This photo was originally posted in a forum thread a few years ago by Absent Comrade H.M. Pope. It is said to be an image of the rear sight and hammer of a .22/32 Transitional Target revolver. If that is correct, this is the only evidence I have ever seen that this vanishingly rare model actually exists.



But what is going on with that hammer face? It seems to have a semi-circular boss that would contact the frame in such a way that the frame-mounted firing pin would never be struck by the hammer. Unless there is a reveal in the frame into which this boss would fit, this gun would not fire. The hammer is cut for a postwar hammer block, which seems superfluous if I am reading this image correctly.

Is this an optical illusion? Is the hammer face flat and the apparent protrusion a false impression based on scratches and variable shading?

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David Wilson

You are seeing it correct. It definitely is a protrusion.

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Tom
NRA Pistol Inst

Hi David,

Just so you know you're not losin' it...As tlay has already noted...What you're seeing is "Not" an optical illusion...Ha!!~Ha!! Meaning the Boss you're referring to does indeed protrude from the Face of the Hammer & the Frame is machined for this to clear so the Hammer will strike the Firing Pin!!

Reason I know this...Is if the Photo of the Revolver Joe posted is the one I believe it to be...I have seen this Revolver first-hand & it was taken of the Hammer on the Early Transition .22/32 Kit-Gun he once owned!!

I also believe...Should Richard (RKmesa) be kind enough to post a photo of the Hammer in the cocked position from this Thread...(Transitional Kit Gun - With Box and SAT)..You'll likely find his was modified in the same manner!!

In the mean time...I've also contacted a Forum Member Friend of mine to see if his was modified like this as well when the Hammer Block was installed!! I'll let you know as soon as he gets back to me...Hopefully it won't take too long!!

I've also attached a Photo of the Hammer from a Very Early Model of 1953 Kit-Gun of mine to show this modification was carried over onto Standard Post-War Production Hammers on the .22/32 Kit-Guns!!

Attached Images

Early Post-War Kit-Gun Hammer Face 002.jpg (78.3 KB, 41 views)

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Masterpiece

David,

Masterpiece is correct.

That is the normal hammer configuration on all post war Kit Guns. And there is a matching milled reveal in the hammer channel. That hammer face protrusion is the contact point blocked by the 'flag' at the top of the sliding bar, which rises into the milled reveal.

Once the sliding bar hammer block was introduced, both the pre war transistional hammers with pre war style spur and Model of 1953 new wide target styles are configured that same way up thru and including my 1988 vintage J frame Kit Gun, the last version.

The only slight difference between the transistional style hammer and the wide spur hammer is that the trans. style is slightly notched under the protrusion, while on the latter, the protrusion sits on a flat face. Albeit Masterpiece's photo shows a slight notch, less than your photo. All of mine sit on a flat face. A minor machining variation apparently, which does not affect the function.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Thank you both. I have never actually been able to inspect a postwar .22/32, either transitional or 1953, and was completely ignorant of the changes in frame and hammer interaction.

Masterpiece, based on your comments it sounds as though the picture I posted may be of a transitional Kit Gun rather than the six-inch .22/32 Target I thought it might be. In that case those postwar transitional I-frame target revolvers remain completely undocumented in my experience.

Has anybody ever seen one? Jim? Lee? Any of the Davids? Ed?

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David Wilson

All I can add to the discussion is that I checked the hammers on my collection of 6" .22/32 HFT's and my highest serial number 529482 that was shipped 3/6/1936 has a flat face on the hammer.

Attached Images

252.jpg (87.9 KB, 10 views)

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James Redfield
LM #497

Hi David,

I thought that may have been what you'd suspected the Photo Joe posted was taken from...And is why I noted the only Transition .22/32 I was aware of Joe owning was a Transition Kit-Gun...Not a Transition .22/32 HFT!!

Also...Being He & I were somewhat close...I'm pretty certain he'd have let me know he owned one if he did!!

And as to your question as to ever seeing one...Personally I haven't either...Although there's been "Rumors" floating around for many, many years a few Transition .22/32 Targets may very well exist!! Although to date...As you noted...None of those suspected to be ever documented as being shipped as such!!

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Masterpiece

David,

I have not observed one. The only documentation that I have is from this forum and is Roy's response to the same question:

"Roy, I was looking thru my copy of the 1952 Catalog, and there is a listing for a .22/32 Target Model along side with the .22/32 Kit Gun. This would be post-war Pre 1953 Model. It is/was built on the I Frame with adjustable sights and a six inch barrel. The SCSW listing for this model states that while collectors have said they exist, none have been seen by the authors. Are you aware of any having been sold-shipped in 1952? I am assuming (I know, that's dangerous) that it wouldn't have been in the catalog if it wasn't in production. The catalog doesn't mention if it was special order only. Thanks for your time," Lee Hooks.

06-12-2013
"Lee, I have seen one [.22/32 Target Post war Transistional I Frame] sold. I would have to go back to the manufacturing records and see what they show. However, with our meeting coming up and still have my talk to write, I will not get much chance to look up anything." Roy G. Jinks
Historian, Smith & Wesson

And from this thread:
Bekeart models and .22/32 HFT's

The 22/32 Target is shown in this circular dated Oct. 3, 1946:

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Jim
S&WCA #819