[FUNNY UPDATE at Post 19] .22 Ladysmith, 3rd Model - Nickel

[NCBeagle]

This is my first M Frame. It is an impulse buy. Know very little about it. So, information regarding history, value, etc., all welcomed. Also, feel free to hijack my thread with pictures of similar revolvers.

I believe that this is a .22 Ladysmith, Third Model, from about 1911. It appears / feels solid, tight, and functional. Nickel finish is quite good for its age. The stocks might be aftermarket, based on what I see in the Standard Catalog of S&W, 5th Edition.

Neat little gun.

 

[22hipower]

Nice, it appears to be in much better condition than those I've seen in the wild, not that I've seen many. The pearls are nice too.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[DARE]

Very nice. Don't know anything about them, but that looks like a good one.

 

[steelslaver]

It was made for 22 longs NOT long rifles. Most people don't even recommend firing long, but shorts or even CB. Parts for them are unattainable.

I wish S&W would make a run of M frames with modern materials for 22 LR

Here is mine

 

[max503]

Neat little gun.

Heck yes!!!

 

[NCBeagle]

Can anybody tell me about the grips? The book talks about smooth or checkered would grips; however, I found quite a few pictures of nickel guns wearing these pearl-like grips. thoughts?

 

[quinn]

I can see my grandmother toting one of those in her purse... she did not take guff from anybody. That is a cutie!

 

[mmaher94087]

The .22 Long stated by steelslaver is what it was designed to shoot. However, the Long Rifle will chamber but is too powerful for these diminutive Model M revolvers. The resulting use of Long Rifle cartridges will cause a blowout of the forcing cone.

Your 3rd Model is an improvement over the 1st and 2nd Model in that you need not worry about breaking the one piece weird and expensive trigger reset and cylinder stop spring. I think I still have that spring.

 

[steelslaver]

Anyone else wishing for S&W to make a new one, the same sized in 22 LR made with modern materials. Steel would be great, a Scandium frame and Titanium cylinder would be totally awesome

 

[raljr1]

Can anybody tell me about the grips? The book talks about smooth or checkered would grips; however, I found quite a few pictures of nickel guns wearing these pearl-like grips. thoughts?

Without medallions, they are most likely aftermarket.

Very nice 22 HE. If you plan to shoot it, CB caps or subsonic shorts are the only things you should use.

Robert

 

[kscharlie]

Nice Ladysmith. Without S&W medallions, I doubt the stocks are factory. I do have a left side panel of pearl that has the "medallion" carved in it. Have no idea if it was produced at the factory or not, but it is nice. Just wish I had the matching right panel.

Your gun is a bit older than 1911. I have two 3rd Model .22 Hand Ejectors, serial #s 17898 and 17920, respectively shipped October 1910 and August 1910. Based on the ones I have seen, I would think your Ladysmith would be worth around $1500 +/- if the barrel extension is in good shape. Lots of them were split or blown away by using modern ammo, which generates way more pressure than these little guns can handle.

 

[raljr1]

I have two of these little sweethearts. The blued one was refinished, and I bought it a dozen years ago without even knowing what it was. The nickel one has had the barrel extensions filed off. I've not shot that one, and I have another barrel that might be used to put it back into correct shootable condition.

My wife really likes these little guns.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Here's my 1st Model from 1903. It has a different cylinder release than the 2nd and 3rd Models. BTW, these guns don't have a forcing cone. Those don't show up on S&W revolvers until the 1920's.

 

[steelslaver]

Here's my 1st Model from 1903. It has a different cylinder release than the 2nd and 3rd Models. BTW, these guns don't have a forcing cone. Those don't show up on S&W revolvers until the 1920's.

Looks like a miniature 1896

 

[45NUTT]

Nickel & Pearl! I love it. I am looking at her older brother in 32-20 and I have her cousin in 32 Long!!

 

[Muley Gil]

Nickel & Pearl! I love it. I am looking at her older brother in 32-20 and I have her cousin in 32 King!!

What is a 32 King? An I frame or a K frame, modified by King's Gun Works, etc.???

 

[45NUTT]

What is a 32 King? An I frame or a K frame, modified by King's Gun Works, etc.???

Thanks! Edited it to 32 Long Those dang two finger typists are not very reliable

 

[DWalt]

Wasn’t there a story about Hitler having a first model Ladysmith during the early period of his rise to power?

 

[NCBeagle]

UPDATE:

Okay. This is sort of funny. I bought this little revolver from a friend who works at a local gun shop. He sold for a friend. Neither of us really knew much about the gun. I am not much interested in anything made before 1950 but had no M Frames in the collection. It is sort of obsolete for my purpose, carrying, shooting, etc. Neat little piece of history. He had no idea regarding the gun's value. I knew that it had some value but, frankly, not as much as others on this forum suggested. I thought it might be worth maybe $350 to somebody who was going to the effort to sell it. I had no plan to sell. Was just going in the collection. So, I did not research it.

I offered $100 and he accepted. Paid cash. Went home. This morning received a text message. Apparently, his friend was blowing him up about selling the gun for $100. She talked to somebody else who believes it has more value. Now, she claims that she did not give him authority to sell the gun. He has nothing in writing to confirm his authority to sell and she is making a big federal case out of it.

I am not going to let my buddy take heat from this crazy lady. I am going to give it back in exchange for the $100 paid. Neither of us want any headaches over this exchange. My friend is horribly embarrassed that it turned out this way. Told him that it is no big deal. Will drop the gun off sometime this week and he need not deal with that crazy lady anymore.

Well, so much for the first M Frame in my collection.

 

[murphydog]

Sorry for your troubles.

None of the images above show the barrel shank clearly; the left side may have a dent or other damage? An intact, functioning .22 HE may be worth $1000-1200 but this one may not fall into the intact category.