Went to the gun show this weekend to help man our club table and not really looking for anything in particular. Lack of funds sure dulls the edge of interest. Slowly working my way down the aisles during a slow spell, I came across a Colt Detective Special in great condition. This set off a whole series of thoughts about working up a "Fitz Special." The only problem was the offering was in great condition and the price was well over my limit.

What's one to do? Whine, of course. Was doing just that a few minutes later with a friend when he got a serious look on his face and asked, "Are you really looking for a belly gun?" "Well, you have to admit, a snubbie would be a pretty good concealed carry gun," I replied. "I'm coming back tomorrow and I'll bring you one that you might be interested in," he said.

He was true to his word and when I met him again on Sunday he reached down into a bag and pulled out small pistol case. "Smith," he said as handed it to me, "but I'll bet you haven't seen of these in a while."

I noted how small the case was and how light it felt as I carefully unzipped it. Out came a five shot, pre-war (serial number 56xxx,) Terrier in 38 S&W. "Now this is coooool," I said as I reverently fondled it. "It's an "I" frame," he said, "pre-curser to the "J" and unlike Smith's later pistols it has a leaf mainspring as opposed to a coil spring so it's got a really smooth trigger."

I have to admit, I'm a sucker for neat old guns so the negotiation wasn't prolonged. Once we had come to terms on a very reasonable price, it was mine. Whoo boy! I just couldn't stop fooling with it as he stood there with a big grin on his face. "I almost forgot, these go with it," as he dug down to the bottom of his bag and then handed me a small bundle wrapped in bubble wrap. Inside was a fitted set of vintage pearl grips.

I believe there are rare times when a little whining while among friends doesn't hurt. I'm not prone to it but in this instance, I'm glad I broke my normal reserve. It was worth it.

dang. that looks nice....
I gotta start looking for one.....

Great find and a good story. Congratulations.

And, I'll bet the grips are worth as much as you paid for the gun. Congratulations!

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

me likeee...

That is really good-looking Terrier! Congratulations.

I think you will find that is one of the first postwar Terriers rather than one of the last prewar specimens. Hondo44 may be able to nail this down for you, but I think the shape of the thumb release points to a postwar phase of manufacture. Does the gun have the one-line or four-line address?

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David Wilson

Just a super looking gun. Thanks for the post and picture.

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James

I like it! And 38 S&W was never a target round but just what you have there was it's main use....

that is a beauty! please tell me you are not going to fitz it!!!

it is probably very early post war. definitely the last iteration of the thumblatch. here is 5597X, 4-line/postwar.

Poco,

You truly came up with a little jewel, a real prize! I presume the stocks on it when he 1st handed it to you were the original wood. Are they Service or Magna and numbered to the gun?

The 56,XXX number indicates an early post war model which reportedly began with #54,475. Numbers are not fool proof but the thumbpiece is and it's a post war.

It is an early number so does it have the post war hammer block? It looks like a small rear sight leaf with a sq notch and you can see it lowering as you slowly cock the hammer. Or if you post a side view photo with hammer cocked we can see the step in the hammer face below the firing pin nose.

Those leaf spring Terriers have become extremely sought after!

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Ed,

I agree!!

That's such a beauty, especially with the early post war Service Stocks. Still has that pre war panache!

Does it have the new hammer block? I'm trying to get a handle on whether any old inventory of these slipped thru early after the war like some .32s reportedly did.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

hi jim,
i am almost positive it has the hammer block, but i will check and make sure.

let me ask you a question! have you run across any postwar terriers with an earlier latch than these (and possibly the grips with the earlier square-corner checkering field, and the fine checkering pattern, maybe flat silver meds)? i have found a very few 32s with a couple of the earlier features, but every early-ish terrier i have found has had this latch. i keep thinking there must be a few very early post-war terriers with some of the earliest features, too.

poco,
did you get the original grips also? can you post a pic of them?!

thanks to you both!

ed

Thanks for the comments fellers. Glad to learn more about its DOB. It does have the four line address as well as the hammer block. Here's how it looked when it came out of the pistol rug.

Ed,
You know, I just can't say for sure. Sorry.

They weren't re introduced after the war until c.1948 as opposed to the .32s c. 1946. So all the pre war inventory of Service stocks w/flat silvers, thumbpieces, etc., may have been used up on the .32s. I searched my files and could not find any photos of Terriers w/those features. We should do a thread search for photos.

I have to think there's a couple out there, however I'm the consummate optimist.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Hard rubber stocks are very unusual/maybe non-existent as original for post war stocks. Is there a serial number scratched on the backside of the right stock?

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Poco, you never said what you paid but I think you scored. Beautiful Terrier-- and still a viable carry gun today.

Poco, that is the gun I looked for over a year. Please tell me you aren't going to "Fitz-ify" it. I finally found a pre-War, but still would rather have a post-War. My "pre-" is pretty worn and battered, so I would swap that to you to perform alterations on if that's what you really want. Yours is just gorgeous and would make a great CCW just the way it is.

Froggie

After looking at that "I don't feel good"

Nice

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Doesn't hasta call me Johnson

The pre-war ones were just a bit more shiny.

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

After a meager bit of research, I don't believe these grips are original to the piece. I'm thinking they would be more likely found on a 32 but I'm definately not well versed on this subject.

I checked the right grip panel and there is indeed a serial number: 199376. What does this tell us?

Man oh man, I really REALLY want a Terrier! Alas I've yet to ever see one in the flesh.

Great score!!

yeah, those grips probably came off a 32he 1903/5th from the late teens. yours probably had the small service style walnuts. probably with the rounded checker-field corners, and coarse checker pattern. i do like the looks of the hard rubbers on there! you can probably find a set of the wood ones. they pop up sometimes. sometimes right here on the forum classifieds!