Let's See Some Pre-War Smiths

[DocB]

I know there are a lot of these out there, and a lot of you have many that would qualify as the best looking Smith & Wesson ever made. The two I have pictured here illustrate the difference between the post-war satin finish used for a few years in the late 1940's and the pre-war blue finish. The top gun is a 1929 Hand Ejector 38 Special that was refinished at the factory in 1947 while the bottom gun is a 1937 Hand Ejector that still retains most of its original blue finish. In my opinion, the pre-war M&P HE is the best looking Smith ever made. So, let's see the Smith you own from this era that you consider to be the best looking one ever produced. I know we are going to see some awesome guns!

 

[Texas Star]

Those postwar finishes were pretty bland, compared to the pre-war ones.

I know that S&W would polish to a bright blue for about ten dollars, but that was a more significant sum in the 1940's and '50's than it is now. Still, if I was affluent enough, I'd have special ordered the brighter finish.

I don't know if that added cost finish was as good as their Bright Blue applied to the .357 Magnum and very few other S&W's. But it'd be far better than the dull satin blue std. on service revolvers then. I've seen Highway Patrolman/M-28 guns finished as well as some standard service revolvers of that era.

I look forward to seeing more photos in this topic. Overall, I guess the M-66 is my favorite S&W. But many are so good that it's like having to choose between one's children.

 

[22hipower]

Here's a 1905 3rd Model Target, perhaps not "the best looking S&W ever made" but that model might be in the running and I'm rather fond of it; and "pre" both of the big wars.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Hunter Keith]

1905 4th Change HE .32-20 Winchester

Lettered correctly, shipped in 1925. A work of art

 

[RKmesa]

A few of my favorites (all with humpback hammers...):

K-22 Outdoorsman:



38-44 Outdoorsman:



Pre-War 357 (Non-Registered) Magnum:



I just noticed that all of them had magnas as well...

 

[DocB]

This is like going to a museum without leaving the house. I knew I would get to see some guns I have never seen for sale in all my travels over all these years.

 

[JohnRippert]

1905 4th change.

.32 HE

Another .32 HE

 

[Old TexMex]

A couple Heavy Dutys:

 

[bruner1981]

Pretty sure this is my new favorite thread. I'll post my 455 after it gets delivered

 

[boykinlp]

My one and only pre-war S&W:

 

[Nedroe]

Here's a Few......

Pre-war 5" Heavy Duty

KCPD Non Reg Magnum

EVPD Registered Magnum

1905 Target Model


Just a few I have now.


Ned

 

[JohnRippert]

I do like that 1905 Target, Ned.

 

[RKmesa]

My one and only pre-war S&W:

If you can only have one - that is about as nice a "one" as you can get.

 

[Old TexMex]

Lettered shipped 1922- a 2nd model target

 

[Absalom]

Pre-which war?

Here is my earliest M&P, a nickel-plated .32 WCF shipped in December 1913.

At the time, Smith & Wesson appears to have used both the M&P and the model year designation. My 1910 Abercrombie & Fitch catalog offers it as the "Military and Police Model 1905" and the 1915 S, D & G catalog as the "Military and Police Hand Ejector Model 1905".

This revolver is a bit finish-challenged, but since I only paid $255 for it, I'm not complaining.

 

[1blindref]

4" RM #274, shipped July 24, 1935

4.5" RM #3270, shipped to the Kentucky Highway Patrol November 18, 1937

38-44 Heavy Duty shipped April 14, 1930

Factory nickel 38-44 shipped June 4, 1930 to the Tonawanda Township PD

38-44 Heavy Duty shipped July 11, 1934 to the Pa. State Police for testing

Factory nickel 38-44 Heavy Duty shipped December 23, 1938

Factory nickel with a HBH 38-44 Heavy Duty shipped March 2, 1939

38-44 Heavy Duty shipped December 28, 1939 to the Beloit Wisconsin PD

4" 38-44 Heavy Duty shipped April 4, 1939 to the Sandusky Ohio PD

38-44 Outdoorsman shipped February 1932

38-44 Outdoorsman shipped October 23, 1939 to the King Sight Company

 

[fat tom]

I was going to post a couple of pics,but after seeing what's already here,I'm just gonna tuck my tail and slink away as discreetly as possible.
f.t.

 

[DocB]

Nah. . .fat tom. . .post some pictures anyway! I've got a 1902 HE that looks like it's be to hell and didn't make it back, and I may dig it out and post a picture of it.

 

[Doc44]

K-22 shipped in January 1935 with box and target shot by Mr. Bingham and a ".357" Magnum shipped in July 1937 (click on the photos for a better look).

Bill

 

[sailor723]

I was going to post a couple of pics,but after seeing what's already here,I'm just gonna tuck my tail and slink away as discreetly as possible.
f.t.

My thoughts exactly....some very, very nice stuff here!

