How rare are the little 34-1 revolvers today? I have always wanted one in the 1" short bbl.version, and never found one that I wanted to spend what the owner wanted for theirs. If I found one today, what would I expect to pay for it? Thanks.
Chubbo

The short barreled model 34 is a 2" (muzzle to cylinder face), and figure a minimum of $500 for one in average used condition. Hope this is helpful.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Well, Found one at Cabela's, talked myself into buying it. Round butt, plain jane, looks like about 98% finish. No box, papers or tools. I am going to injoy picking out special grips, and holster. Don't know whether to add WO rear sight, and red inset front or not. whether to build a presintation case, and finding a box, papers and tools or not. New Toy! new projects. will post pictures soon.
Chubbo

If you got it for $500 you got a deal. I haven't seen a decent one for less than about $650 (in a 2") for a long time.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Two inch 34's are scarce as hens teeth. I haven't seen one in a PA gun shop for years. $500 would be a very good price.

I have a 34-2 and it is fun to see how far you can keep a soup can rolling with the stubby little J frame.

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Virtue,Liberty & Independence

Two things surprised me with this one:
Considering its size, its REALLY heavy.
and,
Holey moley its REALLY accurate.

Find one, You'll love it!

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

Steamloco........ hadn't seen a 34 in a gun shop anywhere in Western or Central Pa. in I'm guessing 20 years.........

About a year ago I came across a really nice 4" round-butt....... then another; a 4" square-butt ( a collector's gun that has spent the last 30 years in the box) this past March.

Weird part; they were both in the same "small" rural local gun shop........I've got about a thousand in the pair.

There are some guns that just don't change hands much...... I think 34s are one of those guns. Most buyers of expensive .22s know what and why they are buying a particular gun .... not an on-a-whim purchase.

Glad you bought it. I was the one who mentioned at least $500 in average condition; you needn't feel guilty if you had to pay more . Sounds like you have at least $2-300 in extras to find now...

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

This little gun has more markings than a coon hound has fleas. Starting with the ser.# on the butt BFK713x, on the yoke it is marked MOD34-2 on the top, and 136 on the bottom, on the left of the grip frame left side A 7, or funny mark like a tetegraph pole, on the right F19, on the left 8 on a slant, bottom 62812, and on the right grip frame, 3871 136. I can't find out
much about it in the Std. Catalog of S&W. Im having troubles with my camera, but, will try to take and post pictures when I can. Any ideas on all these markings? Thanks.
Chubbo

Chubbo - BFK is serial number.
The rest are assembly, fitters, and inspectors marks

The BFK prefix puts it in about September or October 1990. Aside from the model stamp the others are various inspector's and fitter's stamps.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

You will enjoy it I was very surprised to see how well my nickel 2" 34-1. I payed $550 for mine at an estate sale, no box or docs but excellent shape. My family and I shot it a few times but I sold it to an acquaintance and made $150. And took what I made and $400 more and came home with 6" 617-2 & a 4" 586-3. Both are excellent shooters however the 586 got traded off for a 6" 28-2. The nickel on my 34-1 had started to flake off on the grip strap. Anyway I will try and stay away from nickel plated revolvers.

Please excuse the quality of the photographs, and the drawing.

The last couple months, ive really been searching southern and central Oregon for vintage S&W revolvers, been to one gun show and probably 50 or so assorted gun and pawn shops.......Seen only one 2" 34 at around $1000, and two 4", blue steel models, and this is out of several hundred Smiths from the 60's to 90's era. one local pawn shop that has the best selection of S&W's ive seen in years confirmed to me that he hasnt had one in his shop for several years....

You guys have made me appreciate my latest find even more! Just two weeks ago, I found a 4" blue 34-1 at my LGS. Had no box or papers, just a little muzzle wear for $270 + tax. Couldn't get my credit card out fast enough. (I added the target stocks)


I agree that 34s don't show up often, but I seem to have become the exception to the rule. As this was my third one over the last couple of years. Here's the blued 4" with it's nickel twin brother:


I also have a 2" I found at the LGS, looked unfired, but no box, gave $390 for it:

I'v been working on the little 2" Kit gun, ordering stuff, and hunting stuff.
Got the red inset installed in the front sight blade, a couple of speed loaders ordered, a set of Altamont grips bought, a clip on holster bought, and am still hunting a WO rear sight blade. Here is a picture to show the red inset. The kit gun is wearing a pair of ebony grips that I whittled out about 40 years ago for my first 6" Kit gun, when I had most of my faccilities. Thanks for letting me share my project.
Chubbo

Year 2019 is here, and I'm tying up loose ends. Here is a picture of the 'Shrew Hunting Kit', I started to assemble, 5 years ago. It's now completed. I can no longer do woodworking, so, I built the case, using a plastic box. The 34-2 now has, a red inset front, and WO rear sights, and Altamont Batelur style grips, that fit my hands perfectly. I've added two speed loaders, and a #550 clip on Safariland holster to complete the kit. It's sad but, this 'Kit' will never be used as I intended. My Shrew hunting buddy, a blind Min Pin dog, is long ago deceased, and we will never hunt shrews together again.
Chubbo

Attached Images

DSC02404.jpg (65.2 KB, 96 views)

That is a nice kit gun kit !

Very nice Kit and even nicer Kit Gun.

The spring loaded yoke screw made it the 34-2. It is the flat top version with almost no contour at the front of the top strap. Therefore it also has the long tang rear sight which goes all the way to the barrel and meets he barrel rib.

The M 34-2 is stamped in the frame 'yoke cut'. The only other important # is the Assembly # 136 on the yoke, right side grip frame, and backside (inside) of the side plate. This was used at the factory to match these three pieces back together after various production steps. The only use after it left the factory is to confirm these three parts go together and none were changed along its lifetime.

I don't know of anyone that knows what the 62312 or 3871 #s are.

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Jim
S&WCA #819