Wyo Weapons Collectors Show Snubby finds -- update w/letters

two-bit cowboy · #1 05-29-2017, 02:41 PM

A big thanks to SASABERANGER for encouraging me to join the WWC and have a table at the show (and for loaning two cases to me to display my Chiefs, 32 HEs and RPs, X-frames, and a few odds and ends). Great show, super folks, and very worthwhile (sold 10, brought home four new ones). $6 entry, free parking, and a food truck for lunch (it was okay).

I found another birth year (1952) baby Chiefs Special in excellent condition; numbers match.

A guy approached me late Saturday with a '56 (my best guess from the SCSW) 32 Hand Ejector snubby. He wanted to trade it for my '49 32 HE snubby. His dad had been an LEO. A guy jumped in front of his dad and pulled a half-round sight 32 HE on him. His dad took the gun away from the guy and was able to own the gun some time later. When his dad passed away his mom sold the gun. He has his dad's badge and some other bits and pieces from his career and has made a shadow box to display them, but the flat latch HE wasn't like the gun his dad took from his attacker; my finish-challenged one was. We made a deal, and the guy was ecstatic. Oh, and my new '56 HE has a target trigger -- first I-frame I've seen with one.

Late on Sunday afternoon a big vendor, with whom I had done business at last year's show, showed me an Airweight Chiefs Special from 1953: large trigger guard, 4 screws, baby-J serial number and latch, aluminum cylinder (not cracked), and all numbers match, including the red box. After jaw jacking for a good long time (the last hour of the show was pretty dead) we finally struck a deal that made us both happy (don't ask 'cause I ain't tellin').

The rain started after I shot these so I didn't get to take photos of the like-new, Dec '46 S-serialed M&P 5" I picked up from SASABERANGER. Thank you!

Overall the S&W offerings at the show were interesting. A 3½" non-registered magnum was the stand-out for me. $6,900. She took it back home. Quite a few N-frames, some K's, and a paltry few other I's and J's (I sort of had that market cornered, and seven of my sales came from those). Scads of long guns and pistols, but those vendors were sort of crying the blues on Sunday afternoon. No snake oil or jerky salesmen.

The WWC put on two terrific dinners for vendors Friday and Saturday nights. I signed up for my table for next year's show.

Cheers,

Bob

Wiregrassguy · #2 05-29-2017, 02:45 PM

Wow, Bob! Sounds like a real productive weekend.

RKmesa · #3 05-29-2017, 03:42 PM

Thanks for the great report and the beautiful photos! Sounds like a fun show.

Hondo44 · #4 05-29-2017, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by two-bit cowboy

A big thanks to SASABERANGER for encouraging me to join the WWC and have a table at the show (and for loaning two cases to me to display my Chiefs, 32 HEs and RPs, X-frames, and a few odds and ends). Great show, super folks, and very worthwhile (sold 10, brought home four new ones). $6 entry, free parking, and a food truck for lunch (it was okay).

I found another birth year (1952) baby Chiefs Special in excellent condition; numbers match.

A guy approached me late Saturday with a '56 (my best guess from the SCSW) 32 Hand Ejector snubby. He wanted to trade it for my '49 32 HE snubby. His dad had been an LEO. A guy jumped in front of his dad and pulled a half-round sight 32 HE on him. His dad took the gun away from the guy and was able to own the gun some time later. When his dad passed away his mom sold the gun. He has his dad's badge and some other bits and pieces from his career and has made a shadow box to display them, but the flat latch HE wasn't like the gun his dad took from his attacker; my finish-challenged one was. We made a deal, and the guy was ecstatic. Oh, and my new '56 HE has a target trigger -- first I-frame I've seen with one.

Late on Sunday afternoon a big vendor, with whom I had done business at last year's show, showed me an Airweight Chiefs Special from 1953: large trigger guard, 4 screws, baby-J serial number and latch, aluminum cylinder (not cracked), and all numbers match, including the red box. After jaw jacking for a good long time (the last hour of the show was pretty dead) we finally struck a deal that made us both happy (don't ask 'cause I ain't tellin').

