For variety, an I-22 thread...

[Hondo44]

OK, my '20s vintage HFT is in the pipeline to replace the bulged barrel. It'll never be the potential safe queen like some I'm seeing here, but it will be a great candidate for going along in the field and having the chance to be shot. My GS is supposed to start on it as soon as the hunting season rush is over. I can hardly wait.

Meanwhile... my HFT is a 6" with the rebated round grip frame and Regulation Police style grips. How common is this on the early ones as opposed to the Bekheart style?

Froggie

I recall Lee posted that in the early '20s for only 3 years or so, the HFTs came standard with RP grips w/o medallions on the rebated frame like yours before returning to the 2 screw ext target stocks by assumedly customer demand. So they are definitely a small minority of HFTs.

 

[Hondo44]

The upper gun in this pair has the Bekert serial number stamped into the stocks....

The lower gun has post war sized sights and the small headed ejector rod...

Note also the stock pattern.

Your lower gun is unique with post '29 ER and pre '20 gold medallion grips.

 

[Green Frog]

I recall Lee posted that in the early '20s for only 3 years or so, the HFTs came standard with RP grips w/o medallions on the rebated frame like yours before returning to the 2 screw ext target stocks by assumedly customer demand. So they are definitely a small minority of HFTs.

Wow, I saw that HFT sitting on a table at a Roanoke, VA gun show priced cheap because of the bulged barrel. I only bought it because it was an adjustable sighted I-frame and cheap. Did I accidentally screw up and get something highly desirable? Cool !

I thought my 2" post-War .32 HE was pretty normal too, until I started looking for another one... too bad I didn't find my sought-after Terrier before I found out I shouldn't be able to find any of them!

Froggie

PS Is it too late to go back and unbrag about the I-frames? Can I say they are of absolutely no interest or value?

 

[DCWilson]

PS Is it too late to go back and unbrag about the I-frames? Can I say they are of absolutely no interest or value?

I for one feel they have been definitely overpraised and oversold, and I would encourage those who have not yet bought one to hang on to their money and keep looking for values in the K and N frames.

:deadpan:

 

[crsides]

Are we close enough for a consecutive serialed pair?? THAT would be funny wouldn't it??

FN in MT

Frank , we are 19 #'s apart.


Charlie

 

[Hondo44]

I for one feel they have been definitely overpraised and oversold, and I would encourage those who have not yet bought one to hang on to their money and keep looking for values in the K and N frames.

:deadpan:

I'm selling all of mine before the bottom drops out. It's beginning to look a lot like the housing market. Prices have become over inflated and I think we've hit the top of the pyramid. It's time for me at least to move on to more fertile ground. I'm losing any interest, the mystery is all gone for me. It's time to move back into black powder antiques.

 

[410bore]

 

[frito1]

I've been a S&W junkie all my life, but just joined here this week. I had one of my more recent acquisitions out this weekend, gave it a closer look, and found that I didn't have what I originally thought. What I had called a Model 34 turned out to be a pre-34 (I think). I got a push in this direction from another forum and the research began. If I'm reading the sign correctly my gun should be in the 1955-56 range. I bought this revolver 4-5 years ago from a guy at work that is a dealer on the side. He had just bought this gun along with a 25 auto from a retired judge, he hadn't even cleaned it yet. He offered it to me and I snapped it up just because it was a S&W .22. There is no model number stamped and the SN is 47xx, on the butt, cylinder, and barrel. I had never heard of an I frame gun before. I hope I've correctly interpreted the information I've read. If not please point me in the right direction.

The gun's in decent condition, a good shooter, with a few specks of rust and signs of a lot of carry. I wonder if it was the original owners carry piece. Oh yeah, I gave $100 for it.

 

[DCWilson]

Frito1, welcome to the forum. You have identified your revolver correctly as a Pre-34 of mid-1950s vintage.

$100? What a bargain!

Nice little kit gun.

 

[Green Frog]

The gun's in decent condition, a good shooter, with a few specks of rust and signs of a lot of carry. I wonder if it was the original owners carry piece. Oh yeah, I gave $100 for it.

You wouldn't like to double you $$ would you?

Froggie

 

[frito1]

You wouldn't like to double you $$ would you?

I guess not. My daughter has staked her claim on it for next year when she can get a CCP. I'm thinking I'll buy her a 38 airweight and keep this one for myself.

 

[Green Frog]

Oddly enough, I'm working on a gun for my youngest niece (I'm a bachelor, so she's sorta like a daughter to me) who turns 21 in mid-March. I've gotten a 30-1 for her with 3" bbl and have put a nice set of pink Hogue Monogrips ™ on it for her. She takes her CCW class this Saturday. A man isn't doing his duty if he doesn't give his daughter a gun and teach her to use it!

Froggie

 

[Hondo44]

frito1,

You got a great little shooter there. And the kind of deal any of us would plunk the $100 down for w/o even taking another breath or thinking about it!

To give you a little more detail, it's a Model of 1953 22/32 Kit Gun, w/a 4 screw frame by counting the screws on the sideplate including the screw under the right grip. It's an "I" frame but with the "J" frame size grip and trigger guard. It became the Model 34 in c. 1957-58 and was stamped as such in the yoke. In 1961 the frame was lengthened to become a full fledged "J" frame.

 

[frito1]

frito1,

You got a great little shooter there. And the kind of deal any of us would plunk the $100 down for w/o even taking another breath or thinking about it!

Yeah, it was probably the quickest gun purchase I've ever made. It was kinda like:

Know anybody wanting a pistol?

What ya got?

S&W 22 and a 25 auto.

How much for the Smith?

$100

I'll take it.

To give you a little more detail, it's a Model of 1953 22/32 Kit Gun, w/a 4 screw frame by counting the screws on the side plate including the screw under the right grip. It's an "I" frame but with the "J" frame size grip and trigger guard. It became the Model 34 in c. 1957-58 and was stamped as such in the yoke. In 1961 the frame was lengthened to become a full fledged "J" frame.

Thanks for the info, I had missed the screw under the grip when I was counting.