1950 vintage Terrier

[Toyman]

I found this at Las Vegas Antique Arms Show. The finish look better than the photo. Serial number in 57000 serial number range. The grips number to the gun. When I can get a ship date it should be in 1950.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Tasty! Would fit nice in a front pocket.

 

[66f100]

Nice! Mine's 58900, got the coil spring. Buffalo Bore makes a nice round for it. If you want to try it out.

 

[Marshal Tom]

That's a birth year gun for me and it's my birthday on Feb. 11th. You still have time to get it here. I like it a lot!

 

[Jakerin]

Mine has a five digit s/n but it starts with two 9s.

 

[JH1951]

additional information

Here's #57103
Pretty close # perhaps....

38/32 Terrier 6-screw, post-war production (shipped likely in the second half of 1950), satin blue, number matching throughout including the box.

 

[Green Frog]

I was looking for that gun when assembling my trio of “little guns”. I ended up with a preWar Terrier, a 32 snub HE and my Baby Chiefs Special. They all three feel exactly the same when grabbed in a hurry though… just as I’d hoped! I’ve got a picture around here somewhere of them arranged in a pinwheel design. I’ll try to post it.
Froggie

 

[RKmesa]

Roy:

That's a GREAT Gun!!! Congrats!

For reference, SN 56044 shipped in September 1950. Here are a few photos...

 

[Jakerin]

Can some one tell me how to post a larger photo?

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Video Tutorials on Posting Pictures

 

[Jakerin]

Thanks. My Q was how to post a (larger) picture.

 

[YouveHadYour6]

Nice find OP - I never seem to see Terriers in my neck of the woods but a high condition one is definitely on the 'must' list for the collection.

Enjoy!

 

[moralem]

Mine are called terriers but their serial numbers are much higher….i know mine as model 32s.

 

[jcelect]

Can some one tell me how to post a larger photo?

Use an off site URL to host your pics! You will be able to resize your pics when you download to the URL and then copy/paste the link into a thread!
I use imgur, it's free!
jcelect

 

[bigolddave]

Back when we could still travel, I picked up two with 55 serial numbers about 550 apart. One was in a shop in Houma, LA, and the other was at show about eighty miles away in Northern Illinois. The one LA was tagged as a Chiefs Special, but I recognized it. First gun I bought with my Collectors License.

 

[Toyman]

Dr. Jinks advised shipped October 1957 must have been way back in the vault.

 

[RM Vivas]

I found this at Las Vegas Antique Arms Show. The finish look better than the photo. Serial number in 57000 serial number range. The grips number to the gun. When I can get a ship date it should be in 1950.

I looked at my NYCPD list of Terriers and the ones in the 57xxx range have the following sales dates.

57016 2/21/1951
57046 3/20/1951
57062 2/26/1951
57066 12/18/1950
57069 11/22/1950
57078 11/24/1950
57138 3/5/1951
57172 3/8/1951
57213 12/15/1950
57216 11/15/1950
57235 12/8/1950
57257 11/10/1950
57266 11/10/1950
57267 11/17/1950
57281 11/17/1950
57290 11/9/1950
57291 11/9/1950
57297 11/8/1950
57303 11/9/1950
57306 11/15/1950
57307 3/19/1951
57310 11/9/1950
57315 11/20/1950
57316 11/22/1950
57319 11/6/1950
57321 3/7/1950
57324 11/27/1950
57345 11/15/1950
57354 12/15/1950
57355 12/15/1950
57366 12/5/1950
57401 12/20/1950
57402 12/15/1950
57412 11/27/1950
57424 2/23/1951
57432 2/16/1951
57434 2/27/1951
57439 3/19/1951
57442 12/12/1950
57446 Not on my copy
57458 2/28/1951
57461 3/19/1951
57462 3/8/1951
57466 2/28/1951
57467 2/15/1951
57468 2/19/1951
57472 3/15/1951
57478 3/16/1951
57482 3/10/1951
57483 3/6/1951
57491 12/12/1950
57497 2/21/1951
57505 2/26/1951
57512 12/15/1950
57517 12/12/1950
57551 2/21/1951
57557 2/20/1951
57595 3/16/1951
57603 12/12/1950
57612 2/15/1951
57614 2/26/1951
57615 2/16/1951
57618 2/17/1951
57621 2/24/1951
57626 3/6/1951
57631 2/19/1951
57661 12/27/1950
57669 1/4/1951
57673 12/12/1950
57678 12/14/1950
57683 12/12/1950
57687 12/15/1950
57704 12/22/1950
57718 12/16/1950
57740 11/27/1950
57741 12/12/1950
57746 12/7/1950
57750 12/15/1950
57753 12/13/1950
57772 12/7/1950
57777 12/12/1950
57787 12/4/1950
57788 12/22/1950
57809 12/12/1950
57812 11/14/1950
57821 12/30/1950
57825 12/18/1950
57827 12/12/1950
57834 3/2/1951
57847 12/12/1950
57849 11/30/1950
57856 12/14/1950
57863 4/2/1951
57869 1/2/1951
57879 12/15/1950
57880 11/22/1950
57893 2/23/1951
57899 2/23/1951
57905 2/15/1951
57910 3/19/1951
57931 3/1/1951
57949 12/11/1950
57954 3/6/1951
57961 12/15/1950
57968 2/27/1951
57970 3/6/1951
57971 3/20/1951
57975 3/9/1951
57985 2/19/1951
57986 3/31/1951
57987 3/11/1951
57989 2/26/1951
57994 2/15/1951
57996 2/16/1951
57998 3/19/1951

If yours is one of these, let me know.

Best,
RM Vivas

 

[murphydog]

Dr. Jinks advised shipped October 1957 must have been way back in the vault.

They were probably not fast sellers in the era of the Chiefs Special.

 

[RM Vivas]

They were probably not fast sellers in the era of the Chiefs Special.

Ver likely.

Prior to WW2 the .38 S&W seems to have been considered an adequate police cartridge. NYPD went to .38 S&W in 1905 and in 1926 went to .38 Special.

I'm sure that the use of .38 Special during WW2 pretty much sealed the fate of the .38 S&W for on-duty guns.

I have seen some correspondence between dealers and factory lamenting the lack of an offering from S&W equal to the Colt DS in power. These fellows were writing that they thought that a small frame .38 Special would fly out the door if S&W made one.

Given the demand for 2-inch M&P's during the war, I'm surprised it took S&W as long as it did to come out with th Chiefs Special.

Back orders kept them busy till 1948 but still, you'd think there would be something on the drawing table ready to go.

Best,
RM Vivas

 

[raljr1]

I had this one #55522 shipped in July 1950. Turned out to be a birth month gun for a fellow forum member, so I let him buy it.