.22/32 Kit Gun Pre-Model 34

[jsmith]

Here is a find that I just made recently at a gun show in Ohio. It is a .22/32 Kit Gun chambered for the .22 Long Rifle. This one is known as the Pre-Model 34. There is no model number stamped inside the yoke. This gun is a 4-screw, has a flat latch thumbpiece, blued finish with a 4" barrel. The grips are the originals and are so numbered to the gun.

The most interesting thing about this gun is the serial number. It is 2249. That's right! A low 4 digit serial number. And all the numbers on the gun match.

This gun is in excellent condition. Chamber and bore are perfect. No rust or pitting! The rifling is strong and clear. There is just a little bit of wear on the bluing at the end of the barrel. Probably holster wear. No scratches, nicks or any other wear on the surface of this gun. This one has been well taken care of. It appears not to have been used much.

The SCSW3 states these guns were made from about 1953-1969 with a serial number range from 101-135465. My gun would probably be in the 1st year of production.

I paid $500 for it and believe it's well worth it. The SCSW3 list it at $600 in excellent condition. Given the excellent condition and low serial number of this gun I couldn't pass it up.

I'm debating on whether or not to have this one factory lettered.

Any comment out there.

jsmith





This is the best shot I can get of the serial number. My camera just doesn't have the resolution for fine details.

 

[kritter]

thats cool,, i have one too also a "pre" 34 and also a four didget 186 away from yours, handy little guns, but the grips were way too small for me,replaced mine with "J" frame target grips

also found in Ohio, but headed out to
Cali...

 

[DCWilson]

Jsmith, that's a great gun at a good price. Congratulations.

kritter, I like yours too. Before you changed grips, were they numbered to the gun?I hope you still have the original ones.

I have been working on a data base of pre-war and post-war transitional kit guns. I hadn't intended to move forward into the pre-34 class of guns, but with specimens as handsome as these two I am tempted to expand the focus.

David Wilson

 

[Hondo44]

Originally posted by jsmith:
The SCSW3 states these guns were made from about 1953-1969 with a serial number range from 101-135465. My gun would probably be in the 1st year of production.

I'm debating on whether or not to have this one factory lettered.

Any comment out there.

jsmith QUOTE]

You have a dandy at a good price. It's a "Model of 1953 22/32 Kit Gun" made on the "New" I frame, the 4 screw made from 1953 to 1961. These have an 1/8" longer grip frame, an even longer new square butt grip frame option, and an enlarged trigger guard from the previous "Improved I Frame". In 1961 they were changed to J frames with 1/8" longer cyls and the barrels went from 4" to 4 1/8". I have one identical to yours #21085 and a Model 34 (pre dash) with sq butt #63983. I lke the J frame targets as well but cut down as shown below.

Get the letter.

 

[ButchG17]

I have one of those also! I've been told it's a 'Model of 1953', and the serial number is 29681 (can anyone put a date on it for me?).

And here it is next to my J frame Model 34-1

 

[Hondo44]

Originally posted by ButchG17:
I have one of those also! I've been told it's a 'Model of 1953', and the serial number is 29681 (can anyone put a date on it for me?).

And here it is next to my J frame Model 34-1

You have a real pair of "screamers" there. Very nice!
In 1955 production began at #11000 and 1959 began at #52673. So made between the end of '55 and prior to the end of 1958. However we can pin it down a little closer.
Does your gun have 3 or 4 sideplate screws?
Is it stamped Mod 34 in the yoke?
And lastly is the serial number stamped under the barrel, on the rear face of the cylinder, under the ejector star and on the back edge of the yoke looking thru one of the chambers, as well as on the butt?

You're correct, these Model of 1953 New I frames were introduced in 1953 and until they were designated Model 34 and stamped as such in 1957, the factory name for them was the Model of 1953 .22/32 Kit Gun; labeled by collectors as the "Pre-Model 34".
They became the Model 34-1 in 1961 when they were introduced on the J frame.

 

[ButchG17]

Nope, no model number, three screw, and the only places with serial numbers are the bottom of the grip frame and inside the right grip panel.

