Humpbacks in Magnums

[Club Gun Fan]

Here is another ad for the Hump Back hammer and a loose hammer. I bought the hammer at a gun show years ago. I remember the dealer said when I bought it, it was the easiest $5.00 he ever made. I just smiled, handed him $10.00 and waited for my change.

 

[Club Gun Fan]

With all the later revolvers having Hump Back hammers, I wonder if S&W didn't want to be stuck with a bunch of them, so they just arbitrarily installed them on lots of revolvers just to get rid of them. My 1940 38-44 Outdoorsman is lettered with one. It also has the grooves. Food for thought. Big Larry

BL
So, how do you explain my 22/32 Kit Gun. It is a Club Gun that letters to D B Wesson's Grandson.

 

[RKmesa]

BL
So, how do you explain my 22/32 Kit Gun. It is a Club Gun that letters to D B Wesson's Grandson.

I'd say "That's a weird one... BUT way high on the COOL METER!!!" I think that is the only J/I frame HBH that I recall seeing. Don, have you seen any others? All I recall seeing before yours have been N and K frame HBH's...

 

[lestert357]

Here is another ad for the Hump Back hammer and a loose hammer. I bought the hammer at a gun show years ago. I remember the dealer said when I bought it, it was the easiest $5.00 he ever made. I just smiled, handed him $10.00 and waited for my change.

Don, assuming that you paid $5.00, it looks like you overpaid by more than $1.50 since $3.50 includes the hammer, installation, and trigger pull adjustment![emoji1]

 

[Club Gun Fan]

I'd say "That's a weird one... BUT way high on the COOL METER!!!" I think that is the only J/I frame HBH that I recall seeing. Don, have you seen any others? All I recall seeing before yours have been N and K frame HBH's...

No, this is the only one.

 

[paplinker]

Not sure where this ad came from but it does not appear it's from a catalog.
Been meaning to frame it for the man cave.

Just saw Dons pic of the same ad. Does anyone know where this ad originally from?

Also notice they are different in the pet pending area.

 

[PALADIN85020]

My 1939 M&P target was shipped with a "hump backed" hammer, according to Roy's authenticating letter. Frankly, I never knew such a thing existed until I acquired this one.

John

 

[lestert357]

Not sure where this ad came from but it does not appear it's from a catalog.
Been meaning to frame it for the man cave.

Just saw Dons pic of the same ad. Does anyone know where this ad originally from?

Also notice they are different in the pet pending area.

It was a one page S&W pamphlet according to page 53 in Timothy Mullin's Magnum book.

 

[Octagun]

When I woke up this morning I didn't even know what a HBH was. This site provides so much information that I wouldn't find anywhere else. I appreciate the education you all provide.

 

[Club Gun Fan]

Not sure where this ad came from but it does not appear it's from a catalog.
Been meaning to frame it for the man cave.

Just saw Dons pic of the same ad. Does anyone know where this ad originally from?

Also notice they are different in the pet pending area.

The official name for these is an "AD SLICK. They were a "camera ready copy". That is why they was a blank back side. They would come from the printer and sent along to magazines, customers or anyone else wanting to place this ad in their advertising or letterhead. Unfortunitly, Mullins explanation is not correct.

 

[S&W ucla]

Don, does your 22 club gun have a smooth or grooved side HBH? Really neat gun too!!

 

[paplinker]

The official name for these is an "AD SLICK. They were a "camera ready copy". That is why they was a blank back side. They would come from the printer and sent along to magazines, customers or anyone else wanting to place this ad in their advertising or letterhead. Unfortunitly, Mullins explanation is not correct.

Thanks for the info Don.

Explains why the back is blank and that there is no page number on it. I see very few of these but the ones I have seen were mostly unfolded pristine examples. That led me to believe they likely were not in mass circulation or in gun owners boxes. I could picture these maybe being in a high volume gun shop posted up for potential gun buying orders. Maybe?

I cannot make out what it says on the bottom left hand corner. Mine is Pat Pending. Does yours show a patent date?

 

[Club Gun Fan]

Don, does your 22 club gun have a smooth or grooved side HBH? Really neat gun too!!

It has smooth sides.

 

[Club Gun Fan]

Thanks for the info Don.

