Retro 22/32 New I frame M34

[Hondo44]

This is a refinished M 34 'New I frame' with .400" target trigger. Not a factory re-finish so not that collectible, but my favorite shooter. Therefore it seemed a good candidate for me to 'massage'.

4" barrel replaced with a M 43, 3 1/2", a more preferable length for me. Fortunately the M 43 barrels are not roll-stamped Airweight.

And a few retro parts replacements like the pre war 'double pinch' thumb-piece in place of the flat latch and 'barrel' style extractor rod/knob (required the single step notch milled under barrel) replacing the straight rod. Both improvements ergonomic as well.

And with modified I/J frame Target stocks.

Sometimes they just aren't made exactly like we want them.

 

[CptCurl]

It sure makes an interesting conglomerate. Should it be called a retro-transition? Great shooter no doubt.

 

[Kansasgunner]

Really cool Kit Gun. I like all your improvements and wouldn't change a thing!

 

[Jebus35745]

Love the way you play with your guns. Larry

 

[Hondo44]

Thank you all. Most of my Smiths stay just the way they came and are in original, collectible condition. They get shot but not changed except stocks once in awhile. The occasional orphan that's lost it's originality already lend themselves to fun projects like tis, another one Smith should have continued after the war:

This is my .32 S&W Long, 4" J frame Model 30-1 1966 vintage converted to a target model. Target features added: hammer, trigger, adj rear sight, ramped front sight w/sight base, modified stocks. Changed the flat cyl latch to a pre war "double pinch" latch. Also has a spare cyl reamed to H&R Mag.

 

[Green Frog]

You're killing me here, Jim! Those two come as close to being my ideal of the perfect small frame guns as my amphibian brain can imagine. I believe I had seen them individually before, but seeing both discussed and displayed in the same thread is doing wicked things to my froggie resolve to hold off on buying or building any new stuff, you silver-tongued (and golden-camera-ed) devil, you. Just a question, though... if you have the target grips on both and take them out to shoot one after the other, is the recoil differential between the 22 LR and 32 S&W L even noticeable?

BTW, didn't you say once that the 30-1 had already had the adjustable sights installed when you got it? You don't know who did that part of the work on it do you?

Your Phriend the Amphibian

 

[vonn]

Very nice guns,you should be proud.

 

[Hondo44]

BTW, didn't you say once that the 30-1 had already had the adjustable sights installed when you got it? You don't know who did that part of the work on it do you?

Your Phriend the Amphibian

The retro .22/32 I just completed. I haven't shot it yet, but I know from shooting it with those stocks before the changes, it does not kick like the .32 Long and definitely not like the .32 H&R.

Correct, the 30-1 did come with the adjustable sights. It was probably for sale when I found it because the rear sight was incorrectly mounted and would not adjust down low enough. I added the front blade base and had to re-mill and remount the rear sight.
Sights before correction, bottom gun. (top is a J frame 34-2, .22/32):

Another rescue, 22/32 Heavy Frame Target that had a bulged barrel, now 3 3/8". Front sight blade has been replaced since this photo with an original Patridge:

 

[Green Frog]

Love those stags! I'm assuming that's a reblue there, which in my hands would be a frequent shooter. I'm leaning more and more toward using a J-frame adjustable rear to "upgrade" that late pre-War RP in 32 that I picked up a couple of years ago. Since the barrel had already been changed, there would be no harm, no foul to an original. Adding that to my rebarreled HFT (leaving both as 6" versions) would be one option, or rebarreling both to 4 or 4 1/2" versions would make them handy to holster. Decisions, decisions! Then if I could find matching stags with lots of popcorn bark figure to compliment their classic looks...

Oh well, it's only money!

Froggie

PS Do you have any additional special advice or warnings about putting the adjustables on a fixed sight gun? IIRC, the doesn't have that same T-shaped piece for the vertical adjustment screw to engage, so it should be easier to install than a K-frame or N-frame set.

 

[Hondo44]

PS Do you have any additional special advice or warnings about putting the adjustables on a fixed sight gun? IIRC, the doesn't have that same T-shaped piece for the vertical adjustment screw to engage, so it should be easier to install than a K-frame or N-frame set.

Froggie,

Yes I do and you're exactly right. The I and J frame Micro click sight is a much simpler installation than the K & N frames. It does not have the T-shaped vertical adjustment piece nor therefore, the intricate milled slot. It simply has a shallow 1/8" hole with a small disc with notches in the top surface that just lies there. The vertical adj screw has a knife edge on the tip. The engagement of the two under pressure from the sight tang produces the 'clicks', more or less, actually detents.

The best advice I can provide for doing this installation is to have a post war Micro click sighted Model of 1953 'NEW' I frame .22/32 in hand to measure and replicate the milling cuts properly. The milling cuts are at two levels; the tang cut and the lower level cross cut over the hammer. That's where the mistake was made by whoever did the milling on my .32, which I had to re-mill.

Micro click sight choices:
There are three I & J frame post war micro click rear sight sizes (over-all length):

1. The 50s I frame =2.390-95" this one has the front mounting hole 1/16" further back and best for a pre war but hardest to find. It's too short for a J frame.
2. The 60s and 70s J frame = 2.530-5" M 36-1 (1975) and 22/32 M 34-1 (1971).
3. And the most current J frame = 2.718" my M 60-4 (1990), my M 36-6 (1986) and 22/32 M 34-2 (1980), and the M 63.

The current 2.718" will work fine however. The front mounting hole will be located over the barrel of an I frame gun and just need a blind hole in the top strap. And of course shortening the front end of the tang of #2 and 3 sights will allow you to custom contour the squared off front end of the tang and blend to the top strap contour like the beautiful pre war target sights were. The 2.718" will probably be the easiest to find as well.

Brownells has the Model 63 rear sight assembly, black #940-000-486AD for $56.23 which would be the #3, 2.718" sight. I have other sources if you want to look for a used older sight or better price. The dimensions given in catalogs are rear sight blade heights which won't matter to you because you're making the front sight anyway. Just ask for tech support at Brownells and confirm the over-all lengths of what they have or specify by the gun models I measured above, or both.

It has been done successfully by filing and if you want some details on actually doing it that way, just ask.

Hope that helps mi amigo,

 

[Green Frog]

Thanks, Jim. Maybe one of these days I'll finish setting up my little Atlas Horizontal Bench Mill which would be perfect for making those cuts. Of course if I could sneak it into the school shop, I could probably knock it out there very easily. I've already got one of the late J-frame sights, so it could be reshaped in front. Looks like I'm starting to run out of excuses! Thanks again, and I'll probably be in touch for more specific dimensions.

Regards,
Froggie