under one panel. Timing is fine in both single and double action. Lockup is acceptable, as is the barrel/cylinder gap. There's no end shake. For it's age and appearance, not bad...not bad at all

There's a long running thread on S&W serial numbers and date of manufacture at the The High Road forums; perusing that I believe this M&P was made, or at least shipped, in early 1927.

I've got cold blue and some S&W grips out in the garage....
Regards,
Greg

[jeepster09]

That's pretty cool!

[Bawanna]

I agree. Very cool.

[b4uqzme]

I can't wait to see the "after" pictures.

[CJB]

aw hell...... I dunno if I'd touch that at all..... but if I did, i'd do parkerized not blue

[kenemoore]

Sweet.

[gb6491]

Hey, thanks folks!

I can't wait to see the "after" pictures.

Well, I decided to hit it with cold blue and to try some different grips on it.
I might just leave it like this, I think the cold blue has an "aged" look to it. I can touch it up if necessary...or not.
New shoes and a little make up on a 89 year old, waddaya think?

Regards,
Greg

[yqtszhj]

Greg, you did good again.

[Alfonse]

Yeah, I would love to shoot that at the range. It would both be looking good and shooting good, at least as good as I ever shoot.

[Bawanna]

Wow, totally different gun. I'll call it a success and leave it like that. Hard to improve on that.

I think it looks great.

[AJBert]

I'm a little late to the game, but I agree, it is ugly. Not sure the lipstick makes that little piggy close to acceptable.

I am willing to do you a favor and take it off your hands, but you have to pay for shipping. I feel it is my duty to help out my fellow members on here so they don't embarrass themselves out in public with ugly guns. I live out in the boonies so I don't worry too much about my self image around these parts.

Anything I can do to help! (except paying the shipping charges, of course)
































BTW, nice resurrection!

[b4uqzme]

Thanks. It looks great.

[getsome]

Wow that's a beaut Greg, Love those old school S&W guns....Great job on keeping a nice old revolver running for another 100 years.....

[nmkahrshooter]

Great looking revolver!!!

[downtownv]

I'd hit it!
what 89 yo looks good enough to caress and grope?
BTW you never mentioned what you picked it up for $$$?