I need help with a First model Single shot 22

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GUNKWAZY

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Hi Guys,
Long time no visits from me.
I'm sorry to stop in only now that I need help, but I need help on this one.
I have what looks to be a First Model Single shot 22. It has a blued finish and it has the recoil shield (that's why I say first model).
It has wood checkered grips with no medallions.
It's a single action only gun with a round trigger guard.
My problem is that the guns serial number is under the grips on the bottom of the butt.
Not on the front strap as I've seen before on these.
It's a 5 digit serial number 204**
Could this be a different gun with a single shot model of 91 barrel ?
The top of the barrel is marked Model of 91.
Sorry, no pictures as of yet as it's not officially mine.

Any help would be great guys.

Thanks in advance for your time.

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)
 
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What is the serial number(s) on the barrel & latch? 204** is way out of range for a 1st model. of course, and the serial number should be on the front of the grip frame. My guess is the frame is from a .38 Single Action, 3rd model
and someone has added the single shot barrel. Ed.
 
I'll have to challenge Mr. Ed on the serial number comment. I have #23001, and they could be as high as 28,000 and change. But when it comes to where the frame number is located, he's right on the money as usual---------it is almost certainly a "put together" gun. A letter will tell you for sure.

Ralph Tremaine
 
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The .38 Single Action 3rd Model and the Model of '91 Single Shots shared the same frame. Does the serial number on the latch and barrel match the one on the frame? These can be hard to see, but if you look between the "ears" where the latch attaches to the barrel, you should find it. The number for the latch is in the same area, on the bottom of the latch. The belief is that S&W numbered the front of the grip frame on the single shots since these were target models and had the target grips. I would have to double check the ones I own, but I believe I have them with serial numbers in both locations and all numbers matching. Does this mean the ones with the serial number on the bottom of the grip frame were shipped with the revolver cylinder and barrel??? Maybe, but it could be that if someone ordered a single shot, a worker just grabbed a frame and threw on a single shot barrel and shipped it. That's my opinion, anyway. And Ralph is right on the serial number range. They didn't differentiate between the revolvers and the single shots and they were serial numbered in the same range from 1-28,000.

Randy
 
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OK, thanks for the help.
I will double check the serial numbers up on the barrel and latch.
If they match the numbers on the grip frame, I'm coming home with it.
It aint gonna be cheap, but this one is very nice.

Thanks again, Jeff (GUNKWAZY)
 
Ralph and Randy are correct on the serial number range. I misread my own notes on numbers. Time to buy some new glasses! Ed.
 
The serial number matched on the barrel and bottom of butt.
Now if I can just make the deal.
I'll keep you posted.

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)
 
OK, the gun has a slim rear blade sight, but it has screws on either side.
Not on the rear of the sight like I've seen on others.
I could not find a serial number on the latch, just the bottom of the butt and that weird location on the barrel and those both match.
I now own the gun and can get some pics up tomorrow.

Thanks again, Jeff (GUNKWAZY)
 
With (windage) screws on either side-----left side and right side (as opposed to the left and right side on the rear of the sight assembly), you have a 3rd Model rear sight----------which is easier to use; but it ain't kosher.

Ralph Tremaine
 
Picture test
1891a.jpg
 
Okay----you have a 3rd Model rear sight, which as noted earlier is superior to the 1st Model in that it can be adjusted for windage with extreme accuracy----as opposed to the best guess method required with the 1st Model sight.You also have 3rd Model stocks which are superior---or not---depending on your own personal preferences (wood/hard rubber). And--------you have a pretty spiffy looking single shot!

Ralph Tremaine

Other than that, I remain more than a little curious about the frame serial number being on the butt instead of the front strap. Is a factory letter to be forthcoming?
 
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The interesting thing was that the serial number on the butt and barrel matched. That's the only reason I stepped up and bought it.
Do "we" recommend a letter on this one ?
What are they charging for the letter ? I have Colt letters, but no S&W letters.

Thanks again guys, Jeff (GUNKWAZY)
 
The letter is $50, and takes about 6 weeks to arrive these days. That is a very nice looking gun! Seems the Single Shot club is growing pretty quickly!
 
I'm a letter person---knee-jerk automatically!! I have a letter on every S&W I own. Once you get the letter in your grubby little paws you know EXACTLY what you have------------or not!!! What you really know is what the factory records say. The good news is the records are (almost) always right, That brings us to my most recent letter.

It's on a 1st Model Single Shot----8"------.32 S&W caliber-----the first and only centerfire single shot I own----after years of trying----more years than I care to count. It cost a lot!! Needless to say, I spent a fair amount of time examining it-----closely----very closely. It is an entirely legitimate and original piece---'cause I say so.

Oh yeah?!! Well here's what the factory records say: It's a 10" .22!!

The end of this story has not yet been written. That will come to pass in about three months---at which time I will be a very happy camper----or not! And if I'm not a very happy camper, I will at least be a regular happy camper; because I'll still have the choice of believing the factory records or my lying eyes!!

Ralph Tremaine
 
I'm curious as to what you guys feel is the current market value for what I have shows above.
I'm pretty good at setting a value of more modern day firearms, but there's just not a lot of these out there to get a real feel for a value.
What do you guys think ?

Thanks, Jeff (GUNKWAZY)
 
At this point in time, truth be known, nobody knows what you have----at least I don't know. I know you have one of two possible things. The first possibility is you have a weird, but entirely legitimate and (sort of) original 1st Model SS. That which is absolutely not original is the rear sight and the grips/stocks. The grips are no big deal In my mind-----simply a manifestation of a personal preference. And the rear sight may very well be the same thing.

The sight is not numbered. Ergo the sight did not come from another gun. It came from the parts department----and it's highly unlikely it came from the parts department anytime lately---no way, no how!! And that, in my mind, is good news!

The barrel is numbered to the frame. Who numbered it? I don't know either. The barrel and the frame seem to "match" one another----color/condition.

Okay, we have what appears to be a matching barrel/frame---legitimate/original, which has been messed with (the rear sight). It is not the least bit unusual to find a target gun (as opposed to a gun with target sights) that has been messed with. That's what target shooters did----and do. As far as I'm concerned that sort of messing doesn't detract from the value at all. In extreme cases, it adds to the value-----check out the prices for single shots with POPE stamped on the barrel!!

I could go on---and on----and on, but---------------Bottom Line: You need to get a letter. Once you have the letter and we know what it says, we will be in a position to congratulate you for your good fortune--------never mind that we will be green with envy. Conversely, we may be in a position to offer our condolences for your misfortune---and hope it doesn't happen to us. In my case, I will be hoping it doesn't happen to me AGAIN! (Yes, I have paid big money for a completely bogus gun. It took several months and several real honest to God experts to convince me it was a bogus gun-----------but. That story has a reasonably happy ending, but I'd rather have what I thought I had in the first place.)

We live and learn---get a letter. Yes, I know---part of me didn't really want to know exactly what I had either.

RT
 
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