Very Early Pre-29

Retired W4 · #1 07-16-2018, 09:16 PM

Hello all. I have been out of the forum for some time now and I believe it's time to get back into it. A while ago I purchased a couple Pre-29's. One, a 4 screw from 1957 (ref: Roy's letters) and the other a 5-screw from 1956. The 4-screw is gone but I still have the other. The interesting thing about the revolver is the low SN. Now I know S&W SN's are all over the place and Roy can only give you the ship date, based on the factory invoice, but this number is lower by 46 than the first production NT-430 shipped. IAW SCSW the 2nd one was 130806, so you see that mine has a very low SN. I was just wondering if those real early guns had any special interest. I'd also like to know when it was completed at S&W, but that's likely not going to happen.
Someone harvested the cokes off of it and I'm curious as to the current value of a decent set of cokes for it.
I hope I haven't posted something about this previously but I already started this And I'll check later. If KenL reads this, Hi, and I'll see you soon.

Retired W4 · #2 07-16-2018, 09:44 PM

Oops. It turns out that I posted that gun two years ago. Sorry about that. Time seems to zoom by and I have a hard time remembering what happened a month ago. But I remember stuff from 48-49 years ago (RVN) like it was this morning. I hope the condition isn't serious.

22hipower · #3 07-16-2018, 10:05 PM

Not to worry, I suspect most of us will have forgotten your earlier post anyway. If you still need "cokes" get ready to shell out $500-$600 depending on condition. Good luck, show us some pictures again.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Retired W4 · #4 07-16-2018, 10:34 PM

Will do Jeff. Have to wait till the AM for natural light. I have some Cocobolo Kim Ahrend stocks on it for shooting.

JP@AK · #5 07-17-2018, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retired W4

I remember stuff from 48-49 years ago (RVN) like it was this morning.

Boy do I understand that! Some memories are good, others not so much. But it was sure a long time ago.

Welcome home, my brother.

KEN L · #6 07-17-2018, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retired W4

Hello all. I have been out of the forum for some time now and I believe it's time to get back into it. A while ago I purchased a couple Pre-29's. One, a 4 screw from 1957 (ref: Roy's letters) and the other a 5-screw from 1956. The 4-screw is gone but I still have the other. The interesting thing about the revolver is the low SN. Now I know S&W SN's are all over the place and Roy can only give you the ship date, based on the factory invoice, but this number is lower by 46 than the first production NT-430 shipped. IAW SCSW the 2nd one was 130806, so you see that mine has a very low SN. I was just wondering if those real early guns had any special interest. I'd also like to know when it was completed at S&W, but that's likely not going to happen.
Someone harvested the cokes off of it and I'm curious as to the current value of a decent set of cokes for it.
I hope I haven't posted something about this previously but I already started this And I'll check later. If KenL reads this, Hi, and I'll see you soon.

Hi yourself! Just saw your post on the Model 35 and was glad to see you back in action! That 4 screw was a beauty, wish I had gotten it from you. Yep, will see you soon and got some goodies to share with you!

Doc44 · #7 07-17-2018, 08:24 AM

Frames in small batches were completed, serial numbered, but not polished or finished. They were stored in random order in the fitting room, separated by model. When a build order for a particular model was issued, groups of frames were taken at random to soft fitting to begin the manufacturing process. This resulted in a randomization of serial numbers for a model. For the 44 Magnum, many frames with low serial numbers were completed several months later than frames with higher numbers. For example, S166062 was completed at the end of March 1956 and shipped on April 2, 1956, whereas S130705, the lowest serial number for a 44 Magnum reported by collectors, was completed in late July and shipped on July 26, 1956. So, while the frame may have been made early, it was most likely finished into a revolver a day or two before it was shipped as demand for the 44 Magnum in the first couple of years was much higher than the factory could deliver.

Bill

Retired W4 · #8 07-17-2018, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc44

Frames in small batches were completed, serial numbered, but not polished or finished. They were stored in random order in the fitting room, separated by model. When a build order for a particular model was issued, groups of frames were taken at random to soft fitting to begin the manufacturing process. This resulted in a randomization of serial numbers for a model. For the 44 Magnum, many frames with low serial numbers were completed several months later than frames with higher numbers. For example, S166062 was completed at the end of March 1956 and shipped on April 2, 1956, whereas S130705, the lowest serial number for a 44 Magnum reported by collectors, was completed in late July and shipped on July 26, 1956. So, while the frame may have been made early, it was most likely finished into a revolver a day or two before it was shipped as demand for the 44 Magnum in the first couple of years was much higher than the factory could deliver.

Bill

Thank you for the great information. That explains quite a lot. Mine is S 130881 and it shipped in June, 1956 to Beck & Gregg Hardware right here in Atlanta. A picture of it, top.