Hi JP,
One of my favorite questions about my favorite models. All three are pictured in the back of the 3rd edition SCSW under definitions of terms if you have the book.
THREE STYLES OF
FLAT LATCH:
1st style
flat latch used only on the Baby J frame and K frame airweights.
2nd style
flat latch began on the I frames, Baby Js and K frame airweights just prior to the Models of 1953.
3rd style shown with steeper incline at the front, on lower .38 Chief Spl. in first photo and in 2nd photo; used on I, full size J frames, and K frame airweights beginning mid late ‘50s; ending in 1966.
Photo by Watchdog
THE POST WAR I FRAMES EVOLUTION: .22/32 Kit Gun and Target, .32 Hand Ejector, .32 & .38 S&W Reg. Police and .38 S&W Terrier:
1. Transitional I frames c. 1946, leaf main spring w/tension screw on forestrap: These are "5 screw" models, 6 screws in total counting the tension screw: round sight, small trigger guard and short rd grip frame or rebated frame w/sq butt stocks, (all reportedly have new style hammer block). .22/32s and .32s beginning as low as 5346XX (Two in 521XXX range recorded as shipped in 1948 and 9/49, probably do not have the new style rebound slide operated hammer block reportedly begun at # 536,685), #544030 lowest observed; .38 S&W beginning c. 1948 at # 54475; as high as 582XX w/rd top stocks.
---- a) Pre war/post war Transitional: uses many pre war parts. (includes the non-Model #’d 1957 issue .32 Regulation Police Targets in the low #657XXX range).
---- b) Pure post war Transitional: uses new post war parts. No .22/32s, .32s (up to #550740 highest # known). A few small guns were sold in the late '40s mostly made up from prewar parts. Actual .38 S&W production in volume didn't resume until about 1950, 54804 lowest and 58470 highest known shipped in July 1951.
2. "Improved I frames" w/coil main spring: "5 screw" model, (the tension, 6th screw eliminated), otherwise same features as the above Transitionals. Exception: late issues have ramp front sight and barrel rib. These are not pre models. No .22/32s, .32s (beginning at #554536, lowest # known shipped 12/51, #611398 highest known), .38s (highest round sight 70XXX [#68,XXX 2/53], lowest known ramp site 70131, 71983 highest, shipped Jan. 12, 1954).
3. Model of 1953 New I Frames, (the true “Pre-Model #” guns), coil mainspring: These are "4 screw" & "3 screw" models, larger trigger guard (no screw, longer rd butt grip frame and new style sq butt. Bright blue finishes begin to appear and eventually predominate. .22/32s (beginning in new serial range starting w/#101), .32s (beginning at about #613XXX), .38s (a 4 screw, old hammer #7671X).
4. Model #’d guns c.1957, otherwise identical to the Mod of 1953: 22/32 I frames Models 34 & 35 (beginning c. #37XXX), replaced by J frames Oct. 1960, -1 added (c. #70,XXX), the .32s and .38s in early 1961, -1 added (.32s Models 30 & 31 beginning c. #650XXX to #712954, highest # known, and .38s Models 32 & 33, c. #88XXX).
The 1st photo below shows .32s only but will serve to illustrate the above categories for all calibers except as noted.
Top left, Reference only: Pre war .32 HE Mod 1903-5th change, #205628, mid 1914, 3 1/4", 'I' frame, factory pearl grips with gold medallions. Note the pre c. 1928 distinctive “mushroom” extractor knob.
