Just how rare is a S&W 22/32 Kit Gun Model 1953 with a 2" barrel? It is a five screw. 5 digit serial number, 10XXX.

Thanks!

A model of 1953 should be a four-screw at most (all on the sideplate), until about 1955. Not sure when the 2" barrel was introduced but definitely during the I frame variant era, before the 34-1.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I remember having a four digit, 2" kit gun.

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Charlie

1st there aren't any 5 screw .22/32 Kit Guns: The evolution went straight from the 22/32 KG Post War Transitional 6 screw to the .22/32 KG Model of 1953 New I frame 4 screw, later 3 screw.

The 5 screw guns are the Improved I frames with coil main spring Pre model 1953 and no .22/32s were ever made in that configuration.

2nd #3432 is the lowest 2” KG, 4 screw, known. No doubt there are some lower. So above #10,000 or even below, is not rare, but 4 digits could have a little additional market value though not much. And it would have to be in collectible condition.

I hope this is helpful,

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Jim, I think you meant to write there are no 'postwar' 5-screw 22/32 Kit Guns? There were more than a few prewar guns, some original and some made from parts ("virtual" KGs).

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Alan, I think all of the pre-war kit guns would fall into what has been dubbed “6 screw models” since they were all leaf spring versions and included all of the other expected screws on the frame. The term “six screw” is beginning to gain traction to distinguish between leaf- and coil-spring guns, and of course all of the pre-war small frame guns were manufactured with leaf springs.

Froggie

True, but I think Jim (the author of the I frame section of the current SCSW) uses the "6-screw" term for revolvers that transitioned to coil springs and lost the strain screw. All prewar revolvers had the "6th" screw but they seem to be called as 5.

And now, watch how many angels we can make to dance on the head of a pin with all our gun trivia!

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Alan,

Yeah, LOL.

I was hoping this in my original post had clarified it:

Thx,

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Jim
S&WCA #819

For reference and comparison sake, here is a transitional 22/32 serialed in 1940, but not shipped until 1951. It is a 5 screw (six if you count the strain screw on the leaf mainspring).

http://smith-wessonforum.com/members...2-kit-gun.html

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Here's mine from 1953.....

Attached Images

Kit Gun Flat Latch 1953.jpg (171.0 KB, 350 views)

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Living a dream - S&WCA #2364

That's a beauty! Would you mind sharing the serial # in a PM perhaps for my data base? I'm curious if it's lower than the lowest I show for a 2" so far #3432.
Thx,

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Here's 9757 for reference, shipped December 1954:

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

John,

That's still the most quintessential Pre War/Post War KG I've seen!

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Jim
S&WCA #819

By the way, if it happens to be a square butt model, that would be an extraordinarily low # for that option. That would add to value.

Currently #23201 is the earliest # sq butt Model of 1953, 2”, that I'm aware of.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

That's a beauty!

It seems to me you also have a Transitional KG with the rare '2 elevation screws' like John's (PALADIN) above.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Leo:

That one looks to be high polish blue, which surprises me for a 1953 shipped Kit Gun. Have you lettered that one? If so, was it a special order one?

Thanks,

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Good memory Jim - I do have a Transitional Kit Gun, (SN 534617) that shipped 12-13-1951 and has the more traditional two-elevation-screw rear sight (unlike John's Transitional which has the set screw on the hammer side of the sight blade). Here's a link to a thread on it...

Transitional Kit Gun - With Box and SAT

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Jim and Richard:
Well it looks like I used the J frame serial number list in the book. After looking at the Kit Gun serial numbers, it looks like my Kit gun is probably more like 1957, which would explain the bright finish.

Attached Images

serial.jpg (120.2 KB, 32 views)

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Living a dream - S&WCA #2364

Leo,

EDIT: Oops, I got called away for 1 1/2 hrs and posted before checking for new posts, so the below doesn't apply any longer.

Actually I'd put your KG shipping date at Oct/Nov 1956 looking at the database.


I agree with Richard. That could be a Bright blue finish, and since it's a 1953 vintage it would have to have been at the optional premium cost.

In which case it should have the large B stamp:

LARGER B WITH OR W/O SERIFFS FOR BRIGHT BLUE:
the bright blue finish was an option in the post war satin blue era up to ~1955. Always look for the large font 'B' sometimes with serifs, following the barrel serial #. It can be stamped sideways if in a barrel shroud. It is a larger B than the one used to simply indicate a blued gun that precedes the serial #. The large B will usually also be found stamped on left side grip frame and/or on cyl under the extractor star; generally discontinued around 1955.

The pic below shows the large B w/o seriffs following serial # from a Bright Blue K-22 Masterpiece from 1952. The small B preceding the serial is for blue finish originally:


Photo credit: newellj

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Ah ha, not so good memory....I'd forgotten yours was the very late pre war style 2 screw:


Photo courtesy of RKmesa

While John's is the different style which I don't know if it came before or after yours!


Photo courtesy of PALADIN85020

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Jim
S&WCA #819

If anybody keeps a track of these, I have #9104, a 2" with the standard blue finish. One of my favorites.

Tim

Tim,

Rd or sq butt?

Yours is likely a 1st quarter 1955 shipping.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Round butt. I have submitted a ship date request. I will post it when I receive it.

I also have #20568, a 4" blue round butt.

Thanks,
Tim

Here is 22450. It shipped 1/20/56 in a two gun shipment.

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Charlie Flick
SWCA 729 HF 215

Found a pick of the 2" kit gun. Serial number was 4134

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Charlie

Fascinating thread, thanks for the info. I hope to look at the gun in person this week. Thanks guys!