Good Morning Gents, I hope everyone enjoyed a nice, safe & festive Thanksgiving ! I was handling my old .22/.32 H.E. the other day, & simply couldn't recall it's exact date of manufacture ? I've Posted here about it before, yet try as I might, I just couldn't find any of my old Posts in reference to it. Soooo, does anyone happen to have an idea as to what year this beautiful little 'Plinker' was made ? It is as follows; S&W .22/32 Hand Ejector Model, 6" Barrel, with what I refer to as 'semi-adjustable' sights, SERIAL # 2213XX. [ The original S&W designation 'may' have included 'Target', although I'm not certain. ]
As initially obtained, it possessed the 'Bekeart' style Grips, which have been replaced by myself with something more egronomic. [ I still have them though. ]I f anyone here happens to be especially knowledgeable regarding these extremely well crafted little Revolvers, I would deeply appreciate hearing from them. THANK YOU !

Best, dpast32

Maybe this one?......Ben

__________________
Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

I was going to say somewhere in the mid "Teens", but Truckman found the post.

__________________
H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

And, here's a big THANK YOU Guys for taking the time & effort to track this down for me ! I had remembered it was around the mid-WW1 era, but I always prefer to confirm things, just to be safe. This time, I will enter the 'alledged' production date into my Firearms Serial # Data Book, which of course will eliminate my the necessity of my having to do this every so often ! THANKS AGAIN Gentlemen,

Best, dpast32

Just a minor correction. S&W factory logs reported ship dates, not manufacture dates. Your 22/32 likely shipped in 1915, but might have been manufactured in 1914. Factory letter will tell the exact day that revolver left the factory, but manufacture date does not normally exist in factory records available to our S&W Historian and SWHF.

Only one member privately holds a set of records that show manufacture dates of some early models and the SWHF does not have access to those manufacturing records.

__________________
Gary
SWCA 2515

THANKS Gary, I very much appreciate your kind input. What basic information I have was pretty much obtained either here on the Forum, the Web, & or via one of my editions of "Standard Catalog Of S&W". It is of course cursory in nature, but for my particular purpose it will suffice. In fact, I never actually purchased it, per se, rather I inherited it upon the death of my Father in Law. Initially, I thought I might have gotten really lucky, it being one of the Phil Beakart production examples. But, alas it was not ! And that's fine with me, as it's still a very nice little .22 Revolver, able to utilize everything from CB Caps, Silent, Subsonic, & all the way up to 'limited' High Velocity loads, although I permit to push it, due of course to its age. Somehow, over the years I've ended up with numerous .22 Rimfires, only one of which I actually purchased, an Beretta Model 75, 'Jaguar', 6" bbl, proofed in my birth year. Just couldn't pass that one up ! THANKS AGAIN Gary,

Best, dpast32

On my list is SN 221548 which shipped on 5/10/14. Also, 220166 shipped on 7/9/14. That is as close as I can get to yours. So yours COULD easily have shipped in 1914.

THANK YOU 'DWalt', your information is very much appreciated ! It looks like I'll need to update my Shipment Date Reference to 1914, as opposed to 1915, as 1914 does indeed appear to be more precise. Even though I really do like it, sometimes I wonder if I should perhaps part with it to someone who actually collects these Models, & replace it with something more modern ? On the other hand, it pretty much performs any function a modern firearm would. I have a similar 'dilemma' with another of my many .22's, my 1957 / 1958 production Ruger 'Lightweight' Single Six. They were made in very limited quantities, & are apparently quite rare & therefore desirable ? I would just love to shoot & plink with it, but as with my early bS&W 22/32 H.E., I'm very leary to add any wear to it, as it's in very nice condition, same as my S&W. So, decisions, decisions !! I wish I had never sold my Ruger .22 KR / .22 WMR SAA !! THANKS AGAIN Guys for all the very kind assistance, it's much appreciated.

Best, dpast32

220061 shipped in June 1914.

THANK YOU much 'mrcvs', for yet another piece of information to add to my S&W Database ! I had always used the 1915 manufacture date as my probable, simply based upon what I had found available via various publications. Even though I have .22 Semi-Automatics available, I tend to prefer my Revolvers as they allow you to tailor your load to the intended target.

Best, dpast32

As previously posted the actual date of "manufacture" would be the date the serial numbered gun was entered into the "production log" by the floor foreman at the factory. This record is privately held by another Forum Member.

The "ship date" of course is the date in the records of S&W (now held by SWHF) when the gun actually left the factory for its destination, be it a person, distributor, military or LEO order.

I don't know the monthly rate of 22-32 HFT production in 1914 or 1915, and S&W isn't known for shipping in numeric serial number order, but I would think your s/n 2213XX is more 1914 than 1915 based on other known ship date posts above.

When I came across mine, s/n 224963 complete with original numbered box and paper accessories (unwrapped cleaning rod still in "rice" paper), I sent for the Factory Letter which confirmed a SHIP date of September 20, 1915...exactly 5 months to the day from its' PRODUCTION date of April 20, 1915 which was confirmed by said Member with the actual records of the Floor Foreman.

Anyway you look at old dates you cannot go wrong just enjoying these fine old specimens of individual hand fitting outstanding quality era of workmanship.

Attached Images

	S&W 22-32 U.jpg (53.5 KB, 9 views)
	S&W 22-32 N.jpg (46.2 KB, 8 views)
	S&W 22-32 F.jpg (74.5 KB, 8 views)
	S&W 22-32 H.jpg (62.3 KB, 8 views)
	S&W 22-32 D.jpg (46.0 KB, 9 views)

__________________
Charlie B
SWCA#3083, SWHF#570

THANKS 'Charlie', I truly do appreciate your kind reply ! And although we all prefer to know the exact date[s] relevant to our weapons, sometimes the best we can do is to get as close as we can, such as between the 'production / manufacture' date, as opposed to the actual 'shipping date'. Fortunately for us, they do 'usually' tend to stay within an relatively short window of time. [ At least in most cases ? ] When I initially received my .22/.32 H.E., I had no idea it was of such early manufacture ? I was estimating approximately 1940's or perhaps a bit later. I was then pleased that it's overall condition was so nice, in relation to it's somewhat early production date. THANKS AGAIN !!

Best, dpast32

During the "Great Depression" of the 1930s, finished guns could sometimes remain in S&W factory inventory for several years after manufacture prior to their being shipped. Not so much during other eras.