Pre War Terrier

red9 · #1 10-04-2016, 10:13 AM

While at the auction trying to buy 357 ammo (previous thread), I came across this .38 Terrier. Not what I normally collect, but cute. Another example of carried a lot but not fired much.
Something I have noticed on pre war M&P snubs - they went to the small knob years before the longer barrels. Was this a question of barrel strength?

Bob

DWalt · #2 10-04-2016, 10:23 AM

No - actually there is no knob, just a knurled tip. It would be impractical to have a knob for use on such a short-barreled revolver, as it shortens an already short extraction stroke. Snubbies always had the knurled rod tip, but it didn't migrate to the other revolvers in the S&W line until shortly after WWII.

RKmesa · #3 10-04-2016, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red9

I came across this .38 Terrier. Not what I normally collect, but cute.

That is the same reason I picked this one up (happens to be the same configuration as yours)...

... my guess is that they are also in the same SN range - mine's SN 53558.

DCWilson · #4 10-04-2016, 10:56 AM

A great acquisition! Prewar Terriers are extremely cool and not at all numerous.

I track these. Would you be willing to share the serial number? So far in nearly three years of research I have come up with the numbers of only 37 of them, with two more whose numbers could not be captured. Total prewar production probably did not exceed 2000 and may not even have gone above half that.

red9 · #5 10-04-2016, 12:30 PM

#51465. Butt, barrel & cylinder match, stocks not numbered. I wish it looked like Richard's.

Bob

DCWilson · #6 10-04-2016, 12:46 PM

Thanks, Bob. Richard has a lot of specimens that others wish their guns looked like.

raljr1 · #7 11-05-2016, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCWilson

Thanks, Bob. Richard has a lot of specimens that others wish their guns looked like.

Knowing that life isn't fair does not make it any more palatable.

Green Frog · #8 11-05-2016, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCWilson

A great acquisition! Prewar Terriers are extremely cool and not at all numerous.

I track these. Would you be willing to share the serial number? So far in nearly three years of research I have come up with the numbers of only 37 of them, with two more whose numbers could not be captured. Total prewar production probably did not exceed 2000 and may not even have gone above half that.

David,

I can't remember whether I've ever sent you the SN of my sole example of a pre-War Terrier.

Please let me know for sure and I'll dig it out and send you a PM if you still need it.

Froggie

Hondo44 · #9 11-05-2016, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red9

While at the auction trying to buy 357 ammo (previous thread), I came across this .38 Terrier. Not what I normally collect, but cute. Another example of carried a lot but not fired much.
Something I have noticed on pre war M&P snubs - they went to the small knob years before the longer barrels. Was this a question of barrel strength?

Bob

Bob, that's a great find and a very decent example.

No, not a factor of barrel strength, but indirect factor of barrel length. Since the length determines the extractor rod length, there's not much rod to push out cases. Therefore the rod knob was deleted so the full length of the straight rod can be pushed flush with the front of the yoke.

It was certainly faster and easier to just knurl the tip of the rod. So after WW II when S&W was seeking many other "production efficiencies" (read that "cost cutting"), it was soon adopted on all hand ejector models.

DCWilson · #10 11-06-2016, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Green Frog

David,

I can't remember whether I've ever sent you the SN of my sole example of a pre-War Terrier.

Please let me know for sure and I'll dig it out and send you a PM if you still need it.

Froggie

Thanks, Froggie. You did indeed send it to me a while back. Much appreciated.