I or J frame

[wilburmay]

I picked this up Saturday from a forum member at I think was a very fair deal. My question is… is it an I or J frame. As you can see from my poor quality phone pics it has coil main and is factory plated per the N on handle. Grips number to the revolver. 32 long with excellent lock up no push off. I'm thinking 1958 to 1960.
I paid $425. Can anybody help me out on approximate year of manufacture or any other info would be appreciated.
Thanks
Wilbur

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Howdy Wilbur,

Your new revolver is called a .32 Hand Ejector. It's built on the I-frame. I hope Hondo44 will stop by to tell you exactly which version it is.

My Model 31 (.32 Regulation Police, square butt) is in the same serial number series as your .32 HE. Its s/n is 689371, and S&W shipped it in August 1958 so I'd guess yours shipped a wee bit earlier. Hondo44 can likely narrow that down more.

Nice looking little .32. Congrats.

 

[wilburmay]

He is couple more pics

 

[ColbyBruce]

Open it up. Is there a model number stamped inside?

 

[wilburmay]

No model #
Thanks
Wilbur

 

[kscharlie]

Congratulations on obtaining a very nice .32 Hand Ejector Model of 1953 New I Frame.

I have one, serial #654621, very close to yours, and it was shipped June, 1957. It would be safe to say that yours would have likely shipped very close to that same date.

This revolver would become the Model 30 shortly after yours (and mine) was produced. It would then become the Model 30-1, which was changed to the J frame.

 

[wheelgun610]

With the coil type main spring, that's what we refer to as an "Improved" 'I' frame. Originally, I frames had leaf type main springs like K and N frames.

Mark

 

[JP@AK]

With the coil type main spring, that's what we refer to as an "Improved" 'I' frame.

Mark

That was the standard line for a long time. However, our resident expert, Jim Carter (Hondo44), has provided some additional clarity in these matters, with a shift in terminology.

The "Improved I Frame" did involve the change from leaf to coil spring. This was in the early 1950s, when the grip frame was still shorter than it later became.

In 1953, dimensional changes were made, resulting in the "New I Frame." So, Charlie's reply above is correct.

For reference, I would point you to the brown pages 144-146 in the SCSW 4th Edition.

Cheers!

 

[wheelgun610]

... The "Improved I Frame" did involve the change from leaf to coil spring.

Hey Jack, yeah I knew there were more details than just the coil spring. I just threw that out as that's pretty much the easiest way to tell the difference at a glance between the "old" and "new" I frames. Of course, the lack of a strain screw would actually be the first clue. And I agree that 'Hondo44' definitely knows what he's talking about regarding I frames. And J frames. And K and N frames. Not sure about L frames though. I don't visit that area of the forum too often.

Mark

 

[Hondo44]

With the coil type main spring, that's what we refer to as an "Improved" 'I' frame. Originally, I frames had leaf type main springs like K and N frames.

Mark

I concur with the member posts above:

Just for future reference:

First after WWII was the .32 Hand Ejector Model 'Post war Transitional Model I Frame', with leaf spring.

Next in 1952 the .32 Hand Ejector 'Improved I frame' was introduced with a coil mainspring.

Then the OP's .32 Hand Ejector 'Model of 1953 New I Frame' was introduced, with larger trigger guard, 1/8" longer grip frame/grips, and the screw count was reduced to 4, then 3.

Next came the numbered Model I frames. Model numbers were assigned in June of 1957 and were eventually stamped in the yoke during 1958.

The '1953 New J frame' replaced the I frames end of 1960 and early 1961 depending on the model.

 

[wilburmay]

Thank you gentlemen for helping me with your wealth of knowledge. I'm changing my carry to this .32 long.
Wilbur