An unusual Sat

[Doc44]

Paul...When I first saw the photo of your sight screwdriver, it looked like someone turned a flat blade into a hollow ground blade.

Bill

 

[weatherby]

I'm still trying to figure it out Bill.
I was just looking at the other SAT picture Jim posted and trying to compare the tops of those two.

 

[s&wchad]

Paul...When I first saw the photo of your sight screwdriver, it looked like someone turned a flat blade into a hollow ground blade.
Bill

No doubt in my mind…. Flat grind on the left, hollow grind on the right. Sorry for the poor photo.

I've been picking up Sat's from this local dealer for over a decade. He used to work at S&W before opening his gun shop.

Some of the reason I'm as sure as I can be that it did come from S&W.

Paul,
That’s a very interesting SAT. The fact that your source worked at S&W provides some clues.

It very well may may have come out of the factory, but we would probably have seen others if it went into production. We’ll probably never know.

It may have been a prototype or it may have been an employee modification. Flat grind (chisel point) SAT’s/screwdrivers are less than ideal for precision screws and tend to bugger up the grooves. Regardless, it’s pretty cool!

 

[handejector]

It may have been a prototype or it may have been an employee modification.

Orrrrrrrr-
What crossed my mind is that it was a flat ground shaft that never got a handle, and it was ground again to make it a hollow ground.

 

[weatherby]

David can you post a picture of the top of the flat grind ones ?
Interested to see how it compares to this one.

I think Lee may have hit the most plausible explanation of its existence.
The top is what's throwing me off vs the HG ones

The prototype idea may explain the packaging though.
Smith didnt make these themselves did they ?

Everyone's been very helpful on this poor little guy.

 

[s&wchad]

Here you go Paul…

These are all the fluted flat grind SAT’s I have.

 

[THREEDFLYER]

Not rare but modified. From the factory it came with a straight tapered blade. The blade tip has been hollow ground like the last version of SATs.

Yours started life like the 2nd one from the right. But modified to the improved hollow ground version, first one on the right.

Photo by RKmesa (Richard)

Great photo!!!

Curious where the value/pricing is on each of these SAT's currently??

 

[weatherby]

Thanks David
I definitely see the hole being larger than this one.
I can't quite tell about the flatness comparison at the tops 3 may be and one may be more domed?

 

[newellj]

Price

Great photo!!!

Curious where the value/pricing is on each of these SAT's currently??

I can tell you the smaller they are the more they cost
Like the little one on the far left...

 

[GerSan69]

What's the guy who sold it say about it?

 

[THREEDFLYER]

I can tell you the smaller they are the more they cost
Like the little one on the far left...

I have several of those in the photo including one of the "Little ones" but that one is in the box with my pre-war non-registered magnum........

 

[weatherby]

What's the guy who sold it say about it?

I will bring it back down and ask him about it.
I've picked up many of the old mops that went in the cleaning kits from him too in the past.

The 44 ones are pretty hard to find.

 

[bigmoose]

Interesting thread guys. Thanks for posting photos and information. Now that I have both my grandmothers sewing kits dumped on the floor, I can start looking for that elusive pre war SAT.

 

[Memphis]

Well it's kinda off topic but this SAT reminds me of that previously talked-about Humpback Hammer on the "I" frame gun. They both look factory but they are the only known examples of such an occurrence. They're both either incredibly rare or fine examples of mechanical adaptation.

Roger

 

[Heinz]

Thanks for then educational discussion. It is good to see an informed and perceptive discussion with civility all around.
All my screwdrivers are from Brownells. Now I have something else S&W that I need.

 

[Club Gun Fan]

What everyone is forgetting is the people that worked at the factory made things that they needed. This SAT is not a prototype, no more than this one with the elongated handle is. If you all knew what went on there, you'd be amazed. I held a 10 inch model 14 that was owned by S&W Pistol Team shooter Norman St. Germain. Like I said, if there was a need it was made.

 

[weatherby]

I sure don't disagree with that Don.
It is odd it's in a package though.
Well at least to me it is.
Also if I were to make something up it would be to use at least once.

 

[Club Gun Fan]

I sure don't disagree with that Don.
It is odd it's in a package though.
Well at least to me it is.
Also if I were to make something up it would be to use at least once.

Paul
I've made up packages like that with a Seal-A-Meal.