It does have one thing I've not seen much though...the letters 'DG' stamped on the inside of the crane under the assembly number.

Thanks!

 

[Hondo44]

ButchG17:

Based on my observations and study of this model, my estimation would be a late '56 or early '57 production. That's based on serial #, S&W elimination of the 4th sideplate screw in 1956, elimination of muti-serial numbers in '56, and the introduction of Model #s in 1957.

Please recognize, however, that when it comes to S&W production, "the main rule is, there are no rules"! If you haven't heard that before it means that it is not uncommon for guns with later serial numbers to have features of guns that are much earlier in the serial # sequence. The factory did not care one iota whether or not their guns were produced in sequence for us collectors' benefit. It's known for a fact that guns were produced in batches and shipping date sequence had little correlation to feature changes, serial # sequence or actual completion date of the guns.

The DG is typical of an assembler or inspectors stamp/intials and irrelevant to the vintage or features on the gun for all practical purposes.

 

[ButchG17]

Thanks Jim, sounds quite accurate to me!

 

[jsmith]

I did decide to get my .22/32 Kit Gun factory lettered. Just mailed it out on 6/21/2009. When I get it I will post it here.

When I took my concealed carry class just recently, this is the gun I used. Quite a few people in the class liked that gun, especially it being a low serial number.

jsmith

 

[depicts]

I have a few Model 34s, but this Pre-34, 1953 Kit Gun is my favorite. It's a 4 screw, 2" barrel with 1 1/4" cylinder length. It's SN 8264

 

[jsmith]

Two-Page Factory Letter - 7/7/2009

My letters arrived in the mail on the same day as the date on the letter. I have been busy of late but finally getting around to posting it here.

An unusual surprise is my factory letter came back as two pages. This gun now resides about 50 miles away [still in Ohio] from where it was originally shipped to in Youngstown, Ohio. It hasn't travelled very far in its life. I bought this gun privately at a small gun show not that far from Youngstown.

To protect my privacy and to discourage any offers on buying my guns, I used a small piece of black paper to cover up my name and address on the letter.

Here is page 1 of that letter:

Here is page 2 of that letter:

 

[jsmith]

Does anyone else have any Pre-34's they would like to share?

 

[cush]

Not a pre 34 but...

Here's an early model marked 34. I'm guessing that one is from about 1957 due to the fact that it is model marked, but has serial number 369XX. I've not lettered it.

 

[MJS5678]

Here's another from 1954, #3185, also in Ohio.

 

[Jimmymac46]

Jsmith, thanks for posting the letter you received from Smith. I acquired a 4" 22/32 kit gun about 20 years ago from a collector in Washington State. It is vintage 1938 and while a round butt, has the over sized optional target grips. Your letter helped me confirm a few things I have read but was not sure about. Hearing directly from Jenks is all I need to answer my questions.

 

[617fan]

I recently purchased a Model 34 (no dash) SN 387xx. From what I can tell by whats been posted here so far, it looks like it might put it somehwere around 58-59 vintage. I just requested a letter and will post the results when I receive them.

The Mrs. laid immediate claim to this sweet little revolver.

 

[mnrivrat]

Pre-Model 34

Here is a 2 inch sn 26138

Anyone know value or other info on this one ? Sn is on butt and back of cylinder. 3 screw side plate. DOB perhaps 1956 ?

 

[jsmith]

mnrivrat - Your guess as to DOB is probably right within a year. The 4th screw was deleted in 1955 and the frames were not stamped Model 34 until 1957. There were over 135,000 Pre-Model 34's built so they are not particularly hard to obtain. What I can add is you have a real nice looking gun in excellent condtion. Value I would say about $500-$600. Nice condition .22/32 Kit Guns seem to always command more money.

jsmith

 

[Smee78]

Pre 34 I frame

I bought one of the little I frames a few years back and shot it once and put it in the safe and did not really think about it untill I was reorganizing my safe and I pulled it out and was looking at it. I found this thread and was looking at the little pre 34 and found that it is a 4 screw, with matching serial numbers on the bottom of the barrel, the cylinder and the bottom of the frame with no model number stamped in the frame. SN 190XX. I'm guessing it is a 1955 model? The grips that came with the gun were aftermarket plastic grips and the were cracked and taped, so I put a set of j frame grips on it. The double action is real stiff and the single action is great. I perfer the double action of my Smith 34 vs the pre 34.

