Contemplating .22/32 Kit Gun (prewar)

[DR505]

This revolver appears to be a .22/32 Kit Gun (prewar). It is a 5 screw and still has the strain screw so does not have a coil mainspring. Serial number is 533380. As you can see the S&W logo is not on the left side of the frame, yet it falls within the serial number range of 525670-536684 pre-war which supposedly had the logo on the left. So what is the deal? Or is it a later model? The SCSW 4th Ed gets a bit confusing.

The finish is not great...the right side of the revolver has quite a bit of very minor pitting, much like what you see on the hammer. The side shown below is the side that is in better shape. The bluing is gone from the front of the barrel, quite a bit of minor scratching, and the ejector rod finish is well worn. Bore is in good shape. Stocks in decent but not great shape. B/C gap seems good, little/no end-shake.

The SCSW lists Good at $1350 and Fair at $500. Asking for this is $995. What do you think?

 

[Rpg]

Just as most replies you'll get, I'd see if I could get it for less just to be able to say I tried.

But I'd buy it at the listed price if I couldn't get a better deal.

 

[murphydog]

I think it is a fair price.

 

[ralph7]

Hard to make an assumption, seeing half of the gun,
especially the good half.

 

[paplinker]

Not many people are finding prewar kitguns under a grand if in working order. I think its right about where it should be consider the condition.

I found my shooter kitgun 633502 and did pretty well price wise.

Personally I much prefer the trigger pull on my K frames but I still enjoy taking mine out for a spin on occasion.

 

[DR505]

Hard to make an assumption, seeing half of the gun,
especially the good half.

Yeah, sorry about that...photo didn't come out, and I did not feel like driving back there to take another one. It has got light surface pitting on the side plate, covering about the upper half, similar in consistency to the top of the hammer shown in the picture, noticeable but not deep. No actual rust.

 

[lawdog45]

To each his own. But unless a gun is ULTRA rare, I want no rust, no pitting and a bite bore. If I was buying it would be purely as a shooter.

 

[DR505]

To each his own. But unless a gun is ULTRA rare, I want no rust, no pitting and a bite bore. If I was buying it would be purely as a shooter.

I also found an all around excellent condition 17-3 with target stocks and a 6" barrel for $750. I prefer N-Frames but this would fit nicely between my 8 3/8" and 4" 17s.

 

[JP@AK]

I prefer N-Frames but this would fit nicely between my 8 3/8" and 4" 17s.

You have a Model 17 with a 4" barrel? I don't believe I have ever seen one of those.

The 4" K frame .22 was the Model 18 (.22 Combat Masterpiece).

 

[DR505]

You have a Model 17 with a 4" barrel? I don't believe I have ever seen one of those.

The 4" K frame .22 was the Model 18 (.22 Combat Masterpiece).

I've not seen a no-dash 17 with a 4" barrel.

Here are photos of the 4" .22s, a 17-6 top and an 18-3 bottom, plus the 17-6 when I got it. Still haven't shot the 17 yet...just shot the 18 for the first time last month with my 10 year old son.

 

[JP@AK]

Here are photos of the 4" .22s, a 17-6 top

Oh! A dash 6. Silly me. I keep forgetting S&W actually made guns after 1982.

 

[DR505]

Oh! A dash 6. Silly me. I keep forgetting S&W actually made guns after 1982.

The price on that 17-6 made it hard to resist...even if it is new-fangled.

 

[crsides]

Nice pre war kit guns bring $2500 - $2800. I would rather buy this one and pocket the difference.

 

[Engine49guy]

Your 17-6 is an early one as those used the 17-5 barrel,
They changed to a full underlug barrel sometime into production so 17-6's are found with both barrels.

 

[DCWilson]

Eight or nine years ago I paid about $800 for my worst prewar kit gun, which is quite a bit rougher than the one under discussion here, and thought I got it at a great price. You wouldn't be hurt in the long run if you paid asking price for this one, but offer $850 or $900 and see if the seller goes for it.

There is nothing wrong with the location of the logo. The earliest prewar KGs have them on the left side, and the later prewar KGs have them on the sideplate. I even have one with the logo on both sides. The order to shift logo to the sideplate was issued in very late 1936, and logo-on-sideplate specimens are found from early 1937 on -- with a zone of inconsistency that runs for a few months. Other prewar KGs with serial numbers in the 533xxx range and known ship dates all left home in the second half of 1939, and one not until early 1940. So the logo position on this gun is completely consistent with what is observed on other specimens.

In addition to finish problems, note that the front sight has been replaced or modified. The stocks are in pretty good shape, considering, with no gouges or severe wear in the checking field and only a little roughness in the unchecked zone at the bottom of the cheek piece. I am assuming the other side looks the same.

Not a collector grade gun, then, but if you just want the pleasure and experience of owning and shooting a scarce shorter-barrel prewar .22 with adjustable sights, and assuming the action is smooth and reliable and that there is no ring or pitting in the barrel, this would be a great buy.

Here's a thread I started several years ago that gives an overview of prewar KGs and their observed variations.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...d-see-post-no-29-a.html?312913=#post137180733