Model 33 (no dash)

[1srelluc]

I found this very nice 4" Model 33 (no dash) in .38 S&W today. It was part of a trade deal for a Soviet target rifle I had around $225.00 in.

Serial # 84872.

Stocks are serialed to the revolver.

I guess it's on a I frame.

Any idea when it was made?

I have a bunch of S&W, Webley, Enfield, and Colt revolvers in .38 S&W (Brits are .38/200 of course) and a pile of ammo so the .38 S&W clambering did not scare me off.

I don't even know the 33's value....I just liked it.

 

[OldChief]

The best I can do from the 4th ed. of the catalog is 1949-69, 54475-122678. They began stamping the model numbers on the 33s in 1957 so if yours has it stamped on it, that can get you a bit closer. They also changed from I to the J frame in 61 and that would be a -1. I believe we now have you between 57 and 61. I'm sure someone on the forum with more knowledge that I will be able to come closer.

 

[RSinOR]

Model 33

I just did a quick check of your revolver in the bible and found the Model 32&33 were produced from 1949 to 1969. Serial numbers ranged from 54475 to 122678.

They were produced on the I, I Improved and J frames. The model 33-1 came out in 1961 and the frame size was changed to J. The experts should be along shortly to provide more detailed information.

 

[1srelluc]

The best I can do from the 4th ed. of the catalog is 1949-69, 54475-122678. They began stamping the model numbers on the 33s in 1957 so if yours has it stamped on it, that can get you a bit closer. They also changed from I to the J frame in 61 and that would be a -1. I believe we now have you between 57 and 61. I'm sure someone on the forum with more knowledge that I will be able to come closer.

Yeah, I saw mention made of the 54475-122678 serial range and frame change too. I might have posted it in the wrong sub-forum date-wise but it so close I chose this sub-forum to post it in.

 

[OldChief]

Mod 33

No sweat! At least we've got you within a 4 year range, hang in there, I'm sure someone will come up with a better date.

Yeah, I saw mention made of the 54475-122678 serial range and frame change too. I might have posted it in the wrong sub-forum date-wise but it so close I chose this sub-forum to post it in.

 

[1srelluc]

BTW....I remembered having a little Buchmeier Townson Perfect Fit holster in my footlocker-o-holsters.

It fits fine though i did have to re-stitch part of it.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

I like it . Sounds like you did real good to me .

Eddie

 

[DocB]

Don't feel bad. I got a 32-1 last week and didn't have a clue as to what it was until I got it home. Smith made so many odd revolvers during this period. It looks like the bigger brother (4 inch barrel) to the M32 (2 inch barrel). I've never seen a M33! Smith shut down many of these guns in the early 1970's, so even us old guys never saw a new one out for sale in a shop. I would guess it to be a $500 gun in that condition, but my guess isn't worth much on this one. Looks like a nice one to me.

 

[1srelluc]

Don't feel bad. I got a 32-1 last week and didn't have a clue as to what it was until I got it home. Smith made so many odd revolvers during this period. It looks like the bigger brother (4 inch barrel) to the M32 (2 inch barrel). I've never seen a M33! Smith shut down many of these guns in the early 1970's, so even us old guys never saw a new one out for sale in a shop. I would guess it to be a $500 gun in that condition, but my guess isn't worth much on this one. Looks like a nice one to me.

The best I could do was look at completed auctions on Gunporker and the only one I saw was a "newer" 33-1 that they guy could not get his $300.00 "buy it now" price for.

I suspect the .38 S&W chambering scares a lot of people off.

 

[Jim NNN]

Congrats on the 33! That one's even nicer than mine. Mine is close to yours in condition, but with more finish wear on the cylinder. Mine's also a no dash, so I date it somewhere between '57 and 60, as I recall.

For some reason I seemed to think mine was '59-ish when I bought it. Yours is serial numbered around 4000 earlier than mine, so I'd guess the same or maybe '58. I paid $450 for mine within the last year...but who knows what they're worth. A little too uncommon on the market nowadays to have a set value, IMHO.

