New 22 RF

[Boxhead]

I recently picked this up at Cabelas in Post Fall Idaho. I gave $500 for it and, having never owned such an old Smith so would like to learn a bit here. The SN is 4957XX. Any and all thoughts appreciated.

[Imgur](http://i.imgur.com/lwCfZ4M.jpg)

[Imgur](http://i.imgur.com/agYCJVV.jpg)

[Imgur](http://i.imgur.com/FPcjGbl.jpg)

 

[Wiregrassguy]

That's a nice looking .22/32 Heavy Frame Target. Would have been made in the late 1920's or in the 1930's. I don't have my SCSW handy so someone else may come along with a better date. I'd say you did better than good on that purchase!

 

[Hondo44]

Wow, that's a screamer! And a screamin' price as well.

From my database it shipped between 1/1929 and 3/1929. Got out the door before the Black Thursday market crash, held many Smiths captive in the factory inventory, some for 10 more years.

 

[Bakebfr480]

Nice find!

 

[JP@AK]

For what it is worth, my .22/32 HFT with serial number 425650 shipped in October, 1925. So yours probably dates to no earlier than the mid-1920s. But Hondo's caution that some of them hung around for a while is worth noting. Only a letter can tell you for sure when it left the factory.

Here is a picture of my 1925 example:

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Jack, wouldn't the large ejector Rod knob put it after mid 1928?

Guy

 

[JP@AK]

Wow, that's a screamer! And a screamin' price as well.

From my database it shipped between 1/1929 and 3/1912

1912? Did you mean 1932? Or what?

Got out the door before the Black Friday market crash

The Wall Street crash was Black Tuesday, in 1929, so I'm having some problem understanding your point, Jim.

 

[JP@AK]

Jack, wouldn't the large ejector Rod knob put it after mid 1928?

Well, at least after mid-1927. So I was hedging a little with my "mid-1920s" but notice I said "no earlier than" and 1927 is still "mid" in my book.

Good point, though, and well taken.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

I think Jim meant to type 1942. At least, that's what I would have done and great minds think alike.

 

[glowe]

Jack, wouldn't the large ejector Rod knob put it after mid 1928?

Guy

No, it would have had a large ejector rod before 1928 and a barrel shaped knob after, which should actually be called a small ejector rod knob, since there were only two for all S&Ws except for the Models 1896 & 1899.

 

[Boxhead]

Wow, that's a screamer! And a screamin' price as well.

From my database it shipped between 1/1929 and 3/1912. Got out the door before the Black Friday market crash, held many Smiths captive in the factory inventory, some for 10 more years.

Appreciated.

 

[montezumaz]

I'd give you a high-five for stealing that firearm from Cabelas!
You da Man!!!

 

[Wiregrassguy]

I'm sorry Gary but I learned on here that there was a mushroom ejector rod, a large ejector Rod knob and a straight Rod knob. Now the revisionists want to change that. Far too much time is spent here quibbling over terminology. Everybody needs to get over it and move on.

Guy

 

[Hondo44]

I'm sorry Gary but I learned on here that there was a mushroom ejector rod, a large ejector Rod knob and a straight Rod knob. Now the revisionists want to change that. Far too much time is spent here quibbling over terminology. Everybody needs to get over it and move on.

Guy

Mushroom ejector rod, a large ejector Rod knob and a straight Rod work fine when one mentions all three. But as soon as someone states they have a "large knob", most people will think it's a mushroom rod just like Gary, because it's the largest.

When I state mushroom knob, barrel knob, or straight rod, I get no confusion or questions, and don't have to clarify which I mean.

 

[glowe]

I'm sorry Gary but I learned on here that there was a mushroom ejector rod, a large ejector Rod knob and a straight Rod knob. Now the revisionists want to change that . . . Guy

My mission is to stamp out errors, omissions, and injustices wherever they occur. . . . where's my cape??? I can only surmise that whoever came up with LERK, never owned a pre-1928 S&W, but the perpetrator has never surfaced. My vote is for Mushroom, Barrel, and straight, or anything but LERK!

 

[Hondo44]

My mission is to stamp out errors, omissions, and injustices wherever they occur. . . . where's my cape??? I can only surmise that whoever came up with LERK, never owned a pre-1928 S&W, but the perpetrator has never surfaced. My vote is for Mushroom, Barrel, and straight, or anything but LERK!

Amen, anything but LERK!

 

[jhde69]

Jack I have 4258xx that has lettered to Dec 3,1925.

 

[Hondo44]

From my database it shipped between 1/1929 and 3/1912. Got out the door before the Black Friday market crash, held many Smiths captive in the factory inventory, some for 10 more years.

1912? Did you mean 1932? Or what?
The Wall Street crash was Black Tuesday, in 1929, so I'm having some problem understanding your point, Jim.

Sorry about that!

Meant 1/1929 and 3/1929 and before "Black THURSDAY" Oct 24, 1929.

 

[JP@AK]

before "Black THURSDAY" Oct 24, 1929.

Yeah! There was a "Black Thursday" on October 24, on which the crash accelerated, with the market losing 11% of its value. That continued the following week when, on "Black Tuesday," October 29, the market lost an additional 12% of its value. About 16 million shares traded that day, which set a volume record.

The market slide didn't end until July, 1932, when it finally hit its lowest point in the entire century.

So we are both right.

 

[Hondo44]

Yeah! There was a "Black Thursday" on October 24, on which the crash accelerated, with the market losing 11% of its value. That continued the following week when, on "Black Tuesday," October 29, the market lost an additional 12% of its value. About 16 million shares traded that day, which set a volume record.

The market slide didn't end until July, 1932, when it finally hit its lowest point in the entire century.

So we are both right.

No, you were and are right.

I made two mistakes in a row. I have to admit I was trying to reference the "big crash" date which as you posted was the 29th, not the 1st crash on the 24th. :-(

I'm going to have to get used to not depending on my memory any longer at my age, and verify more!

Thank you,