Help ID Old .22 Target

[Bohonkie]

I have nice old .22 revolver I'm trying to identify and date (if possible). The Standard Catalogue of S&W (Supica & Nahas) and History of S&W (Jinks) are of no help but I suspect this is a 22/32 Kit Gun; maybe a Lady Smith.
Ser Nr: 586377 (Front grip strap)
Hand Ejector with no shroud
Pinned, narrow barrel (.485 @ muzzle), .525 in front of flare at rear
Target sights: Rear is flat leaf (no rounded corners), windage adjustable, small screw for elevation with "barrel" at rear and below of sight. Front is pinned target "post" with rounded front
Cylinder is not recessed
Stocks are as shown at pp20 of Std Catalogue of S&W (upper left of Early Hand Ejectors, 1896-1950) square butt, diamond center, checkered walnut, but no medallion
I frame
Smooth trigger and small, narrow checkered hammer
Right side of barrel: 22 LONG RIFLE CTG
5 - screw with strain screw
Don't know what else to write. I wish I was competent enough to post a photo but I don't have a 6-year old to show me how. Anyone have an idea of model and year?
I very much appreciate responses!

 

[Wiregrassguy]

What's the barrel length? If the cylinder opens normally, I doubt it is a Ladysmith.


Pictures are not difficult if you know how to get them onto your computer. Let's say you do. Make sure you size them to 1920x1080 pixels. Then, click on GO ADVANCED to open the full editor. On the top line of icons, click on the paperclip icon, browse for your pictures, select the picture and repeat selecting up to 5 pictures. Upload and they become attachments to your post.

 

[Bohonkie]

I'll see if I can figure out how to get photos onto my computer. Good to know the size requirements - thanks. I wrote so much I thought I entered 6" for the barrel. Yes, side swing-out cylinder.
Thanks - mj

 

[delcrossv]

What's the barrel length? If the cylinder opens normally, I doubt it is a Ladysmith.

Serial number is too high for a Ladysmith. Probably a HFT .

 

[H Richard]

Sounds like a 22/32 Heavy Frame Target. Also commonly referred to as a Beckeart Model. S/N seems a little high though.

 

[delcrossv]

Sounds like a 22/32 Heavy Frame Target. Also commonly referred to as a Beckeart Model. S/N seems a little high though.

The SN range would put it into a postwar /transitional range mentioned in SCSW 4. If so, it'd have a notched hammer face for the postwar sliding bar safety.

I'd like to see this one!

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Sounds like a 22/32 Heavy Frame Target. Also commonly referred to as a Beckeart Model. S/N seems a little high though.

Yes. I agree...not that that matters a whit.

 

[Bohonkie]

Here is the old gun sitting next to a 17-3. I'll try to post more.

 

[Bohonkie]

Another photo

 

[Bohonkie]

Another. Sorry, can't figure out how to post more than one at time.

 

[Bohonkie]

Another. Last one.

 

[Bohonkie]

Oops. It didn't load my last one. This one of the barrel and front sight is the last one! mj

 

[Wiregrassguy]

It's a .22/32 HFT from the 1920's. Non-recessed cylinder chambers. It's hard to read but the serial likely starts with a 3.

 

[Hondo44]

That's in pretty nice shape!

Yep, Guy has the answer! Therefore your # 386377 likely shipped around the 2nd quarter of 1924.

I have one of similar vintage and with the same serial # font. The 3 and 5 on mine is very difficult to distinguish. Mine had previously been registered with the wrong #: 485827 instead of 483827.

The highest known .22/32 Heavy Frame Target (albeit re-named the .22/32 Target by then) is in the #552XXX range c. 1949-50, but w/o the post war hammer block and therefore not a Post War Transitional Model, just a pre war model shipped after the war. Although Roy Jinks has reported seeing a Transitional Model. There were no Improved I frame versions of the .22 I frames ever made. It was reintroduced after WWII, was built as the .22/32 Target Model of 1953 on the NEW I frame, became the Model 35 in 1957, was changed to being built on the J frame beginning Oct 1960, and finally ended in 1973-4.

"The Standard Catalogue of S&W (Supica & Nahas) and History of S&W (Jinks) are of no help...":

In the 3rd edition of SCSW on page 117; 4th ed. beginning at the end of page 131; and in Jink's book page 150.

You can read all about its long and interesting history.

 

[gregintenn]

They also came with grips like this.

 

[Bohonkie]

Thanks, all. I just recalled this morning that seems like the guy who sold this to me a couple of years ago said mfr date was 1924. I'll go back and read the books, now that I know what to look for. I wasn't expecting this to be a Heavy Target Frame (if this is what they call a heavy frame, I shudder to think what a light frame would be like!). Thanks again - mj

 

[Hondo44]

The light (or standard .22) frame is an M frame.

The .22/32 HFT I frame was only heavy relative to the only other .22 made at the time, the M frame.

Once the K22 was introduced in 1931, the .22/32 HFT became just the .22/32 Target.

This .22/32 HFT on top, looks heavy. The .22 Hand Ejector Target (Ladysmith) M frame is below:

Photo by red9

 

[delcrossv]

Here's all 4 22 frame sizes to put this in context. Top to bottom K, J, I, M.

 

[Bohonkie]

Thanks for posting that. These all look great! I have never seen an M frame and you're right - the I frame looks heavy when compared to the M. The K frame on top looks like a .38-44 relative to the rest. I'm sure you are very proud of these four... I know I sure would be. I re-opened my books and read about the M frame Lady Smith, 22/32, Bekheart, etc. Mine is the oldest S&W in my stable, except for a nice .22 Perfected 8" made circa 1920. Thanks again! mj