I have been sitting on this terrier for about 4 months mabey more, And never got it out to the range.
Well this day was different, I took a friend and his wife out to shoot, She never shot before being raised in China, Never had the oppertunity.
He shot a 45 about 15 years ago.
Well we started with a 4" 34, and then moved up to the terrier.
I am used to shooting my top break smith in 38 S&W so had plenty of ammo around,,, She absolutely loved this gun and shot it like a pro. Neat little guy that allows you to empty the cylinder on target like a professional shooter!!!
This LIL bugger is #828** and seems to date to 1956.
Well it appears to be happy with it's use today at the range!!!
Nice little pup!

Peter.

__________________
Need 1/2 moon Chiefs special

I have been sitting on this terrier for about 4 months mabey more, And never got it out to the range.
Well this day was different, I took a friend and his wife out to shoot, She never shot before being raised in China, Never had the oppertunity.
He shot a 45 about 15 years ago.
Well we started with a 4" 34, and then moved up to the terrier.
I am used to shooting my top break smith in 38 S&W so had plenty of ammo around,,, She absolutely loved this gun and shot it like a pro. Neat little guy that allows you to empty the cylinder on target like a professional shooter!!!
This LIL bugger is #828** and seems to date to 1956.
Well it appears to be happy with it's use today at the range!!!
Nice little pup!

Peter.

__________________
Need 1/2 moon Chiefs special

Very nice this is the first one of these I have seen, its a beautiful Terrier.

Sounds like a great day and kudos for introducing a new person to shooting. I like the Terrier also, fun to shoot and very mild. Here is a photo of mine, a bit older with the half-moon sight. John

__________________
John. SWCA #1586

Thanks for sharing your appreciation of the little Improved 'I' frame. I too have an affinity for the '50s small frames (actually addiction). Below is my accumulation, albeit none in .38 S&W. All my .38 S&W calibers are breaktops including a 3 1/2" Perfected Model. But in the 2nd photo you'll see my equivalent to yours in .32 cal.; a joy to shoot also.

Jim


.32 Reg. Police Postwar Target 'I' frame:



This is a 1957 era .32 Regulation Police Target 'I' frame with small trigger guard and leaf mainspring (pre Improved 'I' frame and pre model 31), #657XXX (stamped on front grip strap above the strain screw a+nd matching all other #'d parts inc. grips), 4", pre war/early postwar rebated rear grip strap with post war type checkering border on round top stocks with curved medallions. One of 196 made on left over pre war 'I' frames. You'll notice pre war sights w/Pre War steel/nickel plated sight adjusting tool to fit sight screws, pre war/early post war hammer, post war grooved trigger, and 3rd type post war (post 1966 for J frames) non-sculpted thumbpiece! Pictured w/1920, 2 screw target stocks w/gold medallions. A very convoluted transition model for sure. Brief details of these 196 guns are on page 128, 3rd edition, Standard Catalog of S&W, Supica and Nahas.









.32s Starting top left:



.32 HE Mod 1903-5th change, 1915, 3 1/4", 'I' frame, factory pearl grips with gold medallions just like pictured inside the flip top lid of the original brown box (not shown). Thumbpiece is beautifully sculpted AND relieved under checkered flare like thumbpieces on all prewar frame sizes. Given to me by my grandfather. He had no idea what an expensive addiction he's been responsible for!



.32 HE Reg. Police Postwar (.32s are not stamped Reg. Police on barrel like .38/32 S&W CTG guns), 'I' frame (leaf mainspring, short grip frame), 1946-47 (frame Serial # stamped on front grip strap above the strain screw, matching all other parts inc. grips), 3 1/4", prewar rebated round butt grip frame with prewar checkering border on round top sq butt stocks w/post war curved medallions, smooth trigger. Type 1 postwar sculpted thumbpiece (not relieved on back under checkering like the prewars.



.32 HE 3rd Model Postwar, 2", Improved 'I' frame (coil mainspring but still short RB grip, still 5 screw), all matching #s, pre 1954, prewar/early postwar hammer, grooved trigger, 1/2 penny sight, magna stocks, postwar type 2 semi-sculpted thumbpiece (pre flat latch). Prewar factory round top pearls look nice on it!



.32s Top right:



.32 HE 3rd Model Postwar, 3", made 1954, same as above except serrated ramp front sight w/rib and 2nd type flat latch.



.32 Reg. Police Postwar (pre M31), 3", made 1956, all matching #s inc. stocks, 2nd type Improved 'I' frame (4 screw, coil mainspring, new larger egg shaped trigger guard and new longer square butt grip that was 1st introduced in 1952 on the Chiefs Special), prewar/early postwar hammer, ramp/rib sight, 3rd and last style 'tall' flat latch (used thru 1966 on all 2nd type Imp.'I' frames and later 'J' frame Chief's Specials), w/original Red Box (not shown).



.32 Reg. Police Postwar Target 'I' frame pictured 1st and described above.



