Model 53 questions

[Masterpiece]

RMK53,
If you post a photo of the Top Lid of the Box I should be able to tell you if Your Box had the label affixed rather than imprinted into it.

 

[RMK53]

in side of the lid has writing on it like a paragraph that was typed if that means anything

 

[SuperMan]

..as to the box...it could be since this is a very early Jet that it came from the factory with a presentation case. If so, then the label would have been on the outside of the packing case not on the blue inner box. You may want to look around. There may be a mahogany hinged top box somewhere in your fathers things that has the tools and paperwork for the gun.


What usually happened is when a cased set came into the dealer, the packing box was opened, the presentation case, which was wrapped in plastic, opened, the gun, which was in an unmarked blue box, taken out and put in the PC and the rest thrown away.

You have a wonderful remembrance of your father...one day maybe you could have a nice glass topped PC made to display the Jet...

Bob

 

[Masterpiece]

RMK53,
Does the outside of the Lid have the S&W Logo and the Company Address on the Top? I'm interested to see a photo of the typed information you described. I think what you're describing is just the Standard Information that is printed inside the Lid,but it wouldn't hurt to see it just in case. Also,I have never seen a Model 53 shipped with a Mahogany Presentation Case. Although knowing S&W,anything's possible,but in this case highly unlikely!! It would have had to been a Clamshell Case & I'm sure we would have heard of or seen one by now!!

 

[29-1]

RMK53, I used to dable in Jets and still have a few laying around. You have a nice example which was most probably shipped between June and Dec 1961 making it a first year Jet which is the most desired model, at least for me. I have K445820 which is a 6 in and it shipped in August 1961 and K445175 which shipped in Dec, 1961. Since the factory often tooled up for specific runs of barrel lengths I suspect your's may have been shipped about the same time in Dec. With the aux cylinder, by the way is it numbered to the gun?, it's at least a 1500 package in the box with the tools and paperwork, in particular the red warning card which often times got lost along the way. The parts sheet will also be the April 1, 1961 edition. Here are a couple of pictures that might help show what yours would have come with.
Regards
Chuck

 

[Masterpiece]

Chuck,
I know you have owned quite a few of these also. Have you ever seen one with a Mahoghany Presentation Case you felt was Original to the Revolver? Also, from the photos she's posted I didn't see a Serial Number on the Cylinder Face of the 22 Rimfire Cyl. which is installed in the Revolver now,but it may be stamped under the Extractor Star. I've had a few that were stamped that way. Whether or not they came with the Revolver originally I don't know for sure.

 

[29-1]

Chuck,
I know you have owned quite a few of these also. Have you ever seen one with a Mahoghany Presentation Case you felt was Original to the Revolver? Also, from the photos she's posted I didn't see a Serial Number on the Cylinder Face of the 22 Rimfire Cyl. which is installed in the Revolver now,but it may be stamped under the Extractor Star. I've had a few that were stamped that way. Whether or not they came with the Revolver originally I don't know for sure.

No, I never saw one that came with a case but back in the early 70's when I first started to gather 53s, I would always get a mahogany case from one of the regional factory centers, usually Tampa from a guy named Jim Fish, and put them in those and store the blue boxes seperately.
Chuck

 

[MP1983]

rmk53, for what it's worth here's a little more history about the Model 53 & the round it as developed for that you won't find in the 1961 article you have...

as you know they started making those in 1961...they stopped in '72 or so...after making only less than 15,000 (according to SCSW)...I believe Roy Jinks' book notes that the .22 Remington Jet was the last "magnum" round the original S&W company was directly involved with in regards to creation & providing the first revolvers for the cartridge...but it had certain failings and it never really caught on...the biggest problem is the .22 Jet cartidges would slide back as they fired unless the chambers were bone dry (no oil residue) and this caused the cylinder to lock up (NOT GOOD)...plus, I've read the velocities never really produced as promised...

still, for many years it has been a coveted piece for collectors...I would love to have one myself! I particularly admire the highly deveoped hammer that has a switch to change from rimfire to center-fire...

you've got a beautiful keepsake & nice piece of S&W history there...

 

[RMK53]

This is the only thing the box says other then the logo onside and serial one one end and what not there are serial numbers on the gun ill post a pic you can kinda see them (bad angle) but you can see them

 

[RMK53]

there is no serial number on either cylinder just the letter s on the one in the gun

 

[ndbass]

Can any of you guys tell me what year mine was made? It's serial number k444377 and any idea what it's worth? It confess with the original box in decemt shape, frayed edges but still squared. And comes with only one chamber wheel with the inserts which i think are for the magnum rounds. By the way, how can i tell for sure if it is the magnum chamber or not? Fun seems to be in mint condition. Not sure if it's been fired before, but doesn't look like it had been much

Thanks!