Today I took delivery of this very nice early I-frame .32 target revolver. The finish looks too good to be original, but I am unable to identify specific features of the gun that would be associated with a refinish; I conclude there is at least an outside chance this is in original condition, but I still remain cautious. The rollmarks are crisp and unrounded, screw holes are undished, frame corners not radiused, and pin ends are not flattened. The case hardened parts are a little drab, which may indicate aging or use inconsistent with what is seen on the rest of the gun. There is no star beside the serial number and no factory return date on the left side of the grip frame. The deep dish medallion stocks are necessarily later, as such stocks did not exist until about five years after this gun was shipped (May, 1905).
The serial number is 16005. The gun letters as a target revolver with checkered black hard rubber grips. But I am told by Ed Cornett, who has access to documents that allow him to identify serial number blocks for different models, that 16005 is part of of a block of standard .32 Hand Ejectors without adjustable sights. Since the letter reflects the current configuration of the gun, apart from the different stocks, it would appear that an order came in for a target revolver at a time when one could not be provided from inventory. The configuration is best explained if a fixed-sight .32 HE had been taken from inventory, delivered to the service department, and remanufactured as a target revolver to meet an immediate demand.
More photos:
Note the early trigger return spring anchored in the frame in front of the mainspring. The familiar trigger rebound slide with internal coil spring did not begin appearing in S&W revolvers until 1906.
The stocks are unnumbered, but in fine shape. The included medallions reflect the design used on S&W revolvers from 1910-1919, exclusive of the late-1917-early 1919 period.
It looks as though something is written inside the left cheek piece, but I have not been able to make the marks resolve themselves into comprehensible alphabetic or numeric characters.
This gun was delivered May 23, 1905 to Mr. J. R. Munn, no address reported. There were several individuals named Munn living in and around Springfield at that time, but not one of them had a name that agrees with the recorded initials. I have not had much luck finding candidate Munns in the 1900 and 1910 census records. There were Munns in Canada, too, and possibly the gun went there.
.32 target revolvers are an interest of mine in both I and K frames. This is the second early .32 target in my collection. Also in my safe is 7467, shipped in 1904, which was finished in nickel.
ADDED: Sometimes the brain knows what the eye doesn't immediately see. I am now sure that this gun has been refinished, and probably within the last few years. The giveaway is the recoil shield, which has absolutely NO drag mark from the center pin of the cylinder assembly. It is my impression that even when there is barely any turn ring on a cylinder, the center pin drag mark can be seen. I don't know why this didn't hit me in the first place. Still, this is one of the best re-blues I have ever seen.
There is also a minor mechanical problem with the ejector star, which can rotate out of precise registration with the cylinder when the rod is pushed back. Now I know one of the reasons S&W began using locator dowels for the ejector star just a few years after this gun was manufactured.
The serial number is 16005. The gun letters as a target revolver with checkered black hard rubber grips. But I am told by Ed Cornett, who has access to documents that allow him to identify serial number blocks for different models, that 16005 is part of of a block of standard .32 Hand Ejectors without adjustable sights. Since the letter reflects the current configuration of the gun, apart from the different stocks, it would appear that an order came in for a target revolver at a time when one could not be provided from inventory. The configuration is best explained if a fixed-sight .32 HE had been taken from inventory, delivered to the service department, and remanufactured as a target revolver to meet an immediate demand.
More photos:
Note the early trigger return spring anchored in the frame in front of the mainspring. The familiar trigger rebound slide with internal coil spring did not begin appearing in S&W revolvers until 1906.
The stocks are unnumbered, but in fine shape. The included medallions reflect the design used on S&W revolvers from 1910-1919, exclusive of the late-1917-early 1919 period.
It looks as though something is written inside the left cheek piece, but I have not been able to make the marks resolve themselves into comprehensible alphabetic or numeric characters.
This gun was delivered May 23, 1905 to Mr. J. R. Munn, no address reported. There were several individuals named Munn living in and around Springfield at that time, but not one of them had a name that agrees with the recorded initials. I have not had much luck finding candidate Munns in the 1900 and 1910 census records. There were Munns in Canada, too, and possibly the gun went there.
.32 target revolvers are an interest of mine in both I and K frames. This is the second early .32 target in my collection. Also in my safe is 7467, shipped in 1904, which was finished in nickel.
ADDED: Sometimes the brain knows what the eye doesn't immediately see. I am now sure that this gun has been refinished, and probably within the last few years. The giveaway is the recoil shield, which has absolutely NO drag mark from the center pin of the cylinder assembly. It is my impression that even when there is barely any turn ring on a cylinder, the center pin drag mark can be seen. I don't know why this didn't hit me in the first place. Still, this is one of the best re-blues I have ever seen.
There is also a minor mechanical problem with the ejector star, which can rotate out of precise registration with the cylinder when the rod is pushed back. Now I know one of the reasons S&W began using locator dowels for the ejector star just a few years after this gun was manufactured.
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