Explains why the back is blank and that there is no page number on it. I see very few of these but the ones I have seen were mostly unfolded pristine examples. That led me to believe they likely were not in mass circulation or in gun owners boxes. I could picture these maybe being in a high volume gun shop posted up for potential gun buying orders. Maybe?

I cannot make out what it says on the bottom left hand corner. Mine is Pat Pending. Does yours show a patent date?

Like I said before, they were "AD SLICKS", used to send out for publishers to use in their publications. They are "camera ready copy". Meaning nothing has to be done to the piece except, maybe put the name of a gun store on it. On the bottom left corner it reads" Reg U. S. Pat. Office"

 

[Club Gun Fan]

I found a couple more pictures that show the HBH up close.

 

[Memphis]

Don, Have you ever looked inside that little .22 to see if that hammer had been altered or modified to fit that gun. Like you said, it's the only one you've seen and it clearly is the only one I've seen. I can't imagine the factory setting up tooling for one example only. Have you ever heard any comments from Mr Jinks on this subject? I also noticed that the top of the hammer where your thumb would go has a different treatment than the usual HBH's. A VERY interesting gun. Thanks for posting pics.

Roger

 

[Thinnes]

Guys, that ad slick came right out of the 1937 and 1938 S&W catalogs. It appears the last page of the catalog was reserved for S&W new products. The humpback hammer replaced the RM on the last page. The HH was not a standard feature "but will be supplied on our LARGEST models on request at no extra charge". It was 3.50 to install on guns "already in the hands of the shooters".
Pearl stocks $4.95
Grip adapter $2.50
Magnum stocks $2.50

These old catalogs are a riot. I'd post a pic of pg 52 showing the introduction of the HH but my pic poster has gone to bed. Tomorrow if anyone's interested. Dave

 

[Hondo44]

I found a couple more pictures that show the HBH up close.

Don,

That's an extraordinary gun!

But when the grandson of the owner of the company asks for something............well who could turn down a grandson?

If I were to speculate. it doesn't seen too difficult for one of the factory craftsman to take the K size HB hammer forging before final shaping, holes drilled in it, or color case hardening, to just miniaturize it to I frame dimensions. Might have even had to section it vertically and weld it back together.

Could have even been done by a trade ally like King's Gunsight; they're famous for their wide spur custom 'cockeyed' hammers.

But why is it not checkered, both the factory and King's could have done that. Maybe the grandson had his own idea.

I think I've seen one other (or this one) before but I'll have to look in my files. I would have kept a photo.

 

[Hondo44]

Yep here it is, it's yours and I quote:

"It is one of my favorite Club Guns, but, they all are. It letters as being shipped with a six inch barrel. There is no mention of the stocks.

"Quoted directly from the factory letter:

""Company records indicate that your handgun with serial number 0345 was shipped from our factory on May 29, 1928 and delivered to Dana Bull, Springfield MA. The Bull's were part of the Wesson family. Sarah Wesson, D. B. Wesson's daughter married Dr. Bull of Worcester MA. They were divorced and she lived with her father in Springfield. One of the Dr. Bull's family also married Florence Wesson and worked at S&W. But I have no records as to Dana Bull in my notes on the family.""

"The serial number 0345 appears on the frame, cylinder, extractor and the barrel. The serial stamp on the barrel obviously is from a later stamp. There is a rework diamond stamp on the frame and the barrel. This gun has a humpback hammer." Don Mundell 'Gun Club Fan'


The frame does not have the post 1922 "Made In USA" stamp although it shipped in '29. Built as a .22/32 Heavy Frame Target originally.

The 2" ribbed barrel was introduced on the Model of 1953 .22/32 Kit Gun and has a custom reshaped ramp sight blade. Apparently the barrel change came after 1953 as did the .400" wide Target trigger.

And shortened original extractor rod due to the need for right threads. Although there was a 2" I frame ext rod as used on the 38/32 Terrier beginning in 1936 with the skinny knurled tip in place of the knob. Still available at the time of the barrel change with RH threads and also now on Gunpartscorp.

Photo and ownership by Gun Club Fan'

 

[Hondo44]

Here's my "humpback" hammer for my Baby Chiefs (actually an unmodified .38 Bodyguard hammer) which snagged a lot less than the standard hammer: