Some I-frame ?'s

DCW & I, along with a couple of others have been kicking around the known information and speculation about I-frames, especially the post-War ones that were going through such an interesting period of using up old parts, and designing and making new ones. I have a few questions for the group. Extra points will be awarded for clear pictures!
1) Has anyone actually seen a 6" Regulation Police Target in .38 S&W?
2) Has anyone seen a 6" Regulation Police .38 S&W (pre- or post-War) with the standard fixed sights?
3) Has anyone seen a post-War Regulation Police snubbie in .38 S&W? (or the elusive Post Office pre-War model?)
4) Does anyone have anything else out of the ordinary in the way of late pre- or early post-War I-frame stuff they want to share? (.22s, 32s and .38s all welcome!)

I promise that as soon as I can dig out and reactivate my digital camera I will try and post pix of some of my recently acquired I-frames, but don't let that slow you down.... feel free to post yours first!!

Froggie

early post war .32-cal I-frame Nickel HE

I just bought the nickel revolver in the photos. Not sure how unusual it is nor the year of manufacture. Seller said 1947-1948, but I think serial number of 59641x might indicate something later.

I have been watching all the major on-line auction sites since the start of this year and have yet to see a Regulation Police Target or snubbie on any of them.

I also have a early post war Regulation Police 38 (blue) serial 6887x that I'll toss in a photo, though it is pretty mundane.

Gunbrokers.com Item # 227297406 posted for sale today. 1952 32 hand ejector with 2 inch barrel.

I can only offer this early post war I frame Terrier in 38 S&W (bottom) ,


My only other I frame is a Bekeart run 22/32

It would be great to see more information on the I-Frame which doesn't receive the same amount of interest as other classic Smith & Wessons.

I only have this common example, a .32 serial number 277XXX, which dates from the World War I time era and the relatively short time period that the entwined S&W logo did not appear on either side of the frame.

Here's a Pre-30 (.32 Hand Ejector Post War), shipped Jan. 1953. Note the pre War style front sight. It originally came with some imitation stag, plastic stocks that didn't fit well, and i finally got a pair of period correct stocks recently. These little guns are amazingly accurate.


Were you aware the Single Shot 3rd model (perfected) was on a .32 Hand Ejector action, modified for the single shot? .32 HE parts will interchange.

Very Similar to Dick's gun....

But in Nickel and with Pre-war Pattern Stocks which number to the frame...







Here's another early Post War .32 HE...



Note the chambering indication on the left side of the barrel..



And just to widen the conversation a little further, a 1950 Chief's Special...

Chambering markings on the right side of the barrel....





Hard to not like these little jewels...

Although this topic didn't bring the flood of responses I had hoped for, the ones that came have been quality stuff! In the meanwhile, DCW has acquired that 6" pre-war Reg Police Target barrel, and we've been hearing about some more variations on the immediate post-War production when the restart involved using up the old and starting to make new features.

I think my current #1 on the hit list is a little post-war I-frame Terrier (not improved I-frame.) That Terrier that Engine49guy has really turns my crank! How about a dream set of the immediate post-war (hammer block type) snubs in .22 LR, .32 S&W, & .38 S&W, or even more exotic, how about the pre-War 6" examples in target trim of the all three calibers? A guy can dream, can't he?

Froggie

Green Frog said:

I think my current #1 on the hit list is a little post-war I-frame Terrier (not improved I-frame.) Froggie

Click to expand...

Sure wish this was a .38...

Here are a few, in the top picture are two RP's. The 6" is a 32 and the bottom gun a 38 SW. The other photo is a post-war Terrier.

Thanks for the compliment Green frog.
Funny how we all have our favorites, Mine is Sebago Sons Baby Chief with half penny site.

I must admit I wasnt looking for a Terrier when this one found me.
Found the Baby Chief above it the same day at the same show...
Went home with an empty wallet that day !
Heres a left side view


My only other I frame is this once proud first run 22/32 grip numbered Bekeart .
Its one of 3 that didnt go to P.B. that serials in the first run.

Well, Engine49guy, there's a gun show this weekend in Salem, so maybe by this time Monday one will have "found me" too!

I had a really sweet Baby Chief at one time and like a total idiot, I sold it (stop me if you've heard this before! ) I promise all who will listen that if the Terrier of my dreams makes it to my man cave it will only come out to be carried concealed, shot, or showed off until death do we part!

Sebago Son & hsguy, you're both killing me here.

Froggie

s&w 32 long

havent been able to find a whole lot of info on this gun...was my grandfathers...2976xx serial no.....sorry about the pics, thought i had rotated em...

