Excellent video....I too inherited a 1955 s&w38 snubnose in mint condition- original box, from my Uncle....I recently passed my Conceal Carry and was THE only one in class with a revolver..( no surprise).I was second best shot in class and the instructor held up my target to show all the guys with their auto 9mm, 40 cal., 45 cal.s How "it's done" with a snubnose. It might not be my forever choice as a "carry" but I cannot think of a better choice.Love this gun.
Yes when I first got it my plan was to send it off for a complete re-finish job, but the longer I looked at it the more I liked it! You should have seen the "before" pics, it was pretty dry and neglected.
When I first saw in your title that you have a 1955 pre model 10 Smith & Wesson, I was a little skeptical. As so many S&W revolver owners think they have a 1955 vintage revolver. For years (many years) S&W printed April 15, 1955 on the inside of their box , causing the owner to think it's of 1955 manufacture. However yours is a 1955 revolver as you have stated due to it's serial number and the fact that it is a 5 screw M&P. Thanks for showing.
I just picked up one from 1950 a couple weeks ago. It came with the box, wax paper, original cleaning tool and even the screw driver that came with it. It's in very good shape. It's a blued, square butt snub. I prefer the model 10 snub, but this gun is growing on me a lot. I bought it for trade purposes at a big gun show coming up, but I really want to keep it now. We'll see if I do or not, but it's an awesome gun.
Don’t do anything to the finish. Guns with honest wear, especially blued guns, is a badge of honor. They earned that wear because someone loved and trusted it with the most important job a gun can have. That gun should be wearing diamond magnas given its age.
Just curious, are you sure those are the original grips? Check the inside of the right grip and see if the serial number in there matches the one on the butt frame. The premodels all had the diamond around the screw echelon. The diamond didn't disappear until around 1968. Still looks cool, I like it.
A keeper. Collectible and shootable. Has history. Means business. And features like the hanner spur, barrel profile, and front sight half moon no longer made. Stick to standard velocity ammo.
I don't shoot it much. I'm not going to shoot any +P in it although it could probably handle it in small quantities. Gun is still in the condition you see here, I won't be refinishing it any further.
Nos Estados Unidos esse revolver simples deve ser un 200 dolares , aq nessa merda de Brasil nem S&W vc encontra se for comprar um taurus 2.500 reais seloko !
My understanding is that it will fire +P rounds however, remember the gun was not designed for high pressure +P therefore, probably ok to keep it loaded with +P for an emergency situation but not a good idea to continually fire them in large numbers. If you're just asking about hollow points, not plus P's, yes it will shoot any .38 round.
They are not the best but will do the job and have done the job for decades, lead round nose was the every day choice of police officers all through the 60's and 70's since nothing else was available. Having said that I'd try finding some non-plus P hollow point defensive round, they are out there.
They aren't rated for plus P since those weren't around at the time but I've heard the gun can handle them, but I'm not pushing my luck too far. I do keep +P in it for emergency use only.
I wouldn't shoot any +p ammo out of it because one guy on the tube shot that ammo too much so that it blew up in his hand and well just totally made the gun worthless to just throw in the trash !!! I just bought a mint 10-5 and im not gonna shoot any +p ammo out of it at all !! It's just senseless to do so when I got 700 bucks in it to just do something stupid to junk it !!!
Excellent video....I too inherited a 1955 s&w38 snubnose in mint condition- original box, from my Uncle....I recently passed my Conceal Carry and was THE only one in class with a revolver..( no surprise).I was second best shot in class and the instructor held up my target to show all the guys with their auto 9mm, 40 cal., 45 cal.s How "it's done" with a snubnose. It might not be my forever choice as a "carry" but I cannot think of a better choice.Love this gun.
Honest wear on a gun is nothing to concern yourself about. All you need to do is shoot and enjoy it. She’s a keeper.
That's a fine handgun. One doesn't see the snub-barrel model nearly as often as the 4". Good to be able to keep it in the family.
I think it's a beauty!
Thanks, I appreciate it. I just got a new airweight J-frame this week, so I may do a video on that one too once I get the new grips on.
