Here's a couple pics of two first model HEs I picked up over the past couple of years.
The one with the 4.25 inch barrel serial number 59XX was delivered to Wyeth Hardware & Metal Co. St. Joseph MO on August 9, 1901.
The one with the 3.25 inch barrel serial number 13XXX was shipped to Hartley and Graham Co. NYC on September 26, 1896. On the left side it is engraved "E.V.H. '96" My factory letter states that the pearl grips and the engraving were probably added by Hartley and Graham for a customer. Both left the factory as nickel but were both shipped with hard rubber grips so the pearls were aftermarket but probably from the period as they are genuine and fit very well to the guns.
When I bought the monogramed one one I was first skeptical of the engraving being from 1896 because the serial number on this gun is higher than that of the one that was shipped in 1901 (I had already had a factory letter on the first one when I bought the second). So I'm assuming S&W manufactured all of these frames around or before 1896. If that is the case I'm assuming all of these first model HEs are considered antiques. Thanks for looking.

Man I love that pair of revolvers. They are classy. I also like those rear sights. It just shows how far we have come over the past 100 years on making firearms and what worked back in the day.

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M.J.Hanna

T

1898 is the magic date, I think. For S&W, there is no such thing as manufacturing date -
only shipping date. The one shipped in 1896 is the antique - the other is a modern gun.

Later, Mike Priwer

Any S&W shipped after December 31, 1898, is considered a modern firearm.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Is this true? I thought all .44 DA Frontiers were considered antiques because all of the frames were manufactured pre 1898. However these guns were still sold into 1913. Maybe my information is incorrect. But all of the DA Frontiers I've ever seen for sale did not require an FFL or a C&R. Maybe I just haven't seen one for sale that was shipped after 1898.