Saw this a couple days ago and threw the starting bid at it. Well, nobody else was interested, apparently. Makes me wonder if I bought a real dog?

I think this is a pre-war 22/32 Target Model. Did I pay too much? At $250 I don't think I can get hurt too badly if it works and the seller says it does.

Comments and observations are welcome.


http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/Vie...Item=133281735

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No life story has happy end.

Looks like a nice old gun, Saxon. I don't think you hurt yourself at all.

Bob

This looks like one of those that turns out to be the best shooter in the stable. Good luck and let us know. If it works, you did fine on price.

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Pace

$250?!! Hell. That's what I pay for a roll of toilet paper out here in California! Well, maybe I'm exagerating a little. I would have grabbed that up in a second. An exellent guilt free shooter from the old days. Everyone stresses "new in the box". Well, guns are meant to be shot even though I don't shoot mine as much as I should to appreciate them. But you have the best of both worlds for a great price. A well made classic that you can bang away and get holster wear if you want to. Enjoy!

If you're unsatisfied with it, let me know. I'll buy it off you for the 250.

I'd have to say thats a good buy. Try to find another good 22 shooter for $250 (plus S&H and transfer) so about $300. A taurus 94?? please. Its worth getting restored by S&W or maybe Fords I'd say, if its a pre war model. Nice gun and a great buy.

Unless there's something horribly wrong with it, I think you did good! I would have snarfed it up for that price.

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Stay safe people!

hell I am cheap...and I would given that

G's S&W- C&R so no transfer fee and seller wanted $25 for shipping so $275 total.

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No life story has happy end.

I think you got a real deal. Definitely a .22/32 Heavy Frame Target (successor to the Bekeart-labeled model, and kind of a strange name for a gun built on the dainty I-frame), and probably of late 'teens or '20s manufacture. It looks as though there is some air between the back of the cylinder and the recoil shield, so the charge holes are not recessed as they were in the last-produced copies of this model. Could be early '30s, but I get a vibe from the photo that tells me it was in circulation before the Depression.

Those stocks are what the company called the small square butt (or Regulation Police) stocks. There was also a large square butt target option, sometimes called extension stocks today, that put more wood down below the shooter's little finger and added a quarter inch of wood over the backstrap. Those stocks come with two screws, one passing through the frame and the other connecting the two panels to each other below the frame. The larger stocks definitely help people with large or even just standard sized hands hold the revolver comfortably and properly.

These are fascinating little guns. Assuming I'm right about the date of production, anyone who wanted a .22 LR revolver made by Smith & Wesson when this one was produced was restricted to this model, though with a couple of options on stocks and front sight. The K-22 Outdoorsman didn't come out until 1931, and the few diminutive M-frame Ladysmiths that the company made until the '20s were chambered for .22 Long, not Long Rifle.

I just paid a bundle for a very late manufacture .22/32 Target (high prewar serial number, shipped early 1940) with a maroon patent (display) box. I'll get photos up in a day or two. My gun won't shoot any better than yours will for all the extra money I tied up in it. I went after mine specifically because it was a rare production model at a time when most production in the serial number range was given over to the .22/32 Kit Gun -- which is just a .22/32 Target model with a four inch barrel and a round-butt option on the stocks as well as the two square-butt varieties.

If you decide you don't want this gun, you can recover your money or even make a few bucks on it with no difficulty. This was a great catch, even if somewhat accidental.

By the way, this is what I think Eleanor Roosevelt was shooting in that photo we all discussed several days ago. But I think she had the larger target square butt stocks on hers.

David Wilson

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David Wilson

SP

I think those are the extension stocks. They are worn, but not too bad. I notice
that the front sight blade has been reshaped, to curve down towards the muzzle.
I also notice, but this may be an artifact of the photo, that the side plate does not
seem to be down all the way, towards the back part. Maybe the screws are loose,
maybe the studs have come loose and the hammer is pressing against the sideplate
if it is tightened down too much. Or maybe its just the picture.

With a new front sight blade, another refinish, and Keith Brown bringing those grips
back to life, you'd have a nice-looking $350 gun !!

Regards, Mike Priwer

"22/32 Heavy Frame Target ....kind of a strange name for a gun built on the dainty I-frame)"

Not really, considering that S&W had, up to that time, only built two .22 rimfire revolvers-the Model one in .22 Short and the LadySmith in .22 Long.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

S.P.,

Sounds like you did just fine on this deal, ... heck, I can't remember when you overpaid for any gun (not even your RM!). I'll be interested to hear your comments after receiving it - especially how it shoots. They are very interesting guns. I passed on one last year and am now regretting it based on the recent interest and subsequent posts about these guns.

Thanks for keeping things interesting,

Jerry

Wow, very nice! I'll go $260.00!

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

Plain and simple, You are going to love it!
Degunk the internals and I bet it will be a GREAT shooter!
Peter

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Need 1/2 moon Chiefs special

Well, got an email from the seller.

"I'm sorry, but the gun sold in the shop over the weekend."

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No life story has happy end.

I'd bet that translates into: "The item did not bring as much as we thought it should, it will be relisted on AA at a latter date."

I had that happen once on a 10-6 357 (I think that I had bid $420 for it and was the high bidder in a no reserve auction with only one day remaining). The very experienced seller (1000+ sales) found out what he had talked GB into adding a reserve price higher than my bid and closing the auction, without me being the winning bidder. Therefore, there was no opportunity for me to leave negative feedback. He then had the nerve to directly re-listed it on GB with a significantly enhanced description, much better photos, and a significantly longer auction time. It got bid out of my price range. This is the one bad experience that I have had with GB and it left a slightly bad taste in my mouth.

For an "A+(364)" Seller, I am disappointed, but not surprised that he sold it out from under you after you had met the min bid. No mention in his add that it was for sale in the store... Too bad.

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Hard to say if it was a good deal until you get it in your hands. I think you probably stand a 50/50 chance of getting a decent shooter. Given the appearance, I probably would have passed on it. I hope it turns out to be a sleeper. Keep us posted.

I believe he ended it early due to the sale but I don't like sellers offering items for sale in the store when they are listed for auction and this is exactly the reason why. He sold it after I had bid or he was unable to close the auction before I bid. Either way it's messed up and it is technically against Gunbroker rules to leave guns for sale when they are listed at auction.

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No life story has happy end.

He11 ya coulda bought my 22/32...it was a bit more...