.22/.32 Hand Ejector Date

[OldChief]

I have been of the opinion that my .22/.32 Hand Ejector was manufactured in 1925 due to the serial number (409001). Now when reading the Catalog (4th Ed.), it states that the S&W logo was moved to the right side of the frame in 1914, mine is on the left. It also says that the stamping Made in U.S.A. was begun in May 1922, mine is so stamped. Also in 1920 they began heat treating cylinders at about SN 321,000. The SN of my revolver is well beyond this. OK, anyone who can explain all this?

[Wiregrassguy]

Ed, your gun falls in the 1924 time frame with my RP at 383xxx. My logo is on the left as it also is on my .32 HE with a slightly higher SN.

[Hondo44]

Hi Ed,

It all comes together when you consider two additional pieces of information you were missing:

After WWI in 1918 when civilian production was resumed, logos were no longer used as S&W scrambled to get guns to market. The small logo was reinstated ~ 1920 back on the left side.

Your #409001 was likely shipped May 1925 from my database.

It's officially a ".22/32 Heavy Frame Target".

[OldChief]

Thank you Jim, that makes sense.