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S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 All 5-Screw & Vintage 4-Screw SWING-OUT Cylinder REVOLVERS, and the 35 Autos and 32 Autos


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  #1  
Old 05-16-2010, 10:18 AM
coneten coneten is offline
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Default Pre- Model 12 Airweight?

I picked up an Airweight today after looking at it for 5 consecutive Saturdays. It has the snub barrel, diamond grips are stamped to match, flat latch. The SN#351562 is stamped on grip frame, under barrel and on cylinder face..cylinder is steel. The large S&W logo is on right side. No model number..but there is a K and assembly number 37865 on frame and 37865 on yoke. I would would rate the condition at 95%..no box. I paid $325 for the revolver. Any ideas on DOB? I will post pics later.
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Old 05-16-2010, 05:35 PM
coneten coneten is offline
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Default pics of Airweight..

It is a very nice revolver..the frame is large but the weight is minimal.

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  #3  
Old 05-16-2010, 06:03 PM
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Peter J. Peter J. is offline
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Cone, thats real nice for $325. My only question is why did it take 5 Saturdays to make up your mind? I have two M-12's, a 2" RB like yours, and a 4" Round Butt. Have had them for years, but haven't fired either of them yet. If I get around to it I'll probably use standard loads, and just fire off a couple of cylinders from each. There have been numerous threads lately about M-12 frames cracking under where the barrel is screwed into the frame. I guess thats the "Achilles’ heel" of air-weights.
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Old 05-16-2010, 06:06 PM
tekarra tekarra is offline
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That is a fine looking revolver. Why did it take five visits? For that price, it is surprising it stayed around that long. Glad you snagged it and thanks for the photos.
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Old 05-16-2010, 06:35 PM
coneten coneten is offline
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Well..the old feller had it priced at $400 and was afraid if I kept coming back I would wear off the finish. He came down today and it just followed me home. I just looked under the barrel..no crack. I will most likely not shoot this one.

Last edited by coneten; 05-16-2010 at 06:37 PM.
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  #6  
Old 05-17-2010, 11:36 AM
ImprovedModel56Fan ImprovedModel56Fan is offline
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$400 was a reasonable price, also, although I'm sure he made money even at $325. From following such things for a while, it appears to me that M12s are either overtorqued at the factory, or they aren't. If it's not cracked already, it probably will never be. Just be VERY gentle with the sideplate screws. They can strip out the threads in the aluminum frame pretty easily.

I have two right now, and I REALLY like them. Great carry guns.
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Old 05-18-2010, 08:42 PM
H P Bushrod H P Bushrod is offline
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I've got a flat latch M-12 from the late '50's. It's one of my favorite .38's.
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Old 05-18-2010, 11:54 PM
indiuckian indiuckian is offline
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Nice one Coneten. It is a beauty and I am thinking 1954-56 on the DOB from what I can gather via the SCSW 3rd edition. It seems there should be a letter prefix of a "C" in the serial number. I think they are neat guns and that one is in great shape. Great price as well.
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Old 05-19-2010, 06:24 AM
coneten coneten is offline
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Correct as usual! I forgot the "C" prefix on the grip frame..it is also on the cylinder but not very close to the numbers. Another oldie but goodie!
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Old 05-19-2010, 10:12 AM
ENGINE18 ENGINE18 is offline
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Aw, geez. More pics of one of my "gotta have" guns! I'm looking to aquire one to replace my "Airweight" J-frame for CC.
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airweight, round butt, scsw, sideplate, sig arms, snubnose

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