.22lr I frame Hand ejector ?? Information wanted

[arc2x4]

Hi All, Its been some time since I last visited this forum.

Today I came across and interesting revolver in remakably good shape for its age at a local shop. It appears to be a .22/32 I frame hand ejector. Target model witha patridge front sight type blade, and a 6" barrel.
Its a 6 shot model with fancy walnut target grips, that look like the grips in the S&W standard catalog on those old single shot break opens, it has no medalion on the grips, two screws, and what appears to be a round butt frame under the grips. The serial number appears on the front strap of the grip, barrel , and back of the cylinder, its also penciled inside the grips. It has a smooth topstrap and round unribbed barrel with target sights. The barrel has the patent dates on it. On the latch (left) side it has a small S&W symbol roll mark and nothing but made in the usa on the right side. Its a 5 screw pinned barrel, 6 shot cylinder which is not recessed. This is the first .22lr I have seen without a recessed cylinder. The ejector rod head is large and mushroom shapped.
The trigger blade is smooth and case colors are strong, hammer is small and checkered perfect case colors and looks like a pre WWII style like on my old M&P.

The serial number is 427xxx, and the shop owner said he thought it dated to the 20's. A gent in his 60's brought it in and said it belonged to his grandfather.

I tried to look it up in my S&W standard catalog but there is almost no information on it there.

The finish is about 90% and it appears to function perfectly with excellent rifling and mirror cylinder bores.

So what is it? How much is it worth/ what should I pay for it?

Thanks

 

[scha]

This sounds like a 22/32 Hand Ejector Target from the 1920s or so. Page 117 in the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson contains some details. It stated that the recessed cylinder was introduced in 1935 at around serial number 525600.

Hope this helps.

Steve

 

[DCWilson]

Yes, .22/32 Target, also called familiarly the "Bekeart" revolver because the first few hundred were manufactured at the urging of San Francisco sporting goods entrepreneur Phil Bekeart.

These are a classic S&W revolver, and one of the first serious .22 target revolvers introduced in the US. I find them hard to shoot accurately because they are so light, but they are capable of truly impressive accuracy in the hands of somebody who knows how to use them.

In extremely high condition these guns go for more than a thousand. New in the box they approach $2000. In lesser condition (70-95%, for example), the price would be lower. We won't all agree on percentages, but if your 90% is the same as my 90%, this might be a $500 gun. At 95% and up, I might think $700 and up would be justifiable.

If you get it, just shoot standard speed long rifle ammo in it. High speed ammo didn't become available until a decade after this particular gun was made.

Please show pictures if you decide to buy it.

 

[Green Frog]

I got here late (after the experts had already identified your potential buy) but add congratulations on a great find. First, it is not a K-22 and has not yet gained the following (and price) of its larger brethren, BUUUTT it is a great and historic gun and is quickly rising in popularity and price. I agree with David on the price range... I'd try to stay somewhere in the $500 range or maybe a little less for a 90% gun without any additional attractions like box or accessories. If I understand correctly, the grips you have are the so-called Bekeart style, and since they match the gun's serial number, that is a good thing from a collector standpoint, but I'm figuring that into the price as quoted.

I can say without fear of contradiction that the price on the desirable I-frames is on its way up. Why? Because I'm trying to find some for myself, and that's what always happens to me when I pick something to start looking for!

Froggie

 

[JSR III]

As a guide, 441XXX shipped in September of 1926. They are neat guns and as David stated a NIB model will fetch over $1,000. Just curious, what is the shop asking???

 

[arc2x4]

Here are a few pictures. On another thread somone posted a S&W advertisement from 1925 it has more information than my Standard Catalog Suppica&Nahaas sp book. The book is woefully lacking on information on these revolvers. I am curious as to how many of these were made in 1924, 1925. Thats what I thin is the year of production for mine. The serial number ranges also were used on the .32 hand ejectors so there were probably more of those made correct?

