Another example of an auction site that "don't know jack" about what they have.
To the benefit of forum members in the know who do their due diligence. Knowledge is power, in the pre internet days when there were fewer collectors and guys actually Read & spoke, shared information with other collectors a collector who was very diligent in his pursuit really had to rely on his wit and sources.
It's an early example but has the hard rubber Target stocks of the era. The other ones I've seen had a similar style but in walnut with gold medallions.
As others have stated it appears to be a .22/32 HFT from the first run of 1,050. If in fact it is, then according to my database, 138693 shipped on 7-14-1911 to J. Pritslaff Hardware in Milwaukee, WI.
Looks like a Paine front sight and therefore should have a U notch rear sight. It is wearing the black hard rubber stocks that could be original as some did ship that way. It should have a small S&W logo on the left side.
The 2 closest Bekeart shipped guns are 138686 and 138696 that both shipped in the 6-30-1911 shipment.
Love to know what that gun brought at auction if you are willing to share. Unless pristine, I have seen several sit for sale for a year or more without selling.
As others have stated it appears to be a .22/32 HFT from the first run of 1,050. If in fact it is, then according to my database, 138693 shipped on 7-14-1911 to J. Pritslaff Hardware in Milwaukee, WI....
Love to know what that gun brought at auction if you are willing to share. Unless pristine, I have seen several sit for sale for a year or more without selling.
Thank you for this information. I knew is was a first run of .22/32 HFT. Be nice if it was one of the 294 shipped to Bekeart, wearing the rubber stocks I though most likely not. I paid $932AUD (equals $620USD).
That seems to be right in the ballpark of those that do sell. NIB with the box can bring over $2,000 but they are rare. Not sure why they never really caught on unless a true Bekeart shipped gun......
So, for us less knowledgeable people that are striving to become more knowledgeable what is it specifically?
For those less knowledgeable striving to become more knowledgeable, the very best approach is to build a complete library-----as I did over the years---and years-----and years.
On the other hand, in this age of hurry up and hurry up more, this can be accomplished with one big fat book titled Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson.
Rather than hurry up and hurry up more, alternative #1 is to do nothing until July, when the 5th edition is due to hit the streets. The term "big fat book" may be translated to "wretched excess", but given the desire to learn/know pretty much anything about ANY S&W product---right from the get-go, this is the answer.
I know these things, because I have all of them--starting in 1996, when I walked into the first NRA Collectors Arms Show in Nashville to be met by a table full of books I'd never heard of----piled high! It was a book. It said Smith & Wesson on the cover. I snapped it up!
It's probably the best one of all the editions if for no other reason than it's not big and fat, and easier to carry around. Subsequent editions are best transported via a little red wagon---but like I said, they contain pretty much anything about ANY S&W product----including those you couldn't care less about!
"Some's good, more's better, and too much is just right!"
It said Smith & Wesson on the cover. I snapped it up!
It's probably the best one of all the editions if for no other reason than it's not big and fat, and easier to carry around.
I agree, Ralph...To illustrate your point here is my first edition, in pristine almost unopened condition, compared to my well-thumbed 4th edition...My 1st edition, signed by Jim Supica in 1996, was lying in plain sight on a one-table display at last year's Wanenmacher Tulsa show, and for the princely sum of $25 it was mine...I no sooner got it back to my table than my old friend, Bill Edmiston who authored parts of the S&W knife section in the later editions walked by...Knowing he had a hand in the subsequent (and fatter) volumes, I asked him to autograph mine also, to which he graciously complied...
My pre-order for the 5th edition is in place, and I look forward to adding it to my shelf......Ben
"-------in pristine almost unopened condition,---------------."
Aye, and there's the rub! My 1st is the same---the book jacket/dust cover is even the same---and I used it A LOT!!!
Fast forwarding to my 4th, it's literally coming apart----broken; and I haven't used it hardly at all---comparatively speaking, and it's beat all to hell! The only thing I ever did to it physically was to stick colored index tabs here and there so I could find my way around in the different sections in short order.
I decided they got a really good deal (good for them, bad for us) from the book binder----and it had to be different from the folks who did the 1st/2nd/3rd. I hope the 5th stands the test of time in better condition.
RCT269,
I completely agree with you, I have a well-used 3rd edition on my desk that gets used frequently. Now that I know there is a new addition coming out this summer, I will get one soon as their available. Plus, I have a variety of other reference book.
When reading a thread like this one if I have a question that I think others will benefit from I tend to ask it in open forum, otherwise I send a PM to the original poster. Frequently the explanation that is provided here is more complete and easier to understand than the answer in the books.
Interesting auction item
...Ben
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