 

[DCWilson]

I bought one of the little I frames a few years back and shot it once and put it in the safe and did not really think about it untill I was reorganizing my safe and I pulled it out and was looking at it. I found this thread and was looking at the little pre 34 and found that it is a 4 screw, with matching serial numbers on the bottom of the barrel, the cylinder and the bottom of the frame with no model number stamped in the frame. SN 190XX. I'm guessing it is a 1955 model? The grips that came with the gun were aftermarket plastic grips and the were cracked and taped, so I put a set of j frame grips on it. The double action is real stiff and the single action is great. I prefer the double action of my Smith 34 vs the pre 34.

Double action operation of these small frame guns can be pretty stiff. I have a couple of prewar Kit Guns (the ancestor of the Pre-34 and Model 34 KGs we're talking about here), and they are not easy to work smoothly in DA. On the other hand, as you note, SA operation is sweet.

The larger square butt or extension target stocks help with hand geometry and smooth out the pull a little on these tiny revolvers, but I think you would get most benefit from opening the gun and cleaning the action thoroughly. In particular the trigger rebound slide and spring could use some attention if oil from decades ago has mixed with carbon residue and dust to become a varnish-like deposit. If the frame or trigger rebound slide is rough where the two surfaces slide on each other, you might want to dress that up too.

Yes, about 1955 for your gun, or early 1956.

My two kit guns can be seen in my album, along with a contemporary .22/32 Target model with extension stocks: S&W Forum - DCWilson's Album: I-Frames

 

[Engine49guy]

My Grandfather left me an original 22/32 grip numbered Beakert.
It has unfortunately seen better days and is retired from active service.

Looking closely you can see grip number 567.

I have yet to have it lettered, But from what I have gathered it appears to fall within the original Beakert SN# range.

On a side note I picked up a J frame 34-1 square butt serialed to 1969 recently.
The weird part is its serial no# at 118XXX is much lower than a J frame model 37 in my collection from 1957 with sn# 177xxx.
Go figure?
Cheers

 

[beemaze]

Very informative thread! Here's some pics of mine SN 217XX.

Mine did not come with the original diamond round butt grips, but has a pair of square butt grips that don't fit too well as you can clearly see. I'm wondering if any round butt J-frame grip will fit (the previous owner said he took some grips off his Model 10 and that they fit fine but he sold it to me with these lol)???

 

[fungunnin]

I recently picked up a 34 no dash 4" SQ butt flat latch. It seems like most of the early guns were RB. Is this true?

It is a great little gun!

 

[RHINOWSO]

Picked this up last week... nice little shooter, very small and handy...

- Rhino

 

[beemaze]

Recently acquired a pair of correct grips for the Pre-Model 34. Looks much better, but I still will probably end up buying a pair of round to square conversion grips to fill up my hand better.

 

[jcelect]

More 1953 Kit Guns in Ohio

Here's two more 1953 Kit Guns. These are both model 34 marked and the 2" was shipped in Apr of 1959.

An interesting side note. As noted by fungunnin, all the "flat latch" guns are round butt guns. He stated he has a square butt gun, where's the pics?
jcelect SWCA#LM723

 

[former173rd]

pre 34

Interesting thread...I recently acquired a 4" Kit Gun and just got the Mr Jinx letter, and yesterday found a Snubbie of the same vintage. I'll post photos of her soon. The 2" is in better condition than the 4". Am in the market for a grip adapter and holster for the little one. Seems the only way to get the real deal info for these guys is to pay the bucks...

 

[Recoil Rob]

This has been shown here before but it fits the bill, a pre-M43 Airweight Kit Gun, also known as the 22/32 Model of 1955.

I shoot it with the Herrett's, they fit the hand better. This is what I carry while bird hunting.

 

[Recoil Rob]

BTW, anyone else notice the prices some kit guns just brought on GB? Over $5K for a pre-War 4", over $1K for a pre -34 and over $900 for a M43!