22lr id

Mzuri

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I ran into this at a local gun shop today. I think it’s an I frame in 22 lr. Can any one tell me a model or date? It’s clearly quite old but seems pretty solid. It has a S&W logo on the left side of the frame and no markings on the right side. Cylinder is not recessed.
 

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It's what's called a .22/32 Heavy Frame Target Revolver. A SN would help a lot in dating it, but it's obviously older than from the mid-1920s. Recessed chambers began around 1931. The SN may also tell you other interesting information.
 
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The LGS is asking $600 for it. I think the price was just a shot in the dark in that he asked me if I knew what it was. Any thoughts on a reasonable price for one of these? Do they handle modern 22lr ammo?
 
Again, a SN would be necessary. If it is an early one shipped to a specific distributor, that would make it much more valuable. However, I'd think that one would probably be worth $600 even without knowing any more about it.
 
Good find and reasonably priced.

It was produced between 1920 & late 1923 and has the 2 screw target stocks sq butt stocks.

Beginning in 1920 the S&W medallions were left off the stocks.

• Aug. 29, 1923 change order, replaced .22/32 HFT sq butt RP convex top stocks, returning to 2 screw target stocks as standard but with convex tops, and w/o medallions. And from the original Paine bead front sight w/U-Notch to a Patridge w/square notch rear.

If yours has the mid 1922 ordered MADE IN USA stamp on right side frame, it was made after 1922.
 
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Good find and reasonably priced.

It was produced between 1920 & late 1923 and has the Regulation Police sq butt stocks.

Beginning in 1920 the S&W medallions were left off the stocks.

• Aug. 29, 1923 change order, replaced .22/32 HFT sq butt RP convex top stocks, returning to 2 screw target stocks as standard but with convex tops, and w/o medallions. And from the original Paine bead front sight w/U-Notch to a Patridge w/square notch rear.

If yours has the mid 1922 ordered MADE IN USA stamp on right side frame, it was made after 1922.

Jim,

The stocks in the OP are two screw target stocks rather than the slightly smaller Regulation Police style, aren’t they? I don’t know whether this would affect price or not, but I personally prefer the RP type. Just to add to the discussion, weren’t the target style stocks available pretty much through the whole pre-War (II) run of the HFT?

Your Friendly Frog
 
Friendly Frog,

I can't even believe my lying eyes any longer! Yes you're correct.

It does have the 2 screw targets and in this case they had to have been an option ordered by the buyer or added later. They should have a serial # penciled on the back of the right stock if shipped originally with the gun. The production period is the same since the gun still has the early sights.

Thx for catching my mistake.
 
The LGS is asking $600 for it. I think the price was just a shot in the dark in that he asked me if I knew what it was. Any thoughts on a reasonable price for one of these? Do they handle modern 22lr ammo?

It will shoot modern ammo, but because the chambers are not recessed to encircle the case head, 22 LR HI VELOCITY should not be used.
Standard 22 LR should be used and any other lower velocity 22 longs or shorts.

The chambers weren't recessed by the factory until 1931 for 22 LR HI VELOCITY when it became available about the same time.

Is the grip frame back strap rebated like this under the stocks?

handejector-albums-early-38-regulation-police-picture9541-014.jpg
 
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