S&W Model 1 1896 HE hand grips and serial number questions

[Kevoomzz]

Hello! This is my first of many posts that I will be putting up on this forum. My Father, who passed away a few years back, was a collector of firearms and he had a few S&W's. I have been looking up information on some of these and I am honestly hoping to obtain additional information on some of these for the sake of knowledge, as I am curious and want to keep them around as well as for some... selling!

The first mystery gun is what I believe is a S&W 32 Hand Ejector 1st Model 1896.
4 1/4" barrel
Patent dates on cylinder

1st question:
The grips on this are different than any others that I have yet seen. Did someone just paint those areas white, or are these supposed to be this way? What do they tell you? Military? Police?

2nd question:
All the serial numbers match with the exception of the number behind the latch which is an earlier serial number.

Frame in-between the grips stamped on the bottom of the handle frame:183XX
Back end on the underside of the barrel: 183XX
Back of cylinder: 183XX
Behind the latch the serial number is 17170

Could this have been from the factory this way? If it was a replacement/refurb from the factory, one would think that it'd be a later serial number.

3rd question: Also I am guessing this to have been made 1902-1903. Does this seem like a reasonable guess?

Any other info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again for sharing all of your helpful knowledge!

 

[Hondo44]

Welcome to the forum with your first post of the 1st model of the first gun for this section.
That's a nice unmolested original I frame.
1. I haven't seen stocks painted like that before. Looks like paint was added to low areas factory molded into the grip. Let's see what other opinions you get on that but a home paint job IMO.

2. It's an all matching numbered gun. The odd # is not a serial # rather a factory assembly # of no use.

3. 1st models were only made up to 19712 in 1903, so yes, yours is likely 1903.

 

[opoefc]

Welcome to the Forum. 17170 is an assembly work number used to keep parts together during the assembly process. It has no relation to the serial number. The white shading on the grip logo has been applied by someone after the gun left S&W. Your guess on the manufacture date is probably in the ball park, however you can order a factory historical letter from Roy Jinks, Factory Historian, for $50. It will tell you when, where and to whom the gun was shipped and in what configuration. There's a link on this Forum to the application form for a factory letter. Nice family heirloom gun! Ed.

 

[Kevoomzz]

Thanks for your help. I wondered about the white paint thinking to myself that someone probably did that on their own...but you never know til you ask!

 

[Dr.-d]

+1 on the factory letter. From what I understand these guns were not shipped in serial number order. One member here has one with a 4 digit number he had lettered that was shipped only days apart from one I have had lettered that has a 5 digit number. These guns also have small variances in design. One notable one is some have a sideplate with an extra screw while others don't.

 

[ar15ed]

that is what i have seen, too. the serial numbers were scattered out in no particular order at all.