Improved I or J Frame

pahoghunter · #1 10-23-2011, 06:26 PM

I just picked this up at a local gun show today, and I'm not sure what it is, the serial # is 137xx, it is a four screw, pinned barrel, flat latch and the cylinder measures 1.310 and it has the small S&W LOGO. The barrel is stamped 22 LONG RIFLE CTG. The trigger is serrated, is it a pre-34, Improved I or a J Frame?

DCWilson · #2 10-23-2011, 06:48 PM

Nice specimen! That's a Pre-M34 built on the improved I frame. It probably dates to 1955.

The J-frame kit guns appear with the 34-1 designation about 1960.

handejector · #3 10-23-2011, 06:49 PM

That is a Pre 34.
That is an I frame.
That is a "Model of 1953 22/32 Kit Gun".

pahoghunter · #4 10-23-2011, 08:00 PM

Thanks, I thought I was on the right track.

Alk8944 · #5 10-23-2011, 09:38 PM

An interesting Kit Gun. It is on an "Improved" I-Frame, with a coil mainspring. Built, probably 1955, maybe. What makes it somewhat of a curiosity is that it has the top sideplate screw, which, per SCSW, was deleted in 1955 at SN 11,000!

Is your SN really 137xx, or four digits, 137x? If you put an extra place-holder X in there that would explain the discrepancy of the sideplate screw. It also would make it a 1953 production date.

pahoghunter · #6 10-24-2011, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alk8944

An interesting Kit Gun. It is on an "Improved" I-Frame, with a coil mainspring. Built, probably 1955, maybe. What makes it somewhat of a curiosity is that it has the top sideplate screw, which, per SCSW, was deleted in 1955 at SN 11,000!

Is your SN really 137xx, or four digits, 137x? If you put an extra place-holder X in there that would explain the discrepancy of the sideplate screw. It also would make it a 1953 production date.

Its 137xx I also saw that about the top sideplate screw, its a little confusing.