 

[DCWilson]

I don't think actual production numbers have ever been published, but there are estimates that between 20,000 and 30,000 .22/32 revolvers were manufactured in the prewar period. That covers the nearly 30 years between their 1911 introduction and the suspension of production so the company could turn to wartime contracts.

Between 1903 and WWII some 535,000 serial numbers were burned on the I-frame guns, so the .32 caliber revolvers would outnumber the .22s by about 20 to one. I don't think we can break production down annually, but on average there probably weren't more than a thousand .22/32 units produced per year. Of course production dropped like a rock during the great depression, so you might have single years in the 1920s when there were 2,000 or even 3,000 .22/32s produced.

 

[arc2x4]

The finish grips and mechanical functioning was all excellent except for a couple small rust pits on the barrel side and on the cylinder. Apparently the gun sat in a closet for a very long time.

without the pits the finish would probably be 98%.

Oh well it's a shooter 550 out the door, probably too much... So now I have to decide if I want to get some different grips to keep the originals pristine. Any suggestions or are the grips not worth enough in perfect condition to bother??

Thanks

 

[Green Frog]

The finish grips and mechanical functioning was all excellent except for a couple small rust pits on the barrel side and on the cylinder. Apparently the gun sat in a closet for a very long time.

without the pits the finish would probably be 98%.

Oh well it's a shooter 550 out the door, probably too much... So now I have to decide if I want to get some different grips to keep the originals pristine. Any suggestions or are the grips not worth enough in perfect condition to bother??

Thanks

Jay Scott made a variety of aftermarket grips for that model. I am looking at NOS examples in faux Stag and faux Ivory now for both it and the round butt style. They still show up pretty cheap on some table at gun shows. I've even seen some that were fitted on the frame, but still oversized outside to shape to suit yourself.

Froggie

 

[perrazi]

unless you are into only mint to nib examples of guns,where else will you get this kind of quality and retention of value for that $550. if you don't want it, please pm the contact info.

 

[arc2x4]

Today I took it to the range and put 100 rounds of CCI standard velocity downrange. It shot great in both double and single action and had no light strikes or misfires. The accuracy was excellent, but the gun is a little harder to hold than one of my K22's due to the lighter weight. I've got to go clean it now. Its a keeper. I really wanted an outdoorsman but with prices the way they are I couldn't afford one in the same condition even if I could find one.

 

[arc2x4]

So how does one evaluate or grade the finish if its 98% original but the gun as 3 or 4 small rust bumps/ pits, as opposed to say 80% with bare spots and no rust bumps?

I am having a hard time figuring out what the value should have been according to the books.

Thanks

 

[Green Frog]

So how does one evaluate or grade the finish if its 98% original but the gun as 3 or 4 small rust bumps/ pits, as opposed to say 80% with bare spots and no rust bumps?

I am having a hard time figuring out what the value should have been according to the books.

Thanks

Unlike coins or gems, I know of no authoritative agency that "assigns" condition... it comes down to a general evaluation and then the buyer and seller just have to come to some common ground between them. A smooth gun with very little blue but no rust or pitting would be more desirable to me than the same one with 98% finish and one big rust zit for the other 2%. Then again, that's just me, and if you could display it on the wall with the bad spot turned against the wall, maybe the latter would suit you better.

Froggie

 

[bigmoose]

Applying a percentage to the condition of a gun has always been a very subjective endeavor. When evaluating high condition guns I do like the method of describing the flaws, blemishes, and non -original attributes. Basically- "small scratch here...thinning of bluing there....original finish on wood, etc etc." Fully describing the gun with attention to original finish, original parts, and detailed photos, is to me, a better way to convey condition to a potential buyer/investor than saying such and such %.

Long story short...I think you picked up a hell of a nice revolver at a competitive price. Enjoy shooting and owning it. You probably won't lose a dime if you decide someday to sell it. Congrats