.32 flat latch?

ScottJ · #1 07-02-2011, 09:20 AM

The attached is being advertised locally as a pre-model 30 in .32 caliber.

My brother was asking me about it.

I'm trying to figure out why the hammer doesn't look right to me. I also think the front sight is wrong for any pre-model.

Also, I didn't think anything not J frame came with a flat latch.

Is my S&W-fu off with this one?

murphydog · #2 07-02-2011, 09:47 AM

It looks correct to me. The post-war Improved I frames had the flat latch along with the J frames. If it is not model stamped, this one was made after 1956 (no upper sideplate screw) and before 1958.

H Richard · #3 07-02-2011, 10:47 AM

It is probably just before the Model numbers were stamped, probably in the 1955 - 1957 time frame. It has the newer front sight and the 3 screw side plate. This one is earlier, but not too much, dates to Jan. 1953 and still has the round front sight and the 4 screw side plate, but is an Improved I Frame, with the coil mainspring.

Muley Gil · #4 07-02-2011, 01:21 PM

It looks correct to me also.

However, it is not a pe M30; rather, it is a pre M31.

M30-round butt
M31-square butt

Malysh · #5 07-02-2011, 03:18 PM

I don't know anything about pre Mod 30s, but J frames were not the only S&Ws with flat latches. 2 inch barreled M&P Airweights were made with flat latches. I think steel 2" M&Ps were also made with flat latches. This applied to either square or round butt variations.
Here's a 1954 M&P Airweight 2" bbl with original aluminum cylinder that I recently traded away for something else

Hondo44 · #6 07-02-2011, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottJ

The attached is being advertised locally as a pre-model 30 in .32 caliber.

My brother was asking me about it.

I'm trying to figure out why the hammer doesn't look right to me. I also think the front sight is wrong for any pre-model.

Also, I didn't think anything not J frame came with a flat latch.

Is my S&W-fu off with this one?

It's all correct and it's a model of 1953 which came with the 2nd type flat latch to begin with and progressed to the 3rd type which carried over to the J frame 32s untill 1966.

ScottJ · #7 07-02-2011, 11:13 PM

Thanks for all the help. I passed word along to my brother.

Hondo44 · #8 07-03-2011, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malysh

I don't know anything about pre Mod 30s, but J frames were not the only S&Ws with flat latches. 2 inch barreled M&P Airweights were made with flat latches. I think steel 2" M&Ps were also made with flat latches. This applied to either square or round butt variations.
Here's a 1954 M&P Airweight 2" bbl with original aluminum cylinder that I recently traded away for something else

Every single one of the I frames had flat latches at some point starting c. 1953 but only type 2 & 3.
Baby J 38 Spls started earlier in their production with the 1st type flat latch and all J frames; 38 Spl, 38 S&W, 32 and 22, had them up until c. 1966.

Malysh · #9 07-03-2011, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hondo44

Every single one of the I frames had flat latches at some point starting c. 1953 but only type 2 & 3.
Baby J 38 Spls started earlier in their production with the 1st type flat latch and all J frames; 38 Spl, 38 S&W, 32 and 22, had them up until c. 1966.

Yup, very true.

peyton · #10 07-05-2011, 12:30 AM

Well don't keep us in suspense, did your brother buy it????