S&W 22/32 HFT

[rimfire addict]

Hello all, first post here. Was referred here for info.

I picked this one up this morning and believe it to be a late model 22/32 HFT. It is a 5 screw model with the small S&W logo on the left side, stamped made in the use on the right.

It is a shooter grade pistol, but in great functional condition.

Serial is in the later 423,900 range, has matching #'s on the barrel, behind the yoke and is penciled on the inside of the grip. I am having trouble dating this one. Reading the info from the S&W book gets little confusing. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Terry

 

[JP@AK]

Welcome to the S&W Forum.

Nice acquisition!

.22/32 HFT #4236xx shipped in January, 1926. According to Dr. Jinks, it was one of 1,151 units produced in 1925. I strongly suspect yours is one of those also.

 

[Model52guy]

Welcome to the forum. Nice HFT. They are great guns to target shoot with. I have one about the same condition as yours SN 4415XX shipped August of 26.

 

[cmansguns]

Welcome from Virginia

Welcome to the Forum from Virginia!

That gun looks in pretty nice condition for its age. Is there any backstory as to how you found it and came to own it? Estate sale, family members, pawn shop, LGS, etc.? These old guns are getting almost impossible to find for sale anywhere, and if found on one of the big box auction sites...are priced out of almost everyone's league.

I got mine from a grand daughter of an old collector who passed away and she was just dumping everything.

Mine came with original box, paper documents, and a cleaning rod wrapped in what appears to be "rice paper"....very fragile.

If you want to know exactly the date your gun shipped and where to, you'll need to send for a factory Letter of Authentication (LOA).

I am posting my LOA on my gun so you can see what kind of information you'll get back. With these old S & W's, I feel the LOA verifies the provenance all of us collectors are looking for.

Again.....welcome to the Forum....you have indeed come to the right place for answers on most anything related to Smith & Wesson.

 

[rimfire addict]

Thanks for welcome and to all who has responded.

I have no history on it, lucked into it at a LGS. I did a little horse trading for it, so no big money was involved and we both came out okay on the deal.

Now that I am getting some good info on it, I may look into getting a letter on it.
Terry

cman, great looking piece. .

 

[JP@AK]

rimfire addict
Your HFT is worthy of a letter, in my opinion. Let us know what you find out.

Here are a couple pictures of the one I mentioned in Post #2 above. Note that it shipped with the hard rubber stocks that are otherwise like yours that are made of walnut. Both types were available at the time, although the rubber type of two-screw stocks was becoming less common by then.

 

[rimfire addict]

Thanks Jack, the pair look great.

I opened it up last night to do a good cleaning. To my surprise, it looked great on the inside. Did a light lube on the internals and called it good.

Also looked into the letter some, seems there is a estimate of 6-10 for a return. But will start the process to get it going.
Terry

 

[VASCAR2]

What does the HFT mean or represent? I thought they are initials which might be options or description like Heavy Fixed Target.

 

[kscharlie]

HFT = Heavy Frame Target

Prior to this gun being built on the I frame, the only other .22 hand ejector made by S&W was the tiny M frame "Ladysmith". Today, it seems rather humerous to us that the I frame gun could be called Heavy Frame anything, but that's the way it was.

 

[VASCAR2]

Thanks I remember seeing there was a lighter smaller frame. Makes sense now. Thanks for the info!

 

[Hondo44]

Welcome to the forum Terry.

Your gun in the 423900 range almost certainly shipped between Dec 1925 and 6/26. It has the sight improvements; Patridge front sight/wide square notch rear sight blade change and 2 screw target stocks reinstated to standard equipment ordered Aug. 29, 1923. And still has the "mushroom" style extractor knob ordered discontinued in 1/22/1927.

So the features also bracket the interpolated shipping date period from my database of shipping dates.

The white bead of the front sight blade needs a better and closeup photo to determine if factory or a later add on.

It's in very decent condition regardless of its age. Congrats.

I'd stay away from HV .22 LR ammo since the chambers are not yet recessed for the extra pressure. It'll shoot better with standard velocity ammo anyway.

 

[rimfire addict]

Thanks for the info and welcome.

The front sight does not have a bead insert on it, it has what appears to be liquid paper on it.