Celebrate the Years - Post Your Oldest S&W Hand Ejector

[SFIDEC]

32 Hand Ejector First Model or Model of 1896.
I was able to replace broken ejector rod and missing knob thanks to Jim (Hondo44) for instructions on how to perform surgery and parts provided by Sam Simmons (Sam1947).
Not sure what year it was shipped but have thoroughly enjoyed owning and shooting it.
EDIT: Shipped November 1899 per Roy Jinks.
Nice idea for forum thread.
Ray

 

[LEO918]

Here are a couple of .32-20s I took time to photo this morning. Lighting was a bear. They are from 1926 and 1922 respectively.

 

[delcrossv]

This thread is an interesting concept, as I never actually thought of what hand ejector I own that shipped first.

Mine is a new entrant to the field, as I believe mine will be the 55th post, and no one has claimed their oldest hand ejector is a larger than life model, this one being my .22 Hand Ejector First Model that shipped 18 December 1902.

Talk about shipping out of order! S/N 189 shipped 10/04.
(Floral background optional )

 

[Rambler42]

Here is my oldest. 1899 Model 1 in .32-20 with original MOP grips. Shipped 12-August 1902.

 

[Waveski]

Oh , this is fun.

Model of 1902 , shipped 1903.
Makes my head spin to think of how long these old irons have been around.

 

[Elroy]

Model 1905 fourth procured from grandson of original owner

 

[xray97]

dark knight rises wallpaper
1930 .38/44 Heavy Duty

 

[6518John]

. . . BUT, my oldest S&W Hand Ejector is a 32 Model 1896 with serial number 6889 that shipped in June 1898.

Heavy rain here just woke me up so I skimmed thought all the posts. Unless I am mistaken, this is the winner so far.

Nevertheless, all beauties and great thread.

 

[Kurusu]

My oldest is a second model Hand Ejector from 1916, originally a British Service in .455 that was converted to.22LR. And with an adjustable rear sight from a model 27 added.

 

[Waveski]

What a rare and wonderful gem that .22 conversion is.

 

[Kurusu]

What a rare and wonderful gem that .22 conversion is.

Shoots great too. I managed better groups with it than with a model 17, and the groups with the 17 were already awesome.

 

[CQB27]

WOW! So many beautiful "Old" revolvers!
Here's mine, S&W 1917, not as pretty finish wise as the rest here, but I like it!

It's a great shooter too!

 

[IWK2HT]

Great old revolver

My oldest is this 32 HE first model ser# 2388 have lettered it but must be around 1900-01

 

[AlanDavid]

My oldest hand ejector.

455 H.E. First Model. (Triple Lock)

Per Mr. Jinks: "455 H.E. First Model serial 5642 is one of the rare commercial shipments. It was shipped in April 1915." This gun was sold by S&W commercially and bought by the British Purchasing Commission and sent to England.

Unfortunately after WWI it was converted to .45 Colt by shaving the cylinder.

This is an interesting revolver. The serial number and shipment date of April 1915 which Roy has given you would indicate that it is probably one of a shipment of 100 guns to Wilkinson Sword in London. This is backed up by the the London commercial proofs and no military inspection markings.
Other examples near your guns serial number have a four digit number stamped on the base of one of the grips, i.e 4XXX or 5XXX. It is the serial number put on by Wilkinson's. Does your revolver have such a mark? If so some of the records for Wilkinson's still exist but I am not sure if they cover this time period. If they do you will be able to find out who it was sold to. You never know it could be someone famous!

Regards

AlanD
Sydney

 

[LEO918]

Here's my old Heavy Duty from the early '30s with Carved Ivory Steer Head Grips.

 

[Gunhacker]

Here's mine... 1906.

A factory letter indicates that it was shipped to San Francisco on July 30, 1906. That was 3 months after the Great Quake of 1906 hit San Francisco... when much of the city was still in ruins.

Pacific Hardware & Steel was one of the very few business that survived the ensuing fires that consumed the city after the quake.

I sure wish that this gun could talk, it has to have a story to tell.

Despite it's outward appearance, it's in great shape mechanically and still shoots like a champ!

 

[SDH]

 

[.357magger]

Here's my old Heavy Duty from the early '30s with Carved Ivory Steer Head Grips.

That Sir, is a SWEET looking HD.

Thanks for sharing it.

 

[delcrossv]

No ship date from Roy, but here's my beater Mod 1896 (still works fine ).

With it's s/n I imagine its a first year made.

 

[mrcvs]

Does this Triple Lock REALLY have a 6" barrel or is that a typo? If so, that is SIGNIFICANT as 6" barrels are reported in the literature but I have never known one to actually exist.