 

[1srelluc]

Congrats on the 33! That one's even nicer than mine. Mine is close to yours in condition, but with more finish wear on the cylinder. Mine's also a no dash, so I date it somewhere between '57 and 60, as I recall.

For some reason I seemed to think mine was '59-ish when I bought it. Yours is serial numbered around 4000 earlier than mine, so I'd guess the same or maybe '58. I paid $450 for mine within the last year...but who knows what they're worth. A little too uncommon on the market nowadays to have a set value, IMHO.

I did a bit more digging and it looks like they are going between $300 and $600 for the 33-1s. The high end being one that was NIB.

I never saw a older Model 33.

 

[heater1]

1srelluc, I have 90048 that shipped in February of 1962 so I would hazard a guess that yours shipped in '60 or '61. Additionally mine is on an improved I frame (coil spring). I think your guess on price range is fairly accurate depending on condition, area of the country and desires of the buyer.

Anyway, nice little guns that are fun to shoot and reload for.

 

[1srelluc]

1srelluc, I have 90048 that shipped in February of 1962 so I would hazard a guess that yours shipped in '60 or '61. Additionally mine is on an improved I frame (coil spring). I think your guess on price range is fairly accurate depending on condition, area of the country and desires of the buyer.

Anyway, nice little guns that are fun to shoot and reload for.

My 33 also has the coil spring.

I thought that only the 33-1 had the improved I-frame.

 

[Jim NNN]

1srelluc, I have 90048 that shipped in February of 1962 so I would hazard a guess that yours shipped in '60 or '61. Additionally mine is on an improved I frame (coil spring). I think your guess on price range is fairly accurate depending on condition, area of the country and desires of the buyer.

Anyway, nice little guns that are fun to shoot and reload for.

Thanks Pete. That helps me out with my gun, too. I'm guessing mine is a little later than I thought. Mine's more like a 61-ish or maybe 60 as well.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Good looking gun!
I also have never seen one.

 

[heater1]

Housepuss got it right further up the chain when he indicated that the -1 signified the change to a J frame.

 

[1srelluc]

Housepuss got it right further up the chain when he indicated that the -1 signified the change to a J frame.

Ahh, OK, so the "improved" part of the improved I-frame is the replacement of the flat main spring with the coil spring?

 

[heater1]

Yes, That's correct.

 

[jcelect]

Don't feel bad. I got a 32-1 last week and didn't have a clue as to what it was until I got it home. Smith made so many odd revolvers during this period.

Actually "this period" you speak of is over many years. These aren't odd revolvers they are the old ones that had names rather than a number. When S&W started with model numbers the system was very simple, 1x were K frames, 2x were N frames, and 3x were J frames! Then things got complicated! They introduced models that required more numbers than were in the 3x system;i.e. mods 40, 42, 43, 49, 51 etc.! In the original 3x system the guns started as named guns. A mod 30/31 was a 32 Hand ejector, a mod 32 was a Terrier, a mod 33 was a 38 Regulation Police. the 22/32 became the mod 34. Following the numbers in the 80s and 90s
has become a task because they went crazy.
jcelect

 

[1srelluc]

Actually "this period" you speak of is over many years. These aren't odd revolvers they are the old ones that had names rather than a number. When S&W started with model numbers the system was very simple, 1x were K frames, 2x were N frames, and 3x were J frames! Then things got complicated! They introduced models that required more numbers than were in the 3x system;i.e. mods 40, 42, 43, 49, 51 etc.! In the original 3x system the guns started as named guns. A mod 30/31 was a 32 Hand ejector, a mod 32 was a Terrier, a mod 33 was a 38 Regulation Police. the 22/32 became the mod 34. Following the numbers in the 80s and 90s
has become a task because they went crazy.
jcelect

Yeah, I remember they really lost me during that time. As a casual buyer during that period you simply could not keep-up as it seemed there were new model numbers coming out every-other month or sooner.

LOL....My eyes still gloss over when a hard core fan-boy starts talking model numbers.