I always found the "Bekeart" 22/32s to be an interesting S&W revolver. A guy named Phil Bekeart, puts 2+2 together, and the model becomes a smash hit for S&W. In addition, these also were the foundation for the K frame 22, since many people must have felt the gun was lacking as a true 22 target revolver due its daintiness. As for the whole "heavy frame" reference, I surmise it was because prior to this model, the only 22 hand ejector gun manufactured by S&W was actually the even more diminutive Lady Smith.
When looking at a Bekeart 22, you can almost tell, even if you don't know S&Ws that well, that it had to be an earlier 22 revolver due to its semi-primitive qualities. I bought one that I found some years back, so I could have an example in my collection, but it has a lot of wear. Since then, I have always wanted a more pristine example, but its one of those S&Ws I don't seek out, even though I like them.
Here is a photo of the man himself, ca 1927, standing in the front office of his shop, 2nd from left.
Here is another shot of his front office. Looks like a lot of great guns are on those walls.
Well as life just so happens, just the other day, I was fortunate enough to have a friend of mine email me about a nice Bekeart model he found online. Sure enough, it was exactly what I was looking for in a Bekeart, within reason: all original, with high condition. Of course I would like a "first shipment" aka "true Bekeart" boxed example, but so would nearly all of us. All of us, except for the lucky few who already have one of those.
I don't have a factory letter, so hopefully it will letter to Bekeart's shop, although I know it likely will not. No refinish markings noted, grips number to gun. SN 225XXX - any idea of a ship date?
It has a very small amount of barrel wear at the muzzle, but for as old as it is, you will see that.
The grips are also pretty nice and number to the gun. They have a few little nicks here and there, but they made it.
If anything is aggravating for me about this revolver, its how someone took a pristine gun such as this one, and got the wrong size screwdriver, to apparently tighten or remove the rear sight. This is one reason why finding nice examples of such guns can be hard - the "wannabe" gunsmith marks, that many guns get in their lifetime.
I liked how the gun is early enough to have the case hardened ejector rod head. I ready that some triple locks also had that. When was that stopped? Or was it done for different amounts of time for different models?
Here it is with the other example in my collection. One might wonder why I would keep the other one now, but I will.
The reason I keep it? Well its one of the first 3000, with the grip number. Its a 163215 SN gun with a grip number of 1255.
I got the letter last fall. Here it is
When looking at a Bekeart 22, you can almost tell, even if you don't know S&Ws that well, that it had to be an earlier 22 revolver due to its semi-primitive qualities. I bought one that I found some years back, so I could have an example in my collection, but it has a lot of wear. Since then, I have always wanted a more pristine example, but its one of those S&Ws I don't seek out, even though I like them.
Here is a photo of the man himself, ca 1927, standing in the front office of his shop, 2nd from left.
Here is another shot of his front office. Looks like a lot of great guns are on those walls.
Well as life just so happens, just the other day, I was fortunate enough to have a friend of mine email me about a nice Bekeart model he found online. Sure enough, it was exactly what I was looking for in a Bekeart, within reason: all original, with high condition. Of course I would like a "first shipment" aka "true Bekeart" boxed example, but so would nearly all of us. All of us, except for the lucky few who already have one of those.
I don't have a factory letter, so hopefully it will letter to Bekeart's shop, although I know it likely will not. No refinish markings noted, grips number to gun. SN 225XXX - any idea of a ship date?
It has a very small amount of barrel wear at the muzzle, but for as old as it is, you will see that.
The grips are also pretty nice and number to the gun. They have a few little nicks here and there, but they made it.
If anything is aggravating for me about this revolver, its how someone took a pristine gun such as this one, and got the wrong size screwdriver, to apparently tighten or remove the rear sight. This is one reason why finding nice examples of such guns can be hard - the "wannabe" gunsmith marks, that many guns get in their lifetime.
I liked how the gun is early enough to have the case hardened ejector rod head. I ready that some triple locks also had that. When was that stopped? Or was it done for different amounts of time for different models?
Here it is with the other example in my collection. One might wonder why I would keep the other one now, but I will.
The reason I keep it? Well its one of the first 3000, with the grip number. Its a 163215 SN gun with a grip number of 1255.
I got the letter last fall. Here it is
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I have heard from several collectors that knew Gary Garbrecht, that he was often heard saying: "If you're going to collect something, you might as well collect all of them..."
