Would appreciate a year of manufacture for this SN 2265X revolver, along with opinions on whether or not the barrel has been cut down. (May have been done when the grips were replaced?)
I'm not an expert plus can't tell much from the pic but my initial guess is appears uncut. A pic of the barrel lettering, sight base and muzzle might help to determine. The grips appear to be Herretts and I don't have a file photo of what original grips (service stocks???) look like but someone will be along shortly that can help.
Manuf. app. 1925.
I can't tell much about the barrel, but the gun is likely from the teens. If so, the grips should look like this. This gun was sold in 1913. It's a first model.
Tom, does it have the one line "Made in USA" stamp on the right front frame? If so, it would have sported plain round top service stocks. If not, probably round top service stocks with a gold medallion similar to these:
I have 21146 which I think is 1923 although I haven't lettered it. I think your original stocks would have looked like those below. Check the positioning of the lettering on the barrel, if not centered it likely has been cut. Either way, nice gun, enjoy.
Would appreciate a year of manufacture for this SN 2265X revolver, along with opinions on whether or not the barrel has been cut down. (May have been done when the grips were replaced?)
Its a unicorn. I've never seen a 4" 2nd model. Of course I live a sheltered life. Once you get it in your hands, call Roy to see if he can confirm how it left the factory. Pay real close attention to what he says. Then ask him if he's sure about what he said. If he tells you it originally was a 4", call David Carroll and see if he wants it and what he'll pay for it. There's a collector up in Montana who's flush with money and he doesn't have one in his collection, but needs it.
Good news is that I finally have this revolver in hand, and that it works fine in single-action and is in general overall nice shape.
Bad news is that the barrel has clearly been cut down, although nicely done. Measures very close to 4-5/16".
Further bad news is that there is an intermittent issue with double action, and it will have to be looked at. With Chicoines basically out of the picture, I intend to get this up to Rustblue Gunsmithing (Sergey Lyalko) in Natick, MA. I was referred to him by Joe Salter. Any opinions one way or the other?
Will post more pics at some point.
This is the first N frame S&W that I have owned, and it seems BIG to me -- probably in part due to the oversized grips. Feels good and I like it
Well congrats are still in order even though the gun isn't 100% right.
Any 4" N frame is nice to own even with some problems (which can be fixed). If you decide to go another route and not have it worked on or decide to sell, etc, I'm sure some of us (me) would love to own it.