Help with ID on grandfather's revolver

[BPHoo]

S&W 22lr. Nickel plated, hand ejector, 5 screw, barrel length 3 3/4".
# on front grip strap 533374 or 75
# on yolk 44223

 

[Wiregrassguy]

That appears to be a Pre-WWII .22/32 Kit Gun. Based on the large trademark stamp, I'd say it shipped in the late 1930's or 1940. Perhaps someone more familiar with these guns like Hondo44 will comment.

 

[JP@AK]

You have a prewar .22/32 Kit Gun from the 1930s. I own one serialized at 530141 and it shipped from the factory in July 1937, so yours would be somewhere in that same neighborhood. The barrel is actually 4" long. You measure from the front of the cylinder to the muzzle.

 

[BPHoo]

Thanks for the feedback, Jack. It is definitely 3 3/4". measured from the front of the cylinder.
the last time it was fired was in the early 70's. I shot it some right before I went into the Navy.

Barry

 

[BPHoo]

That appears to be a Pre-WWII .22/32 Kit Gun. Based on the large trademark stamp, I'd say it shipped in the late 1930's or 1940. Perhaps someone more familiar with these guns like Hondo44 will comment.

Thanks. Barry

 

[weatherby]

That is a cool little gun.
It needs to be shot more.

 

[Masterpiece]

S&W 22lr. Nickel plated, hand ejector, 5 screw, barrel length 3 3/4".
# on front grip strap 533374 or 75
# on yolk 44223

BPHoo,

Nice taste in Revolvers Your Grandfather has...Hopefully he's still with you!!

That aside...I thought I'd bring to your attention something a couple of the other guys failed to make mention of that sets Your Grandfather's Pre-War .22/32 Kit-Gun apart from most others you'll see!!

That being...Even though the Photos are a bit grainy...I have good reason to believe the Nickel Finish is "Original" to the Revolver!! Just asking, but have you by chance removed the Stock Panels to see if there are any Rework Dates stamped on the Left Lower Inside Grip Frame indicating it was returned to the Factory for work of some sort...You're looking for something like this (5.45) or the like stamped there!!

Reason I ask is I don't see a Rework Star stamped somewhere near the Ser. No. on the Frt. Strap of the Grip Frame which is where you'd generally find an indication it had been returned for some sort of Service Work...Although not specifically to be refinished!!

Now the reason why Your Revolver got my blood up a bit as being something special...In the 50+ yrs. I've been collecting S&W Revolvers...I've only ever crossed paths with (1)...Yes (1) of these Pre-War .22/32 Kit-Guns that "Factory Letter" as having a Nickel Finish....I'd consider them to be Very,Very Scarce to Rare as far as I'm concerned!!

There is one thing I'd appreciate you doing if possible...Could you take another Photo of the Top of the Barrel being that in the one you posted something is more than a little distorted to read the Address & Pat.Dates...Appreciate it!!

Also...Being My Database on these is way, way out of date...Hopefully David Wilson (DCWilson) or Jim Carter (Hondo44) will see this to give you a better idea just how many Nickel Pre-War .22/32 Kit-Guns they have recorded in Their Databases!!

 

[BPHoo]

That is a cool little gun.
It needs to be shot more.

Thank you, Paul. I shot it some over fifty years ago. Needs cleaning and it is missing the rear sight blade.
Barry

 

[BPHoo]

BPHoo,

Nice taste in Revolvers Your Grandfather has...Hopefully he's still with you!!

That aside...I thought I'd bring to your attention something a couple of the other guys failed to make mention of that sets Your Grandfather's Pre-War .22/32 Kit-Gun apart from most others you'll see!!

That being...Even though the Photos are a bit grainy...I have good reason to believe the Nickel Finish is "Original" to the Revolver!! Just asking, but have you by chance removed the Stock Panels to see if there are any Rework Dates stamped on the Left Lower Inside Grip Frame indicating it was returned to the Factory for work of some sort...You're looking for something like this (5.45) or the like stamped there!!

Reason I ask is I don't see a Rework Star stamped somewhere near the Ser. No. on the Frt. Strap of the Grip Frame which is where you'd generally find an indication it had been returned for some sort of Service Work...Although not specifically to be refinished!!

Now the reason why Your Revolver got my blood up a bit as being something special...In the 50+ yrs. I've been collecting S&W Revolvers...I've only ever crossed paths with (1)...Yes (1) of these Pre-War .22/32 Kit-Guns that "Factory Letter" as having a Nickel Finish....I'd consider them to be Very,Very Scarce to Rare as far as I'm concerned!!

There is one thing I'd appreciate you doing if possible...Could you take another Photo of the Top of the Barrel being that in the one you posted something is more than a little distorted to read the Address & Pat.Dates...Appreciate it!!

Also...Being My Database on these is way, way out of date...Hopefully David Wilson (DCWilson) or Jim Carter (Hondo44) will see this to give you a better idea just how many Nickel Pre-War .22/32 Kit-Guns they have recorded in Their Databases!!

Thanks Masterpiece, the top of the barrel says.
Smith and Wesson, Springfield Mass,U.S.A.
Patented Dec.17,01,Feb 6,06,SEP.15,09.

