Howdy, I am buying a 22 blued s&w 4 inch revolver from a friend and he sent me a picture of it. I have a model 34-1 and it looks very similar, but older. This one has a flat latch, is a 4 screw model, pinned barrel and two small pins at the superior posterior aspect of the frame just below the adjustable rear sight ( my kit gun has one pin there). It has aftermarket grips and is in used but good condition. Anyone know anything about the second pin in the back of the upper frame, and any ideas which model/ age this kit gun is roughly. Thanks,
rcs

First, the model. It sounds like it would be a Model of 1953 .22/32 Kit Gun, known familiarly as the Pre-34. I assume it has no Model number designation on the frame under the yoke?

If it is not model marked but is a four-screw gun, that narrows its age down to about 1957, possibly as late as 1958 if it sat on the shelf for a while before being shipped.

I love the prewar and transitional kit guns, but have never had a 34 or Pre-34 to study. The first pin is to retain the in-frame firing pin assembly. The second pin? I just don't know. I'm going to learn along with you on this one.

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David Wilson

Correct, no model number on frame, only a stamped number. I assume it is a Kit Gun (pre-34) then. More when it get's here. Picture when I figure out how to post it. I don't have a url for it, only a file.
Sorry first thread... I've been a silent reader for awhile though.

Sounds like a pre-34 improved I frame. I believe David is correct on the year, 1953.

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Misty

One pin is the firing pin retainer. The second retains the elevation stud in the frame under the rear sight. The small frame adjustable sight has a completely different elevation design than the K and larger frames.

Thank you all for the info. The Pre-34 has serial #127xx so I imagine it is pretty early. Anyone have an idea of the date of manufacture?
rcs

Probably about 1955-56.

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David Wilson

I took it that you were also wondering if it was an I or J frame from the title, and none of us answered that. A Kit Gun of the time period of yours would be an Improved-I Frame, not strictly an I, and several years too early (for this model) to be a J. An I-Frame has a flat mainspring like larger S&W revolver models while the Improved-I has the same coil mainspring of the later J.