I'm becoming a S&W fanatic. This is the fourth one in the last four months. Hope I've ID this correctly (and have this post in the right forum).

.22/32 Airweight. S/N from the butt is 246xx. Also the same number is under the barrel. A different number inside the crane, 251xx. 3-1/2" pinned barrel. 3 screws, flat cylinder latch, coiled & captive hammer spring, and recessed cylinders.

You'll know you've reached fanatic status if you keep up the average of one per month...

Yep, and I've already got designs on the next model for March.

Very nice purchase. I have one from 1952 and it is a favorite plinking gun. It is also a very nice gun to introduce young shooters to handguns. Yours is way too nice to be a true kit gun and bounce around in a tackle or tool box. Good luck on your gun-of-the-month club.

There is a 12 step program to overcome the addiction, but I've never made it past the first step. You're in the right section, and the section that has the most "collectible" versions of all the S&W's. Wait until you start handling some of the larger frame models.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

It looks like a Model 43 or pre-Model 43, and it appears to have an Aluminum cylinder too. I haven't looked at mine for some time. Seeing the pic of your gun got me wondering if these guns were made with both steel and aluminum cylinders... ? I seem to remember seeing at least one with a steel cylinder, but can't recall now. Anyone more knowledgeable care to comment?

Anyway, congratulations on the nice find. That one appears to be in very good condition. The number in the yoke cut (not "crane," unless you are a Colt man ) of the frame is not a serial number. It's a number used in production of the gun and has nothing to do with the serial number.

Yes it is an aluminum frame and cylinder. A friend on another forum didn't believe me, so I tested it with a magnet just to assure him.