My grandfather passed in the late 60's (I am 70 years old). My grandfather was nothing if not careful with his money. I would say everything is original. He kept it clean and its been in a safe since the early 70's. No stars
Barry

 

[weatherby]

That's an awesome gun.
Hopefully you have kids or grandkids with an interest

 

[BPHoo]

That's an awesome gun.
Hopefully you have kids or grandkids with an interest

Thanks Paul. I take my grandsons shooting. I am hoping to get this one ready to use.

Barry

 

[Masterpiece]

Thanks Masterpiece, the top of the barrel says.
Smith and Wesson, Springfield Mass,U.S.A.
Patented Dec.17,01,Feb 6,06,SEP.15,09.

My grandfather passed in the late 60's (I am 70 years old). My grandfather was nothing if not careful with his money. I would say everything is original. He kept it clean and its been in a safe since the early 70's. No stars
Barry

Barry,

First of all...Sorry to hear Your Grandfather passed...He left you with a Pretty Scarce Nickel Finish Pre-War .22/32 Kit Gun though!!

Also...You noting "No Stars"...Is that you found nothing where I noted you should look for Service Dates on the Left Side of the Inner Grip Frame...Correct?? Also...Thanks for posting another Photo of the Barrel Address as something must have went wrong when you took the 1st one you posted...Kind of looked like the Top Section of the Barrel Address had been scraped across something!!

Now as to everything being Original...The Sheard Ivory Bead Frt. Sight Blade isn't correct noted by how much hangs over the Sight Boss...Both Fore & Aft!!

As to which Frt. Sight Blade would be correct...More often than not these Pre-War Kit-Guns shipped with either a U.S.R.A Pocket Revolver Sight Blade or a Plain Patridge Blade...Generally I would consider either one could be Correct!!

As to the missing Rear Sight Blade...Not uncommon to find them either missing because the Adj. Screws came loose or broken off as they were pretty fragile & prone to breakage!! If you're handy at fabricating...They're fairly easy to make!! You could also post a WTB Ad in the Forum Classifieds here to see if anyone may have both of the Sight Blades you need to make it completely Correct!!

I also believe with a little TLC some of that poor storage corrosion can be made much less noticeable...Be careful though as you don't want to use anything too coarse to clean it...Fine Brass Wool with a little Oil should take care of the bulk of it...Followed by a Good coat of Wax to keep it from reoccurring!!

Anyway...Enjoy it as I'm sure you will...Especially now that you know it's even more special than just being handed down from Your Grandfather!!

 

[BPHoo]

Barry,

First of all...Sorry to hear Your Grandfather passed...He left you with a Pretty Scarce Nickel Finish Pre-War .22/32 Kit Gun though!!

Also...You noting "No Stars"...Is that you found nothing where I noted you should look for Service Dates on the Left Side of the Inner Grip Frame...Correct?? Also...Thanks for posting another Photo of the Barrel Address as something must have went wrong when you took the 1st one you posted...Kind of looked like the Top Section of the Barrel Address had been scraped across something!!

Now as to everything being Original...The Sheard Ivory Bead Frt. Sight Blade isn't correct noted by how much hangs over the Sight Boss...Both Fore & Aft!!

As to which Frt. Sight Blade would be correct...More often than not these Pre-War Kit-Guns shipped with either a U.S.R.A Pocket Revolver Sight Blade or a Plain Patridge Blade...Generally I would consider either one could be Correct!!

As to the missing Rear Sight Blade...Not uncommon to find them either missing because the Adj. Screws came loose or broken off as they were pretty fragile & prone to breakage!! If you're handy at fabricating...They're fairly easy to make!! You could also post a WTB Ad in the Forum Classifieds here to see if anyone may have both of the Sight Blades you need to make it completely Correct!!

I also believe with a little TLC some of that poor storage corrosion can be made much less noticeable...Be careful though as you don't want to use anything too coarse to clean it...Fine Brass Wool with a little Oil should take care of the bulk of it...Followed by a Good coat of Wax to keep it from reoccurring!!

Anyway...Enjoy it as I'm sure you will...Especially now that you know it's even more special than just being handed down from Your Grandfather!!

Thanks, Barry

 

[M E Morrison]

Isn't anyone gonna bring up the disparity in barrel lengths?

 

[Masterpiece]

Isn't anyone gonna bring up the disparity in barrel lengths?

Merle,

Actually having owned more than a few Pre-War .22/32 Kit-guns over the years...One with a Barrel Length slightly more or less than what's generally noted is not that far out of the norm or I would have made note of it in one of my Posts!!

Truthfully I can't recall any I'd acquired having an "Exact" 4'' Length...I'm sure the bulk of them are, but with S&W published Barrel Lengths were never an exacting science with any of the Early S&W's I owned over the years!!

 

[M E Morrison]

Merle,

Actually having owned more than a few Pre-War .22/32 Kit-guns over the years...One with a Barrel Length slightly more or less than what's generally noted is not that far out of the norm or I would have made note of it in one of my Posts!!

Truthfully I can't recall any I'd acquired having an "Exact" 4'' Length...I'm sure the bulk of them are, but with S&W published Barrel Lengths were never an exacting science with any of the Early S&W's I owned over the years!!

Ok, thanks for that info.

 

[weatherby]

Thanks Paul. I take my grandsons shooting. I am hoping to get this one ready to use.

Barry

To me that's as good as the gun.
Get it shooting
Let them develop an appreciation for it....and it stays as an heirloom