Nice pre-Model 31 nickel

VictorLouis

VictorLouis

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This little gal is s/n 635***. My SCofSW is a 2nd edition. That said, it reads:

1953 Improved I-frame deletes trigger and strain screw
1955 Eliminate upper sideplate screw s/n of 640980
1956 Improved ramp front sight

It also indicates 3.25" barrel as one of the lengths. This gal's s/n would indicate the '53-era, due to only three screws. However, it clearly has the ramp, rather than the round front sight. The barrel measures barely 3". :D
 

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That’s a beauty!

Much new information has come to light since the 2nd edition.

You have a Model of 1953 New I Frame .32 RP. It’s a 4 screw counting the side plate screw under the right side stock.

The 3 1/4” barrel was standardized to 3” at the same time the ramp front sight and barrel rib were added in 1952 making it the Improved I frame, 2nd version, the immediate predecessor to your Model of 1953 New I Frame.

Congrats and enjoy!
 
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Pre model 31

VictorLouis said:
This little gal is s/n 635***. My SCofSW is a 2nd edition. That said, it reads:

1953 Improved I-frame deletes trigger and strain screw
1955 Eliminate upper sideplate screw s/n of 640980
1956 Improved ramp front sight

It also indicates 3.25" barrel as one of the lengths. This gal's s/n would indicate the '53-era, due to only three screws. However, it clearly has the ramp, rather than the round front sight. The barrel measures barely 3". :D[/QUOTE


Very nice .32. I have a pre model 30. 2” blue. Made in 1955. My 1969 S&W catalog shows a 4” barrel for the model 31 illustration. It is nice to see a longer barrel on these guns and I also do like the looks of the 3” barrel on an improved I or J frame. Also have a .32 RP 4” nickel made in 1940 and a 3.5”. blue made in 1924. Nickel doesn’t show up often on these guns. Yours sure looks nice. I really enjoy shooting.32s. I am all set with dies, brass,bullets and primers and have tuned in to reloading this caliber. Working with W231 and a 100 gr RNFP with data from Speer manual.

Looking to a J frame or Colt .32. I also reload for .38 S&W. Both calibers are fun to shoot.
Click to expand...
 
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Was the New I Frame actually a J frame before the frame designation? I don't have the new catalogue but I do have a model 31. It sure looks like a J frame to me but then I'm just a stranger passin through. ;)

Anyway, that's hipster cool.
 
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LostintheOzone said:
Was the New I Frame actually a J frame before the frame designation? I don't have the new catalogue but I do have a model 31. It sure looks like a J frame to me but then I'm just a stranger passin through. ;)

Anyway, that's hipster cool.
Click to expand...

I may not have all of this correct but here it goes:
The I frame began with the model 1903 Hand Ejector. It was replaced in 1917 by the .32 Hand Ejector round butt and .32 Regulation Police round butt with rebated lower back strap and square butt stocks. Regulation Police barrel lengths were 4” and 3.5” . Offered in both .32 S&W long and .38 S&W.

The Regulation Police and Hand Ejector models continued until 1942. Returned after the war with some improvements including new hammer block design .

After further post war improvements the I frame became the basis for the first J frame. The cylinder window and frame were lengthened to accommodate a.38 Spl cylinder. The hight of the frame was raised and the flat main spring was replaced with a coil spring. The first Chief Specials had the same half moon front sight and short round trigger guard as I frame. By 1955 the magna stocks, lengthened trigger guard , coil spring and ramp front sight were used on the improved I frame as well as the J frame. The frame nose and cylinder window on the I frames remained shorter than the J frames. The guns made before the introduction of model numbers were known as pre model number guns. Numbers 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35 with no dash were assigned to the I frame guns. From 1961 onward all of .22, .32 and .38 S&W small frame guns would be built on the same J frame as the Chief Special. These catalog numbers would now have a -1.

The .32 cal models were 30-1 for the Hand Ejector which offered 2”, 3” and 4 “ barrel lengths and round butt. Model 31-1 with 2” , 3” and 4” barrels and square butt.

The .38 S&W models were Model 32-1 Terrior 2” barrel round butt only and model 33-1 4” barrel square butt only.
 
VictorLouis said:
Thank you, Jim!
Click to expand...

The quick and easy way to tell the difference between the I & J frame is to measure the length of the cylinder. The I frame is 1.25” and the longer J frame is 1.40”. It’s a little hard to eyeball the difference but if you put them side by side, it’s obvious.

My model 31 is identical to yours except mine is blued. A warning though, the 32’s can be very addictive! One will not be enough!
 
LostintheOzone said:
Was the New I Frame actually a J frame before the frame designation? I don't have the new catalogue but I do have a model 31. It sure looks like a J frame to me but then I'm just a stranger passin through. ;)

Anyway, that's hipster cool.
Click to expand...

No. The model 31 is an I frame, the model 31-1 is a J frame. The J frame is 1/8” longer in the cylinder window and horizontal frame length. In 1953 the new I frame and new J frame both received 1/8” longer grip frames and an enlarged trigger guard. The I frames became J frames in 1961 and the model #s had a dash 1 added to them.
 
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