Model 33-1 variation

[jcelect]

Here's one that S&W never made! I just recieved the letter form the factory on this one. It was shipped from the factory on 27 Feb 1970 with the 2" barrel, square butt, 38 S&W ctg, and stamped "33-1"!

jcelect

 

[opoefc]

They made at least one and you have it! Dash ones of almost any model are very hard to come by. Congrats! Ed.

 

[Hondo44]

That's truly an unusual and rare 33-1!! And what a beauty, nice find. Probably assembled in 1969 and just missed having diamond grips by about a year.

Just FYI, J frames are the exception which do not follow the usual dash number pattern. Since they had the right to left hand thread change on the ejcetor rod immediately post war and the trigger guard screw eliminated c. 1953, the dash one (change to J frame except of course the 38 special models) beginning c.1960 lasted about 20 years except for those models that were discontinued earlier than 20 years like the Mod 33 in 1974.

 

[vrichard]

I have a 4in.sq.butt mdl.33-1 ,what so rare about them?
Dick

 

[Green Frog]

I have a 4in.sq.butt mdl.33-1 ,what so rare about them?
Dick

Maybe the 2" barrel??

 

[Hondo44]

I have a 4in.sq.butt mdl.33-1 ,what so rare about them?
Dick

Correct Froggy.

The Model 33s are the sq butt Regulation Police models with 3 or 4" barrels. The Mod 32 is the round butt 2" Terrier, so a Mod 33 sq butt w/ 2" barrel is an anomoly. A non-catalogued configuration combining features of two different models which were both discontinued in 1974. Unlike the .32 S&W models 30 & 31 which were merged into just the model 31 after 1976 combining all configurations under the model 31 until 1991.

It's as rare as finding a Model 18 Combat Masterpiece with a 6" barrel or a rd butt.

 

[JSR III]

Joe, nice find. I have a 33 and two 33-1's but all are 4".

 

[jcelect]

Factory letter!

Thanks to all! Actually I have had this gun for a couple of years but was unable to apply for a factory letter. When I requested a ship date I found out this gun was in those records that had been returned to the factory and unavailable to Mr. Jinks! I was digging through the safe awhile back and found the gun again only to realize Mr Jinks had told us the records were available! To my surprise the gun was shipped as pictured! The 33-1, J frame designation, was only made with a 4" barrel and square butt. The 32-1 was a 2" barrel with a round butt! Again we can not say "Smith & Wesson never made a gun like that"!
jcelect SWCA#LM723

 

[Hondo44]

That was a wonderful turn of events, especially since it's a rare anomoly, the letter is critical verification! I wouldn't be surprised if there was also a three inch post war .38 Reg Pol, pre 33s ror J frame 33-1 'out there' as well even if the SCSW does not acknowledge them in either the pre war, or post war models either (like the 2"). Somethong to hunt for........