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09-30-2018, 07:24 PM
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Model 34 kit gun questions
Hello. I came across the site here, trying to figure out my Smith Kit Gun. It appears to me to be a J frame, but it is stamped as Mod 34, no dash. All the info that i have read so far states that the J frames were all made as 34-1. Serial number is 62923. I have included some pics to help with this. No matter what i find out, this is a sweet little gun.
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09-30-2018, 07:30 PM
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Welcome.
Most do seem to be 34-1,but as you are aware,they started as just a Model 34. I suspect that yours is a late 50s gun,given the flat latch and no dash model number.
Btw, I owned a couple of 34-2 guns at one time.
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09-30-2018, 07:38 PM
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Thanks. It must be an early J frame, before changing to the 34-1 designation. Another source stated the J frame started at serial #70,000. Mine is lower than that. Just interesting to note.
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09-30-2018, 07:38 PM
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Welcome, also. The model stamped 34 was made from 1957 to '60 on the "Improved I frame", and the 34-1 on the J frame starting at about SN 70000. The shorter cylinder that doesn't take up the full frame window is the clue to me.
Member Hondo44 is the local expert on this and (literally) wrote the book on these guns, at least the chapter .
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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220
Last edited by murphydog; 09-30-2018 at 07:39 PM.
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09-30-2018, 07:51 PM
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Well that is very interesting, and it clears up the question i had. I had never heard of the Improved I Frame. It was confusing, in that it appeared to be a J frame, but that conflicted with the info i learned about the dates/SN when they changed to 34-1. So given the serial 62923, it must be '59 or '60?
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10-02-2018, 04:54 PM
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Thank you for the info. Does anyone know what year of manufacture this one is then? SN 62923.
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10-02-2018, 07:23 PM
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The picture clearly reveals your Model 34 to be an I frame revolver. Jim (Hondo44) can probably nail the ship date pretty closely, but I suspect 1959 to early 1960, based on that serial number.
I have an I frame .22/32 Kit Gun in my collection that shipped in January, 1958. It is not marked as a Model 34. The serial number is 32230. In the picture below, it is the blued 2" example. The nickel gun is a Model 34-1 J frame. Note the difference in the length of the cylinder.
Incidentally, the flat latch you see on both your gun and on my Model of 1953 .22/32 Kit Gun, was used until 1966. So, some Model 34-1 revolvers have the flat latch. It was changed to the type seen on my nickel gun in the picture.
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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318
Last edited by JP@AK; 10-02-2018 at 11:53 PM.
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10-02-2018, 09:11 PM
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What i understand, then, is the model 34 no dash revolvers were all made on the improved I frame in 1958, '59, &'60. In '61, they were made on the J frame, making it the 34-1.
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10-02-2018, 11:47 PM
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Essentially, yes. However, the change to the J frame 34-1 happened sometime during 1960. It is not like January First is a magic day when all 1960 changes were made.
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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318
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10-03-2018, 07:39 AM
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Agreed, that the changes are not made on Jan. 1. That is shown by the example shown earlier of a pre-34 shipped in Jan of '58. One could argue that it was only shipped in Jan 1958, and produced in '57, but its unlikely that S&W waited til 12:01am Jan 1,1958 to make the change to the improved I frame, and any other changes to other products that were made in '58.
BTW, those are some very nice looking revolvers you have there.
Last edited by Dirtbag; 10-03-2018 at 07:41 AM.
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10-03-2018, 12:25 PM
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Yes. In fact, we know of at least one .22/32 Kit Gun that is not model marked that shipped in the summer of 1958.
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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318
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10-03-2018, 01:02 PM
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Model 34
My ser. # dates to '73 but is clearly marked model 34 (no dash) It also has a target hammer & trigger and is rnd. butt. I bought it used yrs ago and don't know it's history, but it has the smoothest DA/SA that I've ever felt on a J frame!
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10-05-2018, 09:05 AM
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Thats quite interesting to have such a late date on a 34. Incidentally, the very gun show i found my 34 at, one year ago, is being held this weekend. Hope i find a 2 inch to go along with it.
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10-05-2018, 02:24 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by model17
My ser. # dates to '73 but is clearly marked model 34 (no dash) It also has a target hammer & trigger and is rnd. butt. I bought it used yrs ago and don't know it's history, but it has the smoothest DA/SA that I've ever felt on a J frame!
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I have a Model 34-1 that also has a sweet DA/SA. I see yours has target grips. I have found that grips that fit the hand better than the smaller magna grips seem to make the action sweeter. I noted the trigger pull especially in double action is significantly better.
Here are two J-frames that the DA pull was improved with larger, better fitting grips.
S&W Model 34-1 "Kit Gun" in .22 Long Rifle
S&W Model 36 "Chief's Special" in 38 Special
Thanks for looking at my J-frame S&W's.
God bless,
Birdgun
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