1.Transitional: .22/32 Kit Gun (and Targets if any made) Rd Butt or Rebated Sq Butt, .32 Hand Ejector Rd Butt, .32 & .38 Reg. Police Rebated Sq Butt (see .38 R. P. Rd Butt exception below) and .38 Terrier Rd Butt:
a) Pre war/post war: (second gun on left. Reg. Police shown). Very similar to pre war I frames: leaf mainspring, short grip frame, round ½ penny front sight, smooth trigger (except Kit Guns use ½ round USRA ‘pocket sight’ and grooved triggers), with improved hammer block safety (the post war telltale feature) but pre war shaped hammer (there was no change from long to short throw hammers on I frames), matte finish, single line “Made In U.S.A.” only (no Marcas Registradas or address on right side frame until 1948). A small S&W logo on the left side of the frame is pretty much standard. 2”, 3 1/4” & 4 1/4” barrels (4” on .38s, and 6” targets are reported), with patent dates on barrel. Kit Gun .22/32s with 4” barrel only, (Target .22/32s with 6” barrel have been reported). All models continue in their respective pre war serial number ranges: which is the same for .22/32s and .32s but a separate range for .38 S&Ws. Two inch barrels on .32s and .38s can have a unique two line roll mark on the left side of the barrel with the SMITH & WESSON line centered with the caliber line centered below it. These early .22/32s and .32s still have the smaller (than 38 S&W) pre war cylinder diameter and frame window. Serial numbers in 6 places including stamped backside of the right stock; 9 places including front sight, rear sight and rear sight blade for the 22/32 Kit Guns same as on pre-war guns, use pre war target sights, and pre war style round firing pin with one proud retaining pin.
.32 and .38 S&W Regulation Police Models have rebated square butt stocks w/ serial number stamped on front grip strap above the strain screw, except for the uncommon .38 S&W 4” rd butt version, examples of which have ‘lettered’ as RPs. The same configured .32 guns have been observed but .32 Reg. Police Models are not stamped as such on the barrel like .38/32 S&W RP guns. Square butt 2” .38 Terriers have also been observed.
22/32 Kit Guns have grooved triggers, pre war target sights, serial number in eight places including the front and rear sight, Pre war style round firing pin with one proud retaining pin, and round or sq butt rebated stocks.
Can have from all to some of the following pre war details: pre war thumb piece – ‘double hourglass’ with relief cuts under the checkered pad (but can also have Type 1 post war ‘double hourglass’ thumb piece similar to pre war thumb piece but without relief cuts under the checkered pad, just as on the K and N frame sizes), service (round top) stocks or ‘Mini’ Magna stocks (.22/32s & .32s reportedly beginning w/# 557,871; .38s at # 62,381, both on 7/9/51), checkering 16 cut lines per inch (15 rows of diamonds), sharp cornered border (shown),
flat chrome plated brass or curved nickel plated brass medallions, large pre war ‘barrel shaped’ extractor knob with right or left hand thread (see note below).
This group includes the 1957 issue .32 Reg. Police Target 'I' frame, a 1957 release non-Model #’d with small trigger guard and leaf mainspring (pre Improved 'I' frame), (Shown 3rd from top on right), 196 made on left over pre war 'I' frames. This model still has the smaller pre war cylinder diameter and frame window.
Frame serial# stamped on front grip strap above the strain screw matching all other #'d parts inc. stocks and sights, 9 locations in all, (in low #657XXX range). 4" barrel, pre war/early postwar rebated rear grip strap with post war type 16 lpi checkering, round cornered border on round top stocks with curved nickel plated brass medallions. You'll notice pre war sights w/special modified post war sight adjusting tool (SAT) to fit tiny sight screws, short action, pre war/early post war hammer, post war grooved trigger, and 3rd type post war (and post 1966 after becoming J frames) non-sculpted thumbpiece while all other I frames of the period still had the third type
flat latch. Most features totally out of character with non-target pre Model 31 guns of the 1957 period! But it has the 3rd and last style straight ejector knob (left hand thread), no patent dates on barrel and 4 line address. 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, pictured pg 127.
