Ok, I'm cleaning up a friend's S&W Military and Police and would like to be able to tell her when it was made.  At least I think it's an M&P, it doesn't have "Model 10" marked on it anywhere and the serial number is C346xxx which I think means the last batch of M&P prior to the model 10, from 1948-1957.

If anybody's got a book that gives the year of manufacture or a link to a reference site, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks
bjt

When you say it dosent have "model 10" marked on it anywhere - does that mean anywhere on the exterior? S&W stamps model-variant on the cylnder yoke.

You'll probably have to get a letter from S&W for an exact date of mfg.

Some may be able to give you within a couple of years if you listed the serial #.

SN C1-C999999 range was from 48-67.  In 1952 the front sight went from a round blade to a ramp.  In 1955 the upper sideplate screw was deleted.  June 12, 1957 was the start of model numbering.    

Thanks, guys!

It looks like we've got a ramped front sight and an upper sideplate screw, which means '52, '53, or '54.

It's odd, I've found the serial number in five places and a manufacturing control number in two places on the gun.  I would think that a company that anal about numbering things (long before it was a legal requirement) would have year-by-year figures readily available on-line like Winchester, Marlin, Browing, and others have.

Oh well.  Thanks again!

bjt

Quoted: Thanks, guys! It's odd, I've found the serial number in five places and a manufacturing control number in two places on the gun.  I would think that a company that anal about numbering things (long before it was a legal requirement) would have year-by-year figures readily available on-line like Winchester, Marlin, Browing, and others have. Oh well.  Thanks again! bjt

Spend enough time with Smiths and you'll find that there are exceptions to everything. They may have numbered all the parts but that was mostly so they could get them back together after finishing.