A little finish wear adds character. :)
Yes when I first got it my plan was to send it off for a complete re-finish job, but the longer I looked at it the more I liked it! You should have seen the "before" pics, it was pretty dry and neglected.
When I first saw in your title that you have a 1955 pre model 10 Smith & Wesson,
I was a little skeptical. As so many S&W revolver owners think they have a 1955 vintage revolver. For years (many years) S&W printed April 15, 1955 on the inside of their box , causing the owner to think it's of 1955 manufacture. However yours is a 1955 revolver as you have stated due to it's serial number and the fact that it is a 5 screw M&P. Thanks for showing.
KnuckleHead Smiff thanks for the comment!
I just picked up one from 1950 a couple weeks ago. It came with the box, wax paper, original cleaning tool and even the screw driver that came with it. It's in very good shape. It's a blued, square butt snub. I prefer the model 10 snub, but this gun is growing on me a lot. I bought it for trade purposes at a big gun show coming up, but I really want to keep it now. We'll see if I do or not, but it's an awesome gun.
The finish on it would bother me too so if it were mine I would have it professionally refinished to like spot on brand new !!!
That IS a beautiful gun, despite the character (NOT IMPERFECTIONS) on the finish.
Excellent review!
Thanks Ed I appreciate it. I love the old school guns with history.
Museum pieces or weathered/work guns, they are ALL gorgeous to me! Wahi' Valleys
Don’t do anything to the finish. Guns with honest wear, especially blued guns, is a badge of honor. They earned that wear because someone loved and trusted it with the most important job a gun can have. That gun should be wearing diamond magnas given its age.
Just curious, are you sure those are the original grips? Check the inside of the right grip and see if the serial number in there matches the one on the butt frame. The premodels all had the diamond around the screw echelon. The diamond didn't disappear until around 1968. Still looks cool, I like it.
A keeper. Collectible and shootable. Has history. Means business. And features like the hanner spur, barrel profile, and front sight half moon no longer made. Stick to standard velocity ammo.
I have one in nickel. I have seen hundreds of these over the years, but only one in nickel that was in good condition. I had to have it. Only $380.
Good thing you got it before I did, that sounds like a steal.
Mark Johnson i have one in nickel gave 370.00
I have one in nickel gave 370.00
I’d do $600 for a nickel plated model in great shape with the original grips.
How'd gun hold up?
Still shooting it?
I don't shoot it much. I'm not going to shoot any +P in it although it could probably handle it in small quantities. Gun is still in the condition you see here, I won't be refinishing it any further.
Nos Estados Unidos esse revolver simples deve ser un 200 dolares , aq nessa merda de Brasil nem S&W vc encontra se for comprar um taurus 2.500 reais seloko !
Is it safe to fire .38 Special hollow points in this revolver? I was think about purchasing one.
My understanding is that it will fire +P rounds however, remember the gun was not designed for high pressure +P therefore, probably ok to keep it loaded with +P for an emergency situation but not a good idea to continually fire them in large numbers. If you're just asking about hollow points, not plus P's, yes it will shoot any .38 round.
Would lead round nose ammo be good for a defense round?
They are not the best but will do the job and have done the job for decades, lead round nose was the every day choice of police officers all through the 60's and 70's since nothing else was available. Having said that I'd try finding some non-plus P hollow point defensive round, they are out there.
These aren't +P capable are they?
They aren't rated for plus P since those weren't around at the time but I've heard the gun can handle them, but I'm not pushing my luck too far. I do keep +P in it for emergency use only.
+Brown1286 Ok, thanks was thinking of picking one up from my lgs
I wouldn't shoot any +p ammo out of it because one guy on the tube shot that ammo too much so that it blew up in his hand and well just totally made the gun worthless to just throw in the trash !!! I just bought a mint 10-5 and im not gonna shoot any +p ammo out of it at all !! It's just senseless to do so when I got 700 bucks in it to just do something stupid to junk it !!!
What do you mean, "not collectible at all"? That looks pretty collectible to me.