Model 34-1, finally!

[Aukula1062]

Had a few but circumstances forced me to part with them. I've owned several rimfire J frames over the years and a few K frame model 18s. Brought this one home today, traded an AR with a few dollars. Pretty even deal in actual dollars. Can't wait to take this to the range with it's 2206 stable mate. My favorite kind of shooting, rimfire handguns. Any thoughts on the imitation ivory, stag or ram horn grips?

 

[robertrwalsh]

Assuming the gun is blue I would go with something light colored. If nickel plated, something dark.

 

[Aukula1062]

Thank you Mr. Walsh! Yes it's a blued gun. I had to reset my camera to add the photo.

 

[mikeruns]

I have the 34 with a 2”, also square butt and it had some HERRETT'S checkered walnut stocks that are amazing…I actually swapped those onto a 3” model 36 and they help control that one a bit better. The grips made it easier to fire the model 34 a bit more accurately as the magnas are pretty small….I think also that black ram’s horn would look cool but, elk stag would be the bomb for your 34…cheers

 

[22hipower]

Stag or rams horn would be nice. Personally I find the the factory J frame targets hard to beat.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

https://flic.kr/p/2qDGBPe https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

 

[Aukula1062]

I actually have a set of J frame target grips... somewhere. ��

 

[Aukula1062]

Serial number for my 34-1 is M35XXX. I'm guessing 1974 or 75ish. Can someone help me out with this please?

 

[cmansguns]

I think 1971 but Letter will tell you for sure

Nice gun! According to Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, 4th Edition, The M letter prefix for Model 34-1 for year 1971 started with M 30001, and 1973 started with M60001.

I had two Model 34-1's both great guns but gone now. One was serial number M51960 and shipped in 1972, the other was s/n M77380 and shipped in Feb 1975. I can only find a couple pics of my 1975 one.

If you join the SWCA (Smith & Wesson Collectors Association) you have access to Dr. Roy Jinks and can ask him for the ship date (Month & Year) of your serial number. Alternatively, you can send to the SWHF (Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation) for a Letter of Authentication. I think the cost of the Factory Letter is $100 but I may be in error. The cost of asking Dr. Roy for the ship date is free for Members.

Bottom line? I'm guessing you have a 1971 shipment but I could be off by years...because S&W doesn't really ship in numerical sequence with whatever date the frame was stamped with a serial number (the so called manufacture date). This is why Collectors use the ship date as the birth date of any S&W.

 

[dsk]

Stag or rams horn would be nice. Personally I find the the factory J frame targets hard to beat.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

https://flic.kr/p/2qDGBPe https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

I wanted a set of those J-frame targets, but the few I found on eBay were insanely overpriced. Eventually I just settled for some smooth fingergroove grips, also bought on eBay.

 

[colt_saa]

Congratulations on a great addition to the family

For comfort Iagree wit 22hipower, The Factory's smooth or checkered stocks absolutely are filling in the hand

Typically the smooth grips have better visual appeal than the checkered ones

However for the very best visual appeal on the blue guns Ivory is hard to beat. It is also hard to buy. So I go with Stag or Elk are probably the best looking

 

[71vette]

Very nice. I picked up a 4 inch 34-1 in early 2004 to go with my 2 inch. I like owning them, but for my hands they are a little small. I shoot my K frame 22's better.

Also, my nickel 34-1 had VERY tight chambers. I ended up polishing them with Mothers Mag polish, some 22lr bore mops, and a cordless drill. It helped quite a lot.

 

[shil]

That set of goncalo alves targets are da bomb!

 

[shil]

Tight chambers seem to be a common malady with these guns. I have a blued 4". Extraction is tough with some ammo. CCI Standard seems to work well in my gun.

 

[.38SuperMan]

The 34’s are really sweet little guns. I picked up a nickel several years ago at a whats now bargain price and put stags on it. Last year a found a 63 no dash that someone had half polished and got it at a decent price and restored the satin finish. It’s equally as nice as the nickel 34 and basically the same except stainless. Then last month I traded for a cosmetically challenged but mechanically sound 2”. I has some pitting and I’m thinking about having it bead blasted and electroless nickel plated. I had that done on a model 15 that was a cosmetic wreck and turned it into a beautiful revolver.

 

[hkcavalier]

Factory smooth targets are pretty tough to beat.

 

[Brush2000]

Those checkered targets are some of the prettiest wood grips I've ever seen I would be proud to own them if you ever decide to part.

Congratulations on a great addition to the family

For comfort Iagree wit 22hipower, The Factory's smooth or checkered stocks absolutely are filling in the hand

Typically the smooth grips have better visual appeal than the checkered ones

However for the very best visual appeal on the blue guns Ivory is hard to beat. It is also hard to buy. So I go with Stag or Elk are probably the best looking

​

 

[JP@AK]

Assuming the gun is blue I would go with something light colored.

I agree. Ivory on blue always looks great to my eye.

This is a Model 19-3, just for illustrating the contrast. I also have elephant ivory on a Model 36, but I have never taken a picture of it.


Here are a couple of my Kit Guns with factory stocks. Nickel Model 34-1 on top and a blue Model of 1953 at the bottom.