A new dilemma

[Dvus]

So, awhile back, I obtained a beautiful little 4" I-frame HFT. It is in wonderful condition with 2 exceptions. Someone put the wrong stocks on it, and the rear sight was broken and modified. It functioned very well in this configuration, but I wanted to put it back to the way it should be. Thanks to other members here, it was determined to likely have been produced in 1937. I set about the nearly impossible task of finding a rear sight with no luck. Then at the Wannenmacher's Tulsa Arms show, I figured there would be one there, I just had to get lucky enough to find it. Well, I did, but it was attached to this poor little abused Bekeart type HFT that was priced for not much more than I was expecting to pay for the sight. I mean, this thing wasn't just beaten with an ugly stick, it was beaten with ALL of them. But bless it's heart, it was still in good mechanical condition. Of course I had to shoot it. The picture shows the first 6 shot group at 10 yards, no cleaning or lube, just how I got it, except I had already swapped the stocks. So now what do I do, go ahead and cannibalize it, or continue my original search for parts?

 

[shovelhead]

Keep looking for the parts.

 

[brendonjames65]

No dilemma, it's a functional, decent shooting revolver. I wouldn't part it out.

 

[JSR III]

First you need to send me the serial numbers for both guns so I can look them up or add them to my database of the .22/32's. You can post here or PM or email me if preferred.

Then we can go from there....

 

[Retired W4]

I have a 22/32 that is in pretty bad shape that I bought at auction a while back for $400. The best parts of the gun are the sights and the internals. The bore and chambers are shot but it does function. I had considered parting it out to try to make me whole on the gun.

 

[Dvus]

I have a 22/32 that is in pretty bad shape that I bought at auction a while back for $400. The best parts of the gun are the sights and the internals. The bore and chambers are shot but it does function. I had considered parting it out to try to make me whole on the gun.

That's too bad, the outside of your gun looks WAY better than mine. PM sent.

 

[Dvus]

JSR, you have the s/n for the gun that needs a sight, I'll get you the s/n for the 6" shortly.

 

[Retired W4]

Saw the PMs but I'm headed to hospital for some treatments. I'll be back.

 

[gmborkovic]

Mr. Dvus, post some pics of the sight you need. I have a few sights in my stash.

 

[Dvus]

Mr. Dvus, post some pics of the sight you need. I have a few sights in my stash.

This is a pic of the broken one.
The two other guns pictured in this thread have the one I need.

 

[Hondo44]

This is a pic of the broken one.
The two other guns pictured in this thread have the one I need.

If I recall your gun from your first thread correctly, didn't we determine that your first gun was not a Heavy Frame Target with a 4" barrel, it was a .22/32 Kit Gun, much more rare gun! The serial # under the barrel matched the frame serial #.

I'd use the good rear sight on the Kit Gun; it's in far nicer condition. Swap the good rear sight to the kit gun as well as the good front sight blade.

Are the new grips the walnut target grips with two screws?

 

[Balvar24]

Don't cannibalize a good shooter.

 

[Hondo44]

So, awhile back, I obtained a beautiful little 4" I-frame HFT. It is in wonderful condition with 2 exceptions. Someone put the wrong stocks on it, and the rear sight was broken and modified. It functioned very well in this configuration, but I wanted to put it back to the way it should be. Thanks to other members here, it was determined to likely have been produced in 1937. I set about the nearly impossible task of finding a rear sight with no luck. Then at the Wannenmacher's Tulsa Arms show, I figured there would be one there, I just had to get lucky enough to find it. Well, I did, but it was attached to this poor little abused Bekeart type HFT that was priced for not much more than I was expecting to pay for the sight. I mean, this thing wasn't just beaten with an ugly stick, it was beaten with ALL of them. But bless it's heart, it was still in good mechanical condition. Of course I had to shoot it. The picture shows the first 6 shot group at 10 yards, no cleaning or lube, just how I got it, except I had already swapped the stocks. So now what do I do, go ahead and cannibalize it, or continue my original search for parts?

You won't really know how good your 1st gun with 4" barrel shoots until you swap the sights from this new gun. Then you'll know which gun to keep the factory sights on. I have no problem shooting my 4" kit guns as well as your new 6" HFT shoots.

 

[Dvus]

Are the new grips the walnut target grips with two screws?

Yes, they are walnut with 2 screws.

 

[JSR III]

Not sure why but I did not have either gun listed in my database. I think that sometimes when I force close my computer because I get one of those nasty messages telling me that I have been hacked and not to shut down I do it anyway. The Excel file is always open in the background and I have to force close it too and if I didn't save the inputs since the last save I think they disappear.

Be that as it may, the 6" gun is in the non medallion stock period so the gold medallion stocks are from an earlier gun. Check inside the right panel under bright light and with magnification and you may find the serial number. That gun should have shipped in the 1921-22 period.

The 4" kit gun (not HFT) unless sent back for a barrel change, would have shipped in the 1934-5 period and is the only example that I have starting with those first 3 numbers.

I say should because only a letter or asking Dr. Jinks for the shipping date can confirm the actual one. I can only base it upon other nearby guns and their shipping date.