Help date my 32 Safety Hammerless 3rd mod.

[Jason68]

Looking to narrow the date on this recent purchase ($330). Gun has a few thin spots in the bluing on cylinder and at tip of muzzle, but otherwise very nice, functions well. Serial number is 212943 I would guess mid 1930's but I'm not sure. I may letter it. Hope it's close to my 1930 Model A Ford pickup, inherited from my Grandfather. Still searching for a nice blued 38 to match, but they are spendy... I know I need better photos - taken with iphone, sorry. Thanks for looking!

 

[nawilson]

"Help date my 32 Safety Hammerless 3rd mod."

Walk up, look it in the eye, smile, and just ask it out. Be confident. Then go some place nice.

Sorry, I couldn't help it...

ETA- the truck is super cool. I love those old ones.

 

[DWalt]

Production on the 3rd SH ceased at 242981 in 1937. Therefore yours may be a few years prior to that. Say mid-1930s, maybe a little earlier.

 

[glowe]

These became rather slow sellers late in their production. With K frame & I frame revolvers entering the market, the Hammerless top-breaks suffered and the new models popularity ultimately ended their production.

To give you an idea where yours might fall, 210XXX was shipped in 1916 and 225XXX shipped in 1921. Only a factory letter will give you an accurate date.

I think it wouold most likely be around 10 years earlier than your pickup, but never can tell for sure without the letter.

 

[H Richard]

I can tell you that my 3rd Model s/n 22493X shipped Mar 1921. Yours being about 12,000 less might make it in 1920 or possibly even a year earlier. Depending on how long any of these sat in the vault and which shelf the employee took them off of t fill the orders.