 

[gjamison]

These are pre war 38/44 outdoorsmen's. The top one was restored by Fords and the stocks are Keith Brown's. The other one is completely orginial and 98% to 99% condition. Enjoy.

 

[Toyman]

A Triple Lock

A 3rd model

 

[Hunter Keith]

.32-20 WCF HE 1905

Not lettered, but all #'s match. Nickel with MOP stocks, factory I think. Finish is iffy, but tight as a drum. It has the fouling cut in the top of the frame.

 

[Göring's S&W]

Pre war S&W hand ejectors are my favorite

If my eclectic S&W collection has any theme to it at all, it would be pre war hand ejectors. I have a fair amount of antiques, and post war hand ejectors but my focus is the pre war stuff. I love the quality, the history, the scarcity, etc. There are many debates to be had when collecting S&Ws, but its hard to argue the assertion that S&W peaked in the pre war years.

Here are some of my pre war S&Ws - enjoy!

1939 "357 magnum" REG 4952. Formerly part of the Gary Garbrecht collection

1st model 44 "New Century" aka Triple Lock - 69XX - factory 5in nickel

1899 32-20 55XX shipped in 1902 and lettered with the pearls

38/44 HD 54XXX - factory nickel - letter pending

K22 OD - shipped 1931

22/32 HFT 222XXX shipped 1915

32-20 1905 4th change target shipped 1924

3rd model perfected single shot 22LR with olympic chamber - 96XX

2nd model 44 factory nickel shipped in 1929

Is this too old the factory letter logo gun! 1st model 38 SA "baby russian" 13XXX

K22 1st model target masterpiece aka K22/40 shipped in 1940

1903 1st change 4.25 in target factory engraved by Oscar Young

Consecutive 1935 "357 magnums" which shipped together in the same configuration to the same distributor. REG 492 & 493 - together again

 

[EdF702]

Here's my lettered 1934 Heavy Duty...

 

[tftech1]

Regarding Post #26 showing RMs with consecutive REG numbers 492 and 493, I always ask the same question: Are the serial numbers consecutive also? I have REG 8x and 8x+1, but the serial number on 8x is about 15 higher than the one on 8x+1. In addition, mine did not go to the same recipient/distributor. I would enjoy hearing how the serial numbers of REG 492 and 493 relate to consecutivity.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Here are some pre-war 38/44 HD's. Just a nice shot of some fun ones.

 

[Art Doc]

A couple years ago I purged most of my pre-war S&Ws (along with some Colts). Just had too many guns and didn't feel I needed all the old ones. A TL, an HD, a 22/32, a 3rd Model 44 and others all went bye bye. I know...tragic. But I did hang on to a couple.

I think I have 3 pre-war S&Ws still hanging around. A 1929 W&K 44 Special. Been refinished but the nickel is the original finish. I can't stand the old style stocks so look for later Magnas on my older N frames.

Got an itch for a 32-20 and bagged this a couple years ago. I like the 6.5" with the round butt frame. Refinished, bought it cheap ($259) and nobody loves it but me. A hoot to shoot.

Of course I still have the Utah Highway Patrol RM I paid too much for about 8 years back. Good shooter. Packed it a few times thinking it's fun to be the last guy in the world still carrying an RM. Letter says the UHP bought 50 and they inscribed them at the factory with the agency name and a number. I assume they were marked 1 - 50 and mine is #27. Hey, I just realized that's the descendant model number. Cool. But Roy Jinks doesn't count these when he totals up the number of inscribed RMs. I wonder why?

 

[Gordyf808]

Hi all
These are my two '20s vintage M&Ps.
Not as shiny as some that are here but both are good shooters and both are all matching numbered including the grips.
One is 38 spl and the other 32-20.
Saxon pig you are right! the 32-20 is a giggle to shoot!
Aloha
Gordy

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

A couple years ago I purged most of my pre-war S&Ws (along with some Colts). Just had too many guns and didn't feel I needed all the old ones. A TL, an HD, a 22/32, a 3rd Model 44 and others all went bye bye. I know...tragic. But I did hang on to a couple.

I think I have 3 pre-war S&Ws still hanging around. A 1929 W&K 44 Special. Been refinished but the nickel is the original finish. I can't stand the old style stocks so look for later Magnas on my older N frames.

Got an itch for a 32-20 and bagged this a couple years ago. I like the 6.5" with the round butt frame. Refinished, bought it cheap ($259) and nobody loves it but me. A hoot to shoot.

Of course I still have the Utah Highway Patrol RM I paid too much for about 8 years back. Good shooter. Packed it a few times thinking it's fun to be the last guy in the world still carrying an RM. Letter says the UHP bought 50 and they inscribed them at the factory with the agency name and a number. I assume they were marked 1 - 50 and mine is #27. Hey, I just realized that's the descendant model number. Cool. But Roy Jinks doesn't count these when he totals up the number of inscribed RMs. I wonder why?

I am willing to bet You can sell that RM for a profit at any Time You want.