b) Pure post war: (third gun on left. 2”, .32 Hand Ejector shown). Similar to above except, no patent dates on barrel, “Made In U.S.A.” with “Marcas Registradas” and address on right side frame (four lines). Usually have straight extractor (left hand thread), ‘Mini’ Magna stocks on round butt guns (.32 at # 557,871, .38 S&W #62,381 both on 7/9/51) with post war curved nickel plated medallions and the pre war checkering of 16 cut lines per inch (15 rows of diamonds) replaced with 13 LPI (12 rows of diamonds) and round cornered borders. Yes that differs from the SCSW by Nahas and Supica but the book conflicts with actual measurements, in fact the earliest triple locks have 17 LPI (16 rows of diamonds). and grooved trigger. Type 2 postwar single hourglass thumb piece or Type 3 non hourglass (pre
flat latch) exactly like post ’66 style. Prewar/early postwar hammer. Barrels are still 2”, 3 ¼” and 4 1/4”. The plastic or steel grip medallions usually show up in these early '50s guns, due to the Korean war brass shortage.
2. Improved I: Improved 'I' frame (coil mainspring but still short RB grip, still 5 screw):
(top right gun. 3” .32 HE shown). Otherwise same as above. Can have round front sight and thumb
latches as above; later models will have 2nd type flatlatch and serrated ramp front sight w/barrel rib and standardized barrel lengths of 2”, 3” & 4”. I have not observed the 1st type
flat latch as used on the Baby J frames, used on I frames (shown on right in second photo below), but doesn’t mean they don’t exist! The .32s begin to show up with the larger cylinder diameter and frame window of the .38 S&W. Very early ‘50s production may have plastic or steel stock medallions.
3. Model of 1953 NEW I Frames; the ‘pre-models’ 4 screw and 3 screw models:
(Second gun on right. 3”.32 Reg. Police), 4 screws, coil mainspring, new larger egg shaped trigger guard, 1/8” longer round butt frame (same as the current J frame .38 Spl. Chiefs Special) and new, current style square butt grip frame and stocks 5/32” longer than the rd butt (1st introduced in 1952 on the ‘Baby J frame’); 14 LPI (13 rows of diamonds); 2”, 3” & 4” barrels, 6” on .22/32 Target; early post war style hammer continued on earliest 1953 models (except 22 /32 which has the new target hammer), but soon changed to the new style, coarse knurled hammer; 2nd style
flat latch then 3rd/last style 'tall'
flat latch used on all Model 1953 'I' frames (and the J frame .38 Spl Chiefs Special, and .22, .32 and .38 S&W ‘I’ & 'J' frames) after c. 1958 thru c. 1966. Bright blue finishes begin to appear and eventually predominate. Three screw frame models are the same as above except the upper sideplate screw (4th screw) was eliminated beginning late 1955 (c. serial # 640980 on .32s). Early c. 1956, serial # locations gradually decreased from 6 to less locations until eventually just on butt of grip frame, back of extractor star (until late ‘60’s), and back of right stock.
This is the first post war model change for the 22/32 guns and a separate serial number range was begun at # 101; as above except new style .375” wide target hammer, micro click rear target sight, new rectangular shaped firing pin tip with two proud retaining pins introduced, 2” or 4” Kit Guns, J frame size Rd or Sq butt (Round Butt shown in second photo below on top left) and 6” Targets, Sq butt only. I have observed that on the .22/32, the 'bright' blue finishes began in their serial # range around the early to mid 20,000s c. '54 - '55 as well as the
flat polishing of the second (rear most) retaining pin for the firing pin. Also by this time .22/32s begin to show up with the larger cylinder diameter and frame window of the .38 S&W.
The 22/32 kit and target guns transitioned to 3 screw sideplates in their 13,000 to 23,000 serial # range. Later, serial # locations gradually decreased from 6 to less locations (beginning as early as # 23000 range on 22/32s) until eventually just on butt of grip frame, back of extractor star (until late ‘60’s), and back of right stock. The round tip firing pin w/two retaining pins returned in the 29,000 serial number range. I believe the one proud retaining pin was reintroduced Oct. 1960 when .22 I frames were replaced with the J frame and a dash 1 was added to their model numbers. In the later Model of 1953 I frame production period an optional .400” grooved target trigger was offered and after the end of the Diamond stock period c. 1968, target stocks that fit both the round and square butt frames were introduced (shown in second photo).
