Looked at this the other day: Smith & Wesson HANDEJEC/59366

I did not check the stocks, but the barrel and cylinder match the butt and the number inside the crane matches the number inside the frame.

The butt is drilled for a lanyard swivel though one is not currently fitted. Additionally, there is what appears to be a government inspection eagle marking on the frame that is visible with the cylinder open.

It has a King reflector front sight and is wearing the remnants of a factory grip adapter under the current stocks. It looks like someone removed the flanges that the adapter itself would mount with but the plates are still under the stocks.

I regret that I did not note the S/N range. Based on the above description, is this likely a revolver that was always in this configuration? Was this potentially built on a leftover M1917 frame? Or?

I have no interest in buying it, but am kind of curious what it is.

Thanks.

Various N-Frame models were built on excess Model 1917 frames, and will show US acceptance marks, clear into the 1930s. This is very common. There were thousands of 1917 frames made that were never used during Model 1917 production.

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Gunsmithing since 1961

I suppose it could have been built on a M1917 frame. A SN would help. It sure looks as though it is probably from the 1920s, and if so the Magna stocks are incorrect. However, those that are on it are highly desirable.

Many 2nd model .44 Special revolvers were built on left over 1917 frames.

On this one, what little I can see of the rear sight looks like it was added on after it was built.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I agree with DWalt that the stocks are highly desirable. However, if what the OP says is true that there was a factory grip adapter installed, then those pre-war magnas have been modified so they fit the frame with the adapter installed. That's probably why the rubber panels haven't been removed. The magnas wouldn't fit on any gun without them.

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

Thanks M1 Garandy. I bought it. I have been looking for an almost affordable King N frame for a while. the serial number is probably the 59366 in the listing title. Further info when it arrives.

Bob

You, sir, are a lucky man. I was near that shop last week and talked myself out of driving an extra 20 minutes to see what goodies they had in stock. Don't know what you gave and can't see the picture anymore but it sounds like something I would have been all over.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

RE-USE OF 1917 SURPLUS FRAMES
Inspected, but unused serial numbered 1917 military frames preceding and following #169959, (the estimated last military unit made), were assembled thru #209791 by 1946. Some numbered frames went to the Navy and Marines.

Some 1917s with frames and parts left over from the government contract with very varied shipping dates were assembled into military 1917s to fill contracts for the Brazilian government in 1937 and 1946 and many frames into commercial model 1917s. Therefore the s/n is of little help to pin down the shipping dates, but features do help. Some frames used for 2nd Model 44 Hand Ejectors & 38/44s, and those will have serial #s in the regular N frame serial number series instead of the 1917 serial # range.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Excellent, hope you like it when it arrives.

Here it is. Serial number 23839, shipped 2/25. The seller's version of the serial number was probably the result of trying to read it upside down. The stocks have been thinned, but I can live with that since they are newer than the gun anyway.

Bob

Very nice!

If it's an original 2nd Model target, it's a pretty scarce gun.

Although the factory rear sight is a 1935 "2 screw" model, it still could be an original target model and just had the rear sight updated. Needs a letter.

The stocks had to be thinned to use the plates or the "horns" would not lay flat on the frame. Now they won't fit any N frame w/o the plates. But they're still an improvement over the original service stocks and really look good on it!

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Post some more pics, please, of the rear sight. That might be an early King. The front is a King.

Just for clarity-
I've never seen a Heavy Duty built on a 1917 frame. All HDs are flat tops because they came out in 1930. N Frames became flat tops in 1927. WW I 1917 frames are round tops.
I've never seen a round top Brazilian shipped in the PRE-War shipments, only flat tops built on COMMERCIAL frames. The 1917 Commercials (non-Brazilians) from the 30s that I have seen are flat top commercial frames. You will occasionally see some flat top Brazilians with Springfield inspected barrels or cylinders.
All round top Brazilians I have seen shipped in the POST-War shipments.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

The rear sight appears to be factory, except for the curved recess behind the blade. I was hoping for a King white outline, which it doesn't have. The rear blade does have a wider and taller notch. #27261 top and left, 23839 right and bottom.

That is probably an early King rear.
Have you pulled it off? Is the channel in the white? It looks a little white along the edges.
The pic gets a little fuzzy when I blow it up, but is that the nose of a fixed sight groove peeking out at the front? See the pic.
I noticed Roy did not call it a Target in the ship date.

Attached Images

CNlqulX.jpg (122.0 KB, 20 views)

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett