S&W 22 LR 5 screw hand ejector info?

[revnig]

Howdy,

I picked up this old Smith that seems I pretty good shape. I don't know much about it but would welcome any assistance. It's a 6" barrel, 5 screw .22LR. The bottom side of the wood grips Pat June 5, 1917. Serial number is 384131. Just curious if it's any particular model number or what year it would be?

Photos attached

Thanks, Paul

 

[OldChief]

You have a very early .22/32 hand ejector, probably from around 1923. The book says that in 1923 the serial numbers reached 384xxx. You may have what is known as a Bekeart model but I'm not that familiar with the really old revolvers but information from the S&W book leads me to believe that's what you have. By any chance, do you have the original box? Also check to see if the grips are numbered with the serial number of the revolver. You'll have to remove them to check.

 

[Targets Guy]

Nice find.

 

[revnig]

Thanks for the replies, I'll check under the grips for serial. Thanks

 

[revnig]

Sorry no original box.

 

[JSR III]

From my database, your gun probably shipped in September, October or November of 1923. I have 7 guns starting with 384 and they all shipped in those three months. These guns with serial numbers on the front strap as opposed to the butt (S&W's normal location) were made between 1911 and about 1940. Serial number range is 138226 to around 534,XXX.

In the 30's when S&W came out with the new K frame S&W Outdoorsman's, sales of the .22/32's dropped off dramatically. As a result, S&W shortened the barrel to 4" and called it the "kit gun" and it continued in production for many more years.

Between 1919 and about 1924 these guns shipped with the smaller regulation police style stocks. Before and after this time frame, they shipped with the 2 screw over sized target stocks seen on the single shot 22's.

Hope that helps.

 

[OldChief]

James, is the revolver a Bekeart model?

 

[murphydog]

The official name at the time was a .22/32 Heavy Frame Target, meaning a .22 LR revolver built on the .32 or I frame. It was first ordered in quantity by Phil Bekeart in 1911 and is known informally by that name; early examples that can be documented as shipping to his San Francisco shop are worth a premium. Enjoy!

 

[revnig]

Thanks for all the interesting information. I guess I should have it lettered just to be sure. Much appreciated.

 

[JSR III]

James, is the revolver a Bekeart model?

It is certainly known by collectors by that name. Certainly the SCS&W refers to them using that term. As murphydog stated, the factory referred to it as the .22/32 HFT but it was reportedly the brain child of San Francisco gun dealer and west coast distributor for S&W, Phillip Bekeart.

The story goes that Bekeart approached S&W to make a larger .22 caliber revolver than the one in current production. The .22 HE that they were then producing was on the very tiny M frame and was known as the Ladysmith. (Not to be confused with the current Lady Smith .38 caliber revolvers).

According to the story, Bekeart suggested using the I frame as the platform for this new .22 caliber target revolver that S&W was then using for its .32 caliber arms. Hence the .22/.32 designation.

S&W replied that they would not do the tooling to prepare to make such a gun without a "substantial" order, so Bekeart ordered 1,000 to be made.

As the story goes, Bekeart never received the first 1,000 produced and according to company records, only received 294 in 6 shipments in 1911. The confusing part of the story is that S&W shipped some of these guns very soon after Bekeart's first shipment leading us to think that either S&W or Bekeart knew early on that he could not retail out that many of this new model.

What is further confusing is that I have a copy of an ad placed by Bekeart in subsequent years that states that he has or is receiving an additional 1,000 guns and that they are exclusively available for sale by him.

So, like many stories of old, much is left to the imagination.

That's the long answer. The short answer is that I consider any .22/32 HFT with a 6" barrel to be a "Bekeart" model.

Those actually shipped to Bekeart command a premium from collectors and there are several schools of thought as to the levels of "Bekeartness". Anyone interested can search the forum and find numerous threads about these neat little guns.

I have 3 from the first Bekeart shipments so still looking for 3 more. Additional guns were shipped to Bekeart after the shipments in 1911, however, the factory did not keep a separate record of those serial numbers so a factory letter is the only way to learn if your .22/32 went to Bekeart after 1911.