Serial number - DW-1005Body size at lower bout: 16".   Body Depth: 4"Finish: Original sunburst finish, nitrocellulose typeMaterials: Handcarved bookmatched solid spruce top; bookmatched arched figured maple back and sides; solid maple neck with 3-piece walnut centerstripe; solid Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with mother of pearl inlay; ornate crown peghead inlay; checkerboard bound soundboard, fingerboard and pick guard.Hardware: Original hardware includes adjustable compensated Brazilian rosewood bridge, open-back nickel Grover Stat-Tite tuners, nickel trapeze tailpiece. Vintage correct  tortoise pickguard.Notes: Like Epiphone, Martin and other premium instrument builders, the Gibson company produced instruments on contract for distributors and  music store chains. Bearing names like Cromwell, Mason, Ambassador, and many more, these instruments were often produced by a variety of manufacturers, but none exceeded Gibson itself in quality of construction. By far the best known and most widely distributed OEM Gibson instruments were marketed by mail order  through Montgomery Ward under their trade name 'Recording King'.Recording King instruments were marketed by Ward as early as 1929, and by 1938 the brand was produced exclusively by Gibson, an arrangement that lasted until mid-1940. Instruments built during this period use Gibson serial designations (the "D" on this instrument indicating a 1938 manufacture, with the "W" indicating a Ward product.) The M-5 model was Recording King's top of the line instrument, presumably positioned as Ward's answer to Gibson's flagship L-5 archtop. With a solid carved bookmatched spruce soundboard and highly figured maple body, the M-5 displays top-flight craftsmanship throughout, including unique ornate inlay in both peghead and fingerboard. Signature Gibson accents , from the classic Cremona sunburst finish, checkerboard pickguard, even the checkerboard binding, as seen on the 30's Gibson L-10. Finally, the generous 1 3/4" nut, now so popular among contemporary players, stretches  back to the earliest Gibson archtops of the 20's. The body is a full 4" in depth, substantially deeper than any other Gibson archtop, helping to impart a warm resonance to the bass and lower mids. The soundholes are somewhat larger as well, and the curly maple sides are finished in a distinctive lateral sunburst, seen only rarely on a few obscure Gibson models like the prewar L-75. Bridge and tailpiece are like those found on various prewar Gibson archtops, but the Grover tuners are an extremely rare and attractive variant, sporting stylish art-deco baseplates.   A rare and stylish instrument, the M-5 is one of the best kept secrets of the archtop world, and an outstanding value in a true prewar Gibson built acoustic archtop. My cousin plays guitar, upon his paying the guitar he said it plays very nice and holds its tune in all cords, and sounds great with a strong clear tone. Action is smooth. Could use new strings.   This guitar is in very nice original as found  condition. (Shows expected minor pick scuffs both  sides of pick guard, the top screw that holds the pick guard has oxidized, pick guard shows some crackling in 2 small areas. Overall this guitar has been well cared for )  Pleas judge condition from photos.  SEE PHOTOS  Estate fresh CASE -  shows wear in and out all the way around - fair to average for its age Please email or call with questions 860- 989-1215