Bekeart models and .22/32 HFT's

[JSR III]

Gary what is the last patent date on top of the barrel of 517386?

I do have 517387 listed in my database having shipped 8-4-1930 FWIW.

 

[ColtCool]

Here is 240028 Finish is a little worn but locks up tight.
7 patent dates showing and last one is Sept 14 09

I assume this is bobbed hammer and not sure what kind of front site you would call this?

Hopefully this will add to your database

 

[Hondo44]

Your #240028 shipped in the mid teens. It has the Paine front sight with bead and U notch rear. But the stocks are from 1920 or later.

The hammer spur was broken or purposely modified. We see that uncommonly often on this model.

The serial # penciled on the back side of the right stock if readable, will not match.

Your stocks should have the recessed gold medallions as shown here from post #108 above:

 

[992B]

James, the last patent date on 517386 is September 14, 08. Could be 09 to these old eyes!! Regards, Gary

 

[red9]

Interesting sale at the Centurion auction 4/12. I don't know if it went to anyone on the forum. Very early gun serial number 138512, butt number 187. Did not ship to Bekeart. Barrel was shortened to 4". From the photos, it looks like it may have been shortened by removing a section of the barrel behind the front sight. If so, I would love to see the rifling!

Bob

 

[Hondo44]

Since the auction is over you can post the link so we can see it.

 

[JSR III]

ColtCool - thanks for the info. The bobbed hammer is something seem often with these guns. In adding yours to my database, I show one a few entries earlier with serial number 238,575 that also has the bobbed hammer. Some feel that this modification was the result of the hammer spur catching the web of the hand when the hammer cocked during double action. Maybe??

993B- Gary the date is 09. Typically these guns are either marked 09 or 14 as the last patent date. The earliest one that I show with the 14 patent date is 458,294 however there are many with higher serial numbers that still have the 09 last patent date.

red9- Bob, 138512 while in the first 1,000 produced did not go to Bekeart. It shipped to Pacific Hardware and Steel on 6-26-1911 and in addition to the 4" barrel wears a King front sight according to my database.

 

[red9]

Here is the link to the gun in post 125:

SMITH & WESSON .22/32 BEKEART ... Auctions Online | Proxibid

Jim,

Are you saying that the barrel is an original 4"? If so, I may have to shoot myself with a Bekeart for passing it up.

Bob

 

[JSR III]

Are you saying that the barrel is an original 4"? If so, I may have to shoot myself with a Bekeart for passing it up.

No, what I was saying was that I already had an entry for this gun showing that it had a 4" barrel. If you look closely at the photos from the auction, I see a perfect line on both sides of the barrel just to the rear of the front sight. It appears to me that the barrel was cut there and the front section reattached.

All of these guns were originally shipped with a 6" barrel. It wasn't until the 30's after the K frame 22's came out that IMHO, S&W decided to use up these frames (that were dying on the shelf) and shorten the barrel to 4" and reissue it as the "kit" gun.

As I have said in other threads about the .22/32 HFT, it was born because S&W's only .22 offering at the time was the small M frame .22 referred to by collectors as the Ladysmith. Then in its later years it was chopped back to a smaller version of itself and issued as the Kit Gun.

I guess what goes around, come around.

 

[LEO918]

James :
I have recently acquired .22/32 HFT Serial # 444378. Please add to your data base.
Thanks.
Leo

 

[JSR III]

Still looking for additions for the .22/32 HFT database. If you own one of these guns, please email or PM me the details. I do not record owner information, just gun details. I record:

Serial number
Left stock imprint number (first 3,000 guns shipped) usually serial numbers under 220,XXX
Ship date
Destination
Type stocks
Front sight
Recessed chambers or not
Condition
Type extractor knob (Large, medium or small)
Size logo and location
USA stamp or not
Latest patent date
Modifications
Any box

I have almost 2,000 guns recorded and am always willing to share any information that I have with any member.

Thanks in advance.

 

[DWL]

I recently picked up this .22/32 HFT. Serial number 423933. Stocks number to the revolver. Non recessed cylinder. Made in USA stamp on right side. Small S&W logo on left side. last Pat. date is Dec 22. 14

Some holster wear.

 

[JSR III]

James, 517386, 6" barrel, barrel type knob, non-recessed cylinder, target stocks with silver medallion, u-notch rear with rounded front sight with gold round dot on top, small emblem on left side and made in usa on right side. About 90% original bluing, excellent shooter. No letter requested. Gary

Gary, according to my database your gun should have shipped somewhere between May and August of 1930.

 

[JSR III]

Still looking for additions.

 

[smithrjd]

I just purchased 226161, 1915? Partridge front sight, non recessed cylinder. Walnut target grips with gold medallion. No number on the grip bottom. No Made in USA, small S&W logo on the right side. Don't have a letter for it, but I might get one. Well worn but tight and clean.

 

[Hondo44]

Close; 226160 - shipped on April 1 1916.

Does the rear sight blade have a U notch or square notch?

 

[smithrjd]

I believe it has the square notch. So 1916 most likely.

 

[Hondo44]

That's in nice shape.

The Aug. 29, 1923 change order deleted the original standard Paine bead front sight w/U-Notch, and introduced the Patridge front and square notch rear blade as standard. But they could be ordered instead of the Paine/U notch at any time during production.

Looks like yours was special ordered. Your sq notch rear looks factory with the angled side cuts in the notch.

 

[smithrjd]

A long shot from calguns.. It was one of a long list of firearms from an estate. Described as a S&W Revolver 22LR model "ctg" PM for pictures.. When I got the pictures it was what I was thinking it might be. Bluing is well worn, perhaps 50%. It is tight, and the barrel is almost perfect, no pitting, sharp rifling etc. Kind of a blind squirrel buy. $600 which I thought was fair. I will get better pictures after the 10 day wait. I think for the first time I will send off for a letter.

 

[tt66]

I have been watching this thread for a long time and now I get to play along.

Ser # 384442
Reg Police type grips stamped ' Patent June 5, 1917 '
cannot find any pencil markings inside of grips
Paine bead front sight
U groove rear sight
Non recessed chambers
Finish is original with most of the wear being on the barrel
Large extractor knob with two cuts in the barrel
Small logo on left side below the thumb piece
Stamped " Made in USA' on the right side
Last Patent date on the barrel " Sept 14 08