The rain started after I shot these so I didn't get to take photos of the like-new, Dec '46 S-serialed M&P 5" I picked up from SASABERANGER. Thank you!

Overall the S&W offerings at the show were interesting. A 3½" non-registered magnum was the stand-out for me. $6,900. She took it back home. Quite a few N-frames, some K's, and a paltry few other I's and J's (I sort of had that market cornered, and seven of my sales came from those). Scads of long guns and pistols, but those vendors were sort of crying the blues on Sunday afternoon. No snake oil or jerky salesmen.

The WWC put on two terrific dinners for vendors Friday and Saturday nights. I signed up for my table for next year's show.

Cheers,

Bob

Very productive show and some great finds!

At least he knew which gun and caliber his dad used. That's unusual. He must have seen it at some time.

les.b · #5 05-29-2017, 11:01 PM

Bob, I've already commented on your other thread... Looks like you had a great weekend. I think I would letter that target trigger I frame. Like you, I've never seen one before. Sounds like you had fun!!

Best Regards, Les

two-bit cowboy · #6 05-30-2017, 03:01 AM

Yes, Les, I had a ball. Folks in these parts are just terrific.

The eye-catcher in one of the red-felt lined cases was my 10½" PC 500 -- the only 500 at the show -- late Sunday I told a little bitty gal I wish I had a buck for everyone who'd responded to it the way she did: "Oh, my!" She was about 60 and might have weighed 100 lbs. "It's heavier than it looks," was all she could muster. One little boy told me, "If I was old enough that's the one I'd buy." I let lots of folks fondle it, and we had great fun at their reactions.

Hmmm. I might just "letter" that I-frame; thanks for your hint.

Thanks,

Bob

Hondo44 · #7 05-30-2017, 03:27 AM

I'd be very interested in knowing if the target trigger was factory also. I've been trying to identify their introduction and by observation have not gotten closer than ~ 1957. Yours could be a new and earlier milestone!

two-bit cowboy · #8 05-30-2017, 11:41 AM

Hi Jim,

Here's the sn: 637539

I was guessing 1956 at the show, but now that I've been able to study a bit more it's more likely a '57 date. What's your take?

Thanks,

Bob

Hondo44 · #9 05-30-2017, 07:58 PM

Hi Bob,

More likely Aug-Sept 1956.

two-bit cowboy · #10 05-30-2017, 11:00 PM

Thanks Jim.

Just noted today in "the book" that the fourth screw was deleted in 1956 a bit more than 3,000 serial numbers north of mine. Letter request is in the mail.

More after Roy's had a chance to weigh in. Eager to know.

Bob

two-bit cowboy · #11 06-13-2017, 01:04 AM

The 32 Hand Ejector shipped June 1, 1956, to Sterling Hardware Co., Hazard, KY. The letter does not mention the Target Trigger.

The Aluminum Chiefs Special shipped July 31, 1953, to Rex Firearms Co, New York City, N.Y. The letter says, "... if you have an aluminum cylinder version of the Chiefs special Airweight, that you do not fire it with modern ammunition and return it to the factory to have steel cylinder installed at no charge. We will return the handgun to you and the original cylinder to protect the collector value."

Hondo44 · #12 06-13-2017, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by two-bit cowboy

The 32 Hand Ejector shipped June 1, 1956, to Sterling Hardware Co., Hazard, KY. The letter does not mention the Target Trigger.

The Aluminum Chiefs Special shipped July 31, 1953, to Rex Firearms Co, New York City, N.Y. The letter says, "... if you have an aluminum cylinder version of the Chiefs special Airweight, that you do not fire it with modern ammunition and return it to the factory to have steel cylinder installed at no charge. We will return the handgun to you and the original cylinder to protect the collector value."

I thought the target trigger might be just a little early for '56, but it's close.

• Eliminate upper side plate screw change order 12/13/55, the 4th screw on New I & J frames. #640980 may be the earliest shipped w/o the 4th screw, as stated in the book. But could very likely have shipped earlier than yours even though it's a higher #.

That's very interesting on the cyl swap and they'll even return the alum cyl!