TITLE

S&W .38 M&P 1905 4th Change MATCHING FACTORY LETTER WWII US Maritime Commission 1942

 

DESCRIPTION

Smith & Wesson .38 Military & Police, Model of 1905, Fourth Change Serial Number 980677 | Shipped May 25, 1942 | Factory Lettered | Matching Numbers

A documented WWII U.S. government contract revolver, shipped in the final months of 1905 4th Change production, before the Victory Model serial range began. This is not a Victory Model.

Included documentation (original, embossed, signed):

  • Factory letter from R.M. Vivas, Historian, S&W Historical Foundation, dated August 26, 2026
  • Reproduction of the factory shipping ledger page (Ref. R25/717) showing this serial entered as "USMarComSF"
  • Reproduction of the Defense Supplies Corp. shipping order, DSC 709-B, stamped SHIP'D MAY 25 1942

What the documentation establishes: Shipped from the Stockbridge Street factory in Springfield, Massachusetts on May 25, 1942 to the U.S. Maritime Commission Warehouse, Rincon Building, 60 Federal Street, San Francisco, California, as one of 400 revolvers in that shipment. The ledger page and order sheet corroborate the serial, date, and destination.

Disclosed errors in the letter: The letter body describes the shipment as round butt with lanyard swivel and Parkerized finish. Two of those are incorrect for this revolver.

The Defense Supplies Corp. order sheet reproduced with the letter specifies "38 M&P 4in sq." This gun is a square butt, matching the order sheet rather than the letter text.

The finish is not Parkerized. Collectors familiar with this serial range indicate Parkerized examples are documented only in a limited run above this serial number.

I have submitted a correction request to the S&W Historical Foundation, which states in its published FAQ that it corrects its own errors at no charge. If a corrected letter is issued after this sale, I will forward it to the buyer at my expense. No timeline is guaranteed.

Buyers should rely on the photographs and the description below for this gun's features. The letter's value here is the shipment documentation, not its description of configuration.

Serial numbers match. 980677 appears on the butt, the rear face of the cylinder, and the barrel flat, matching the factory letter and ledger entry. Photographs of all three locations are included below.

The gun as it stands: .38 S&W Special, six shot, 4-inch barrel, square butt. Original dark blue-black military finish over a sandblasted surface, not refinished; roll marks and proof marks remain crisp with no evidence of buffing or reblue. Barrel marked SMITH & WESSON, frame marked MADE IN U.S.A. with S&W monogram.

Bore is bright with sharp rifling and no pitting observed. Muzzle crown shows finish loss to bare steel with light frosting from service and cleaning; rifling intact at the crown, no chips or gouges. Detailed photos included.

Lanyard swivel is absent. The lanyard hole remains in the butt, indicating removal after issue.

Grips are checkered walnut with S&W medallions. Originality not confirmed; they may be replacements.

Functions properly and shoots accurately.

Transfer: Curio & Relic eligible (manufactured 1942). Transfers to FFL in buyer's state, or directly to Type 03 C&R holders where state law permits. Buyer responsible for their state and local law. Ships from my FFL.

Will meet locally or shipping: $50 flat rate, USPS Priority, insured, signature required. Documents ship separately.

$995 obo or trades. See list below.