S&w mp j.p.d. 1933

[Dutchman]

In the poor lighting of the gunshow I couldn't really see how THIN the blue was on this old Smith.

http://images16.fotki.com/v289/photos/2/28344/3347807/q11-vi.jpg

Looks to be one factory reblue.

http://images19.fotki.com/v285/photos/2/28344/3347807/q04butt-vi.jpg

Oops.... 4 more factory visits: September 1927 - November 1947 - April 1962 - July 1965

http://images17.fotki.com/v297/photos/2/28344/3347807/q01-vi.jpg

The really juicy part of its history is this: J.P.D. 6.33

Its engraved, not stamped, which probably/most likely indicates a S&W factory marking. As this S&W was purchased in Indianapolis a few years back I'm guessing J.P.D. is for Joliet Police Dept (Illinois) and June 1933. It was manufactured in 1923.

http://images29.fotki.com/v291/photos/2/28344/3347807/q05backstrap-vi.jpg

Bore and lockwork are choice. Very nice. But the firing pin rivet needs to be tightened as it came loose and walked sideways until the pin when THUNK and dented the frame. I've yet to take it apart to stone the ding out and tighten the rivet.

I bought this as a holster gun.

Dutch

[beagle]

Nice old gun. I started out loading .38 Special for a 5" nickeled M & P back in the late 50s. It never failed me. The military still had a bunch when I retired in 1989 befrore the changeover to the Berettas. They were fine guns as well as the old Colts we had.

A little tinkering and tLC and you'll have a nice shooter as well as a piece of history./beagle

[scrapcan]

Dutchman,

You should get a factory letter on this specimen. I would bet the history is something to read. Take care of it and shoot it like it was made to be shot.

[oldhickory]

Nice, I have it's younger twin, made in 1934. They handle great and shoot even better!

[dualsport]

I have one that still functions correctly, but is pretty loose. I've read Kunhausen's book five time but still don't have the courage to try tightening it up myself. The timing is ok, but the cylinder is sloppy. I think mine was a Lend Lease gun, has a lanyard loop. The gun looks like hell and was shot a lot, but still is accurate enough for what it is.

[MtGun44]

If only those old guns could talk. May have shot at some of the old outlaws
of the Depression era or stopped a bank robber. Maybe 500 officers have
qualified with this gun or that little old lady that ran off the burglar in
'52 or the security guard that carried it his whole career and sold it when
he retired.. . . . . .

Bill

[EMC45]

Neat gun and write up! I would get it lettered too though. With that many trips back to Smith there is sure to be some history!

[9.3X62AL]

NICE FIND!

Over the past several years, I've scrounged up three of these K-frame M&P examples with 5" barrels--one each in 32-20 WCF (pre-war), 38 S&W (Lend-Lease), and a far newer Model 10 in 38 Special. They all run like Swiss watches, and I enjoy them immensely.

Like a Colt Commander or SIG P-220, the K-frame is just the right size for the class of cartridges it started life with.