Spinner, welcome to the forum. Your grandfather's gun is an early .32 Regulation Police. The model was introduced in 1917, and your gun dates to about 1919. There is probably a 1917 patent date stamped on the butt of the left wooden panel. That patent is for the rebated backstrap design and matching grip profile that convert a round-butt frame to a square butt revolver. If you take the grips off, you will see what I mean. While they are off, look to see if the serial number of the gun is either written in pencil or stamped into the back of the right panel.

Most .32 RPs I see are blue. A nickel one is uncommon, and yours appears to be in very good condition. Do you know if it was refinished? It doesn't appear to be, but larger photos might tell the tale more clearly.

These remain a few of my very favorites.


Cheers;
Lefty

David, thank you so much for the info...will try to get the grip off tomm...it has not been refinished....i remember when my grandfather had this pistol wrapped in a blue cloth under the seat of his 1951 chevy pickup...that was in 1964....it never left his possession until i recieved it upon his death....along with the 51 chevy....kept the gun, but traded the truck like a dummy when i was in high school

bmcgilvray said:

It would be great to see more information on the I-Frame which doesn't receive the same amount of interest as other classic Smith & Wessons.

Click to expand...

The Post War & '50s small frames are rather "unplowed ground". There is a plethora of variations in the I frame guns of this era. This all makes for the SCSW section on these little beauties one of the weakest in documentation in an otherwise fairly excellent resource.

Having collected and studied these for some time now they are a lot less "blurry" to me. I can tell you there is over 17 variations of just the .32 I frames between the end of the war and 1957 which include two improvements, round and sq butt, and barrel lengths just to name the major characteristics. But that's just the blue guns and besides those major characteristics, that's not counting smaller characteristic changes such as: stocks, 5 or 6 cylinder release latches, front sights and ribs, etc.

So overall a very fascinating collecting category. I have a collection of .38 S&W, 38 spl J and Baby J frames, and 22/32 kit guns but mostly .32 hand ejector/Reg Police models of all the major variations not counting barrel lengths, finishes or butt configurations for each evolutionary change and that's nine different guns. I am certain there are variations still to be observed by me that others may already know.


Shown 3rd from top on right. .32 Reg. Police Postwar Target 'I' frames is a 1957 release with small trigger guard and leaf mainspring (pre Improved 'I' frame and pre model 31), serial# stamped on front grip strap above the strain screw and matching all other #'d parts inc. grips, 4", pre war/early postwar rebated rear grip strap with post war type round checkering border on round top stocks with post war curved nickel medallions. One of 196 made on left over pre war 'I' frames. You'll notice pre war sights that came w/Pre War steel/nickel plated sight adjusting tool or modified post war SAT to fit the tiny sight screws, pre war/early post war hammer, post war grooved trigger, and 3rd type post war (and post 1966) non-hourglass thumbpiece while all other I frames of the period still had the third type flat latch! A very convoluted transition model for sure. Brief details of these 196 guns are on page 128, 3rd edition, Standard Catalog of S&W, Supica and Nahas.

TEXT for these photos UPDATED in my post #46








I hope this helps to sort out the I Frames.

lkelly said:

Gunbrokers.com Item # 227297406 posted for sale today. 1952 32 hand ejector with 2 inch barrel.

Click to expand...

This apears to have the plastic or steel medallions.

Sebago Son said:

But in Nickel and with Pre-war Pattern Stocks which number to the frame...

Here's another early Post War .32 HE...

Click to expand...

Your 1st gun grips have pre war checkering borders but post war courser 14 lpi checkering and post war medallions.

Your 2nd gun is a 1st improvement and has the 2nd type single hourglass thumb latch.

Wow, Jim! What a tour-de-force presentation of the post-war changes in the little Smiths. Thank you very much indeed. I know I will take that response, with pix, and put a good printout into my copy of SCSW for definitive future reference.

One little discrepancy on my example of a pure post-War .32 HE, #550XXX that I want to mention, is that it has the low style grips like the pearls shown in the picture next to your pure post war. The checkering is pretty worn and I haven't really measured it yet, but it seems finer than the other post-War examples I have seen. They are numbered to the gun (two lines, stamped) so I assume this must mean they were produced prior to those mini-magnas(?)

Just FYI it has a two line roll mark on the left side of the (2") barrel with the SMITH & WESSON line centered and the 32 LONG CTG line below it. It has the small logo on the left side of the frame below the late style thumb latch and the four line patent information on the right side of the frame in the expected place. I see serial numbers on the bottom of the grip frame, the bottom of the barrel, the rear of the cylinder, and inside the grip as well as assembly numbers on the crane and the recess of the frame behind the crane. Finally, though fairly worn, the finish appears to have been somewhat dull all along, which would agree with what you lead me to expect.

Again, thanks for that absolutely spectacular summary you gave. I for one am going to refer to it a lot in the future!

Best regards,
Charlie Shaeff
the Green Frog