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.

I need to look at my data sheet to see what's in stock for long actions here. Although I don't shoot them as well as I'd like to, I am very fond of the old Smiths.

it turns out there are 7 made before 1948. Going to have to play with them some more. Hell, I need to play with just about everything more...