.32 Model 31-1, J frame Reg. Police, made 1981, not pinned or recessed, 3", 3 screw. Came with the late '50s style course checkered .240" flat sided hammer but a centerfire, case colored .340" target hammer is installed (only available in 1989 on Chief's Spl. Target Model 36-6, 3" full lug barrel, with black matte finish) and an optional smooth .340" J frame combat trigger installed (not the .312" smooth one that came standard on J frames after about 1985 or so, prior to the .312" MIM smooth triggers of the '90s). Shown with it's '80s last type tool kit and blue box (not shown).









.22s Starting Top Left:



Model of 1953 .22/32 Kit Gun Pre-Model 34, 2nd type Improved 'I' frame (4 screw, coil mainspring, new .375" wide course checkered target hammer, 1/4" longer RB grip frame or 1/2" longer sq butt grip frame and egg shaped trigger guard), 4", RB Magna stocks, all #s matching inc. stocks, 'tall' 3rd and last type flat latch, optional .400" grooved target trigger installed, shown with original brass thread tools and short blued 8 band sight adjusting tool, in original blue starburst box (not shown).



Model 34 .22/32 Kit Gun, stamped 'Mod 34' (no dash #), made 1957, 2nd type Improved 'I' frame, 3 screw, 4", serial numbered only on the butt and with matching # stamped on inside of right stock, .375" wide target hammer, came with 'tall' 3rd and last type flat latch but has a prewar sculpted thumbpiece installed, optional .400" grooved target trigger installed, new style square butt grip frame, (original stocks shown removed from gun), wearing modified factory J frame target stocks shortened to be flush with butt of grip frame and with wood over rear grip strap eliminated, original brass thread tools and knurled aluminum 9 band sight adjusting tool.



Model 34-1 .22/32 Kit Gun, made 1971, 2", J frame (1/8" longer frame window and cylinder), stamped 'Mod 34' so close to edge of yoke that the '-1' is missing, made 1971, .375" wide target hammer, block type third and final postwar style thumbpiece used on all Smiths after 1966 (ending with the introduction of the asymmetrical style in the '90s), optional .400" grooved target trigger installed, un-numbered original SB stocks (no diamond; eliminated 1968), with fluted alum., spade tipped sight adjusting tool, alum. thread cleaning tools (not shown) in original Bangor Punta blue box (not shown).



Model 34-2 .22/32 Kit Gun, made 1988, 4 1/8" barrel (together with 1/8" longer frame, making this model 1/4" longer overall than the 1957 2nd style Improved 'I' frame with 4" barrel above), new style standard smooth .312" wide combat trigger, new narrower .350" wide target hammer, added 2008 S&W "Classic Revolver" production copy of prewar sculpted style thumbpiece, square butt grip frame wearing modified factory J frame target stocks, shortened to be flush with butt of grip frame and with wood over rear grip strap eliminated, fluted alum., hollow ground tipped (last style) sight adjusting tool, alum thread cleaning tools (not shown) in original new style one piece blue box (not shown). Extra pair of unmodified full size factory J frame target stocks shown.




.38s Top Right:



Lady Smith 3rd Model, .22 S&W Long, 7 shot, 3", 'M' frame, added just for scale.



.38 Spl., Chief's Special, 1952 (2nd year), 'J' frame (also known as Baby 'J' frame, with small rounded trigger guard and shorter, 'I' frame size RB grip), 2", 2nd model with Ramped front sight and barrel rib, prewar/early postwar type hammer and 1st style flat latch (actually the 1st 60 Chiefs used the post 1966 style but went thru all three styles of the flat latch ending in 1966).



.38 Chief's Special, 1971, tapered 3" barrel, with optional .340" smooth combat trigger installed, sq butt.



.38 Chief's Special, 1971, 2" barrel, sq butt.

__________________
Jim
S&WCA #819

Peter,
That's a beauty. Is it stamped Mod 32? Does it still have serial #s on all major parts?
Thx,
Jim

__________________
Jim
S&WCA #819

Yup All #s match and it has "32" under the crane!
Now I NEED a M frame .22.
Peter.

__________________
Need 1/2 moon Chiefs special

Peter,
Yes a nice crowd and a great forum due to the efforts of 'Handejector'.

I asked about serial #s because of all the transition models I have, not one has both the model # stamped and serial #s on all major parts. So your little prize is unique.

I looked long and hard for a nice blue M frame .22. Just a caution; if you're in the market for one, beware that since the cylinders have 'charge holes' instead of modern chambers (with the shoulder machined for the cartridge case neck) many were fired with .22 long RIFLE cartridges. And since it's designed for only .22 Long, be sure the barrel forcing cone is not split!

Jim

__________________
Jim
S&WCA #819

Beautiful Terrier! Still kicking myself in the butt for not buying one of those when I had the chance to. Enjoy!

Here is a pic of my Terrier, one of the sweetest little revolvers ever made. It is accurate too.

__________________
To be a rock and not to roll

Here's my little cutie.

That's an early postwar. Have you determined when it was born? If not, give me a partial serial #.

Thx,
Jim

__________________
Jim
S&WCA #819

Serisl number is 553xx.

Made 1949, 1st year of post war production within 1000 numbers from the first post war number. No wonder its has pre war type grips and thumbpiece. Is the thumbpiece relieved under the edges of the checkering?

Jim

__________________
Jim
S&WCA #819