Model 35

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Amityslim

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Hello, forum members. I'm a new member from Oregon. Does anybody out there own a Model 35? It appears I'm buying one (I'll know I bought one when I have it in my hands). Flat latch and according to the reported serial number (634XX), from googling around it looks like it's perhaps a 1955 gun.

I've got the S&W book coming, but in the meantime I'd appreciate comments on date of manufacture from the serial number reported...and hearing what you think of your M35 Smiths.

Oops...looks like maybe the wrong subforum. But hopefully some of you folks will respond anyway.
 
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The model 35 is very collectible. I have 2 in my collection, both are early guns. Yours should be marked MOD 35-1 I think. Should look like this.
002-16.jpg

008-6.jpg
 
I have a pre model 35, serial # 36026 that I show to be about 1956. Not sure where I got that date but I have a question mark by it. Very neat little guns you will enjoy shooting it.
 
Thanks

Greatly appreciate the info. Not in my hands yet so I've only seen a photo of it, where it looks pretty much identical to that in the photo above. Definitely has a flat latch, though.

I've wanted one of these for some years but always found a different Smith or Colt to spend money on. However, I enjoy my M34 and M17 so much I finally made the jump.

Thanks again.
 
Change to J frame

The 35-1 engineering change was to make the gun on the J frame which, as stated, was done in Oct of 1960. Your gun would be made on the Improved I frame which means the J frame Magna grips will not fit as the I frame is smaller than the J frame. Also the Improved I frame had the coil mainspring which elimated the screw in the front of the grip frame which was the strain screw for the I frames flat main spring. We want pictures, when you receive the gun! ? ! ?
jcelect
 
The picture looks VERY much like the one above. Seller had rubber on it but said he found the original grips, numbered to the gun, so they're coming. Should be next week. Thanks, all, for the info. I note the request for pics.
 
jcelect said:
The 35-1 engineering change was to make the gun on the J frame which, as stated, was done in Oct of 1960. Your gun would be made on the Improved I frame which means the J frame Magna grips will not fit as the I frame is smaller than the J frame. Also the Improved I frame had the coil mainspring which elimated the screw in the front of the grip frame which was the strain screw for the I frames flat main spring. We want pictures, when you receive the gun! ? ! ?
jcelect
Click to expand...

The I frame Model of 1953 is a new model I frame also with coil main spring, not an improved post war I frame with small grip. It has the ribbed barrel, egg shaped J size larger trigger guard, J frame size grip in both round and new style sq butt, 4 screw frame (no trigger guard screw) and later in 1956 the 3 screw before it became a model number in 1957. All J frame grips will fit the Mod 1953 I frames.

In Oct 1960 the -1 completed the change to J frame with longer cylinder and cylinder window.

This picture is (top) a post war "Transitional" I frame 22/32 Kit Gun" with pre-war features, such as a leaf mainspring, no barrel rib, and pre-war sights and short grip. Improved post war I frames looked the same except for the strain screw and leaf spring. Bottom is the New model I-Frame "Model of 1953" with obvious longer J frame size grip.

KitGunsCompared004.jpg


This photo shows a Model 63 J frame (top) compared to Model of 1953 I frame; notice shorter frame and cylinder on the I frame.

KitGunsCompared003.jpg
 
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Amityslim said:
The picture looks VERY much like the one above. Seller had rubber on it but said he found the original grips, numbered to the gun, so they're coming. Should be next week. Thanks, all, for the info. I note the request for pics.
Click to expand...

You are definitely in the right posting area and will love that Jewel you found. It will have a 3 screw sideplate (including the screw under the right grip), probably stamped Mod 35 and is the very last I frame change before going to the J frame in 1960. Mine is just after yours at # 63983.
 
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I just bought a pre-35 but have to wait 8-10 weeks to take possession if it (quirky NY gun law). Mine's coming with the original box, a plain dark blue two piece, serial number written on bottom in black grease pencil. The label is for a 22/32 Kit Gun, Round Butt, 2" Barrel but that has been overstamped to a Square butt and 6" Barrel. Stocks are numbered to the gun. Gun is about 90-95%. Be interesting to see how it shoots compared to a K frame .22.
 
Have the gun now. It is a M35 no dash, serial 63432. Coil mainspring, 3 screw. Diamonds numbered to the gun and very closely fitted. It's wearing a nicely figured set of later smooth factory J-frame targets which fit fine, though with a little bit of room below the grip frame base. Waiting for the rain to stop so I can shoot it. Thanks for the great info, felllas. Pics will follow.
 
Congrats!! Based on the serial number it shipped in late '62 - early '63: # 61037 shipped in Oct 1962 and 63983 shipped in 1963. That's a couple of years after all the I frames including the Mod 35 as the 35-1 were produced on the J frame. The target grips all have a little bit of room below the grip frame base.
 
Great find! That's the "spiritual successor" to the pre-War Bekearts and Heavy Frame Targets. It is one of the all-time great fun guns that S&W ever built, and certainly one of the most desirable J-frames out there. :)

Or you could just hate it and send it to me for adoption, either way would be OK! :rolleyes:

Congratulations,
Froggie
 
My pre-35 (1956 #24266) is a wonderful shooter, better than I expected. The sights were slightly off and each time I adjusted them the group moved accordingly, including the one group adjusted the wrong way (down instead of up). The final five shots in the bull, three in a cluster, at 15 paces.
I have high hopes for gopher season!
It came with original grips but the targets slipped right on and are a welcome addition for shooting.
Withtarget-.jpg


Shown here with a 1953 kit gun (1955 #13278).
Kit22-32-.jpg
 
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vrichard said:
Does all the Mdl. 35 & 35-1 have the ser.# on the face of the Cyl?
Dick
Click to expand...

No it would be unusual for a Model stamped 34 or 35 to have the ser. # on the cylinder and definitely not on the -1 guns. However, the last ser.# location to be stamped (besides the butt and backside of right stock of course) was the backside of the extractor star and can be found up into the late '60s on this and most Smith models. This was before the serial # was stamped in the yoke by the Model # (which was done by c.1958).

Serial # stamping on all major parts began phasing out as early as # 23434 on the 22/32 pre models.
 
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