Pre Model 35... 22-.32 Hand Ejector .22 Target

[DrRandyHester]

I notice that serial numbers range from 1911 to the early 1940s. I would like to get an approximate date. I'm guessing the late 1920s -early 1930s, but it's just a guess. I'm attaching photos. Mine has an S# 408988 6' Barrel, 'Made in America (one line), a Small S&W logo on the right side, 5 screws plus tension a screw on the grips.Non recessed cylinder. Walnut checkered two screw target grips, no medallions, Small mushroom ejector head, pinned partridge front sight. I'm told it was a family gun, but the great-grandson didn't know about guns. He want $500 I said, okay.

As for as S&W .22s I have a 1960s M34 a 1980s M17, and a 1967 M41, but no early Smiths except for a 1917 .45 ACP Army issue. The remaining 12 are 1960+ S&W double action centerfires and a M52.

Any feedback on the .22-.32 would be appreciated

 

[Muley Gil]

First off, it isn't a pre Model 34 or anything else. Pre models, according to most collectors, are the same as the model marked firearms.

Since it has a MADE IN U.S.A. stamp on the frame, it is post mid 1922. The mushroom head ejector rod went away in the late 1920s.

The 6" small frame .22 LR revolver evolved into the Model 35 around 1957-58.

 

[JP@AK]

HFT number 408988 would be somewhere in the 1922 to 1923 range, probably on the early end of that. My HFT 423630 shipped in January, 1926. Roy told me that 1151 HFT units were produced in 1925, which backs 1924 down into the 422000 range or lower.

Maybe this helps a little, but you never know with S&W when a particular unit will have shipped.

 

[JP@AK]

First off, it isn't a pre Model 34 or anything else. Pre models, according to most collectors, are the same as the model marked firearms.

I agree with Gil, but I will point out further that the .22 Heavy Frame Target model eventually became the Model 35, not the Model 34.

 

[Model19man]

I agree with Gil, but I will point out further that the .22 Heavy Frame Target model eventually became the Model 35, not the Model 34.

There is a whole lot of things that are different on a Model 35 than on a Heavy Frame Target. Certainly the 6" barrel length is the same but the frame, barrel, grips, - just about everything was changed between then and 13 years after World War II ended when S&W started Model numbers.

I say there is no such thing as the HFT having a relationship with any Model number marked revolver. That is simply a bridge too far.

 

[Muley Gil]

There is a whole lot of things that are different on a Model 35 than on a Heavy Frame Target. Certainly the 6" barrel length is the same but the frame, barrel, grips, - just about everything was changed between then and 13 years after World War II ended when S&W started Model numbers.

I say there is no such thing as the HFT having a relationship with any Model number marked revolver. That is simply a bridge too far.

In my post, I stated the HFT "evolved" into the Model 35.

Over time, the 1899 K frame .38 "evolved" into the Model 10.

 

[JP@AK]

In my post, I stated the HFT "evolved" into the Model 35.

Over time, the 1899 K frame .38 "evolved" into the Model 10.

Again, Gil is right on.

Part of my point was that the evolution of the .22/32 Target model (later the Model 35) is completely separate from the evolution of the Kit Gun (later the Model 34), even though they are based on the same basic concept, both prewar and postwar.

 

[mtgianni]

I would have picked it up quickly at $500. I think you did well.

 

[19leben]

Nice .22 for $500. I noticed you mentioned that the cylinder is not recessed. Would you please post a picture of the rear of the cylinder? I’ve never seen a non-recessed .22 revolver cylinder.

 

[kscharlie]

Nice .22 for $500. I noticed you mentioned that the cylinder is not recessed. Would you please post a picture of the rear of the cylinder? I’ve never seen a non-recessed .22 revolver cylinder.

The .22/32 Heavy Frame Target was first introduced in 1911. The cylinder charge holes were not recessed, and that remained so until sometime in 1935. Here is a pic of the cylinder on my .22/32 which was shipped in 1924.

 

[Truckman]

The .22/32 Heavy Frame Target was first introduced in 1911. The cylinder charge holes were not recessed, and that remained so until sometime in 1935.

I'll only add that the guns could be retrofitted with recessed cylinders after the technology became available...Here's one of my HFT's shipped 10/16/1916 (six days after the birth of my Dad) and returned to the factory for a new recessed cylinder and cylinder stop over 40 years later in 1962......Ben

 

[Hondo44]

The pre war .22/32 Target and Kit Gun from the same time frame are essentially the same gun with different names and barrel lengths. Not unlike the Model 17 .22 Masterpiece and Model 18 .22 Combat Masterpiece.

The .22/32 Heavy Frame Target was renamed the .22/32 Target in 1931 when the K frame .22 was introduced. Pre war models were shipped thru 1941.

After WWII a very few are reportedly to have shipped as the .22/32 Target Post War Transitional Model. The only difference from the pre war models is the addition of the post war sliding bar hammer block. They would be in the serial # range of 551123 -590000.

Just like the 1935 .22/32 Kit Gun Post war Transitional models evolved into the 2" and 4" Model of 1953 New I frame .22/32 Kit Guns (designated the Model 34 in 1957), the .22/32 Target evolved into the 6" Model of 1953 New I frame .22/32 Target, (later designated the Model 35).