Went into one of my local gun stores this morning and laid down $425 (basic price) for a 22/32 6" Bekeart, serial number 409001. I would grade the revolver as Good with a bit of play but for a 1923-28 model, it has been used but not abused. It does have two screw grips but no serial number on the bottom of one grip. It also has the large mushroom ejector knob. Can't pick it up for a couple of weeks so am unable to post any pictures now. If anyone can put a more accurate date on it, please do.

FYI: 22/32 HFT , ser. # 409099 was shipped in April 1925, so you're in the ball park on estimated make date. Your gun is about 10 yrs. too late to have an inventory number stamped on the bottom of the stocks. Ed.

Wow $425 and your in California!?!? Even if not a true Bekeart still a very good price! My LGS has one with leather holster on consignment and he wants $1700. It is very nice shape and may or may not be a true Bekheart.

Thanks for the quick replies, I'll settle on 1925 unless I hear something else. I'll post some pictures when I get it. After reading the descriptions in Ed. 4, I think I may be allowed to refer to my revolver as a "Still sorta true" Bekeart. Anyway, I'm happy with this purchase and it makes #12 in my small collection. It's now my oldest, beating my 1948 K22. Thanks again for taking the time to reply. (Old Chief) aka Ed L.

Great buy! The serial # was never on the bottom of the stock, only on the back side of the right stock.

The # on the bottom of the left stock was an order-of-assembly #. They were only reportedly on the first 3000 guns. But none have been reported as high as that number.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Thanks Jim, I got that from the 4th ed. of the Catalog. I've sure learned a lot since I purchased the revolver yesterday. I even went back and reread some of Jink's History of Smith&Wesson, think I'll read it cover to cover again. Thanks again Jim for taking the time to add some more info,
Ed

OldChief

Here is one more piece of data, for what it is worth (the experts, Ed and Jim, have already weighed in).

The HFT shown below carries serial #425650. It shipped in October, 1925. Also, Roy says 1,151 HFT units were produced in 1925.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

To add to the thread, 409,017 shipped on 5/26/1925. In my database I have a range having shipped in 1925 with a low of 399,469 in September to a high of 425,947 in October. Just to again show the irregularity of shipping dates, there are also a bunch numbered in between that shipped in March, April and May of 1925.

Guns shipped in this time frame should have 2 screw extension stocks without medallions. The front sights are typically Patridge, with a large extractor knob, small S&W logo on the left side and Made in USA stamped on the right frame.

As others have stated, the stock imprint numbers found on the bottom of the left stock bottom were only used on about the first 3,000 guns assembled. According to the information that I have gathered in my database, these numbers stopped sometime in early 1914 with the 490 guns shipped to M W Robinson in NYC with serial numbers starting at 207,926 and ending with 208,415. By the time the 220,XXX serial numbers were being used in July of 1914 there is no evidence that any guns had the left stock bottom assembly sequence number.

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James Redfield
LM #497

Thank you James, your description of the guns shipped in the 1925 time frame fit the revolver I brought to a T. With the data you and the others have provided, I figure my revolver should have a 1925 date. Like I mentioned previously, when I get it a week from next Tuesday, I'll post some pictures. Maybe then I can get a bit of help on establishing the condition, which I feel is good according to the rules in ed. 4 or the S&W Catalog.