4. 1957 Model #’d guns:
All models were ordered to have their respective model numbers stamped in the yoke c. 1957.
M30 = .32 HE, M31* = .32 RP, M32 = .38 Terrier, M33 = .38 RP up to c.1961 (.32 and .38 I frames converted to J frames). *Late production could be had w/rd or sq butt after 1976 when Mod 30 ceased, until 1991 when discontinued.)
M34 = .22/32Kit Gun, M35 = .22/32 Target up to Oct. 1960 (.22 I frames converted to J frames).
NOTES:
1) Many wonder what the little iron cross like marks are at the beginning and end of the cartridge roll mark on the barrel. They are a common typographical ornamentation called a “dingbat” used as a guide called "feet" to begin and end the barrel rollmarking and keep it straight, from back in the day. For example: they show up on pre war I frames in 32 and 38 and appear on early 22/32s then show up again after WW II. The little M frame .22 has them on both ends of the cartridge roll stamp. Triple locks and other models have them atop the barrel on both ends of the address and patent dates, etc.
Photo in post #4 here:
32 LONG CTG HELP ID.
IRON CROSS dingbat shown here:
Typography - 46 Cool & Useful Dingbat Fonts | Think Design
2) There has not been any pre war or post war .38 S&W Target models observed to date but 6” is reported.
3) A change in the early 1960’s was the hammer to spring strut junction from ball/socket to the fork/pin.
4) The post war I frames were changed to left hand threads on straight extractor rods soon after the commencement of production following WW II, therefore their spawn, the 1950 introduced J frame Chiefs Special, began life with left hand threads on straight extractor rods.
Just for the record however, and not affecting J frames; I must acknowledge that early post war I frames were produced with right hand threads and these are identifiable by the pre war 'barrel' style extractor rod knob,
BUT: a very scarce few 'late', early post war I frames with the "barrel" knob have been observed with left hand threads! Again this is irrelevant to J frames.
To summarize: on the post war I and J frames; all straight extractor rods are left hand thread, but on the I frames not every "barrel" type extractor rod is right hand thread! As usual with Smiths, the I frame extractor rod changes were subject to a transition period of a couple of years.
5) All fixed sight I models have smooth triggers before the war which continued on the earliest post war transitional but were changed to grooved during the pre war/post war models and preceding the Improved Model.
6) The front trigger guard screw was eliminated when this model received the egg shaped trigger guard change, referred to as the Model of 1953 which also included the change to the J frame length grip on the I and J frame (38 Spl). Suffice it to say that there are no 5 screw Models of 1953, notwithstanding an Airweight J frame with a lock screw on the upper sideplate screw.
7) Before c. 1953 model, I and J frames had rounder trigger guards with the front (5th) screw and I frame length (short) grip frames and were all '5 screw models'. After c. 1953, the I and J frames were all ‘4 screw models' both had egg shaped trigger guards and J frame length grips. After Oct. 1960, 22/32 I frames and 1961 for .32 and .38 I frames, all were changed to J frames and a -1 was added to the model number.
These are only my observations and I appreciate anyone else's observations to add to the data base.
8) Pre models:
For the benefit of others to make up their own minds to be precise or to be confusing:
a pre model number described gun is just that, it's not a name, it's an accurate description to distinguish between the "Model .38 Chiefs Special Airweight" that DOES NOT look like the model numbered guns and the models of 1953 "Model .38 Chiefs Special AW" " that DOES look like the model numbered version. It's a useful description to avoid confusion and to be precise when discussing Models that have the same name but different features which is very common.
9) Checkering:
Triple Locks 17 LPI (16 rows of diamonds)
HFT pre and post 1920s inc. Kit Guns 16 LPI (15 rows of diamonds)
Early post war I frames 13 LPI (12 rows of diamonds)
1953 Kit Gun 14 LPI (13 rows of diamonds)
These are only my observations and I appreciate anyone else's observations to add to the data base.
Flat latches
Linear Mode
