Scored an early post-war M&P .38 at a local gun show today. Near as I can tell it dates from about late 1946 or early 1947. It has the slick old long action that feels like the guts are filled with butter. S&W went to the "short" action in 1948. This one is in VERY nice condition for a gun that's almost 80 years old.

My Uncle Jack had an identical gun that was made only a few months earlier than this one. He taught me to shoot double action with it when I was just a kid, and I loved that old gun. It was later stolen from his house and never recovered. Needless to say I was heartbroken, and have looked for one like it ever since.

Me one happy feller tonight.