Nframe_is_no1
Member
Did some shopping and I found a total of three really neat Smiths this weekend! Two are from the 1896-1961 period and the third is only 3-4 years out of it, so I decided to post them here.
First up is a .32 Hand Ejector Model 1903 5th Change in .32 S&W Long with a 6" barrel. I love long-barreled .32s so this had to come home with me. It appeared to have been stored where dampness got to it, as there was a rust spot over two cylinder flutes, there is a small chip out of the front corner of the left hard rubber stock, as can be seen in the photo, otherwise most of the blue is still remaining. Serial number is 165xxx. The SCSW is kind of vague with these and list the range my serial number is in as from 1910-1917. I'm guessing around 1912 or so, as it's near the beginning of the range. All numbers match on cylinder, barrel flat, yoke and butt. Irresistible to me at $150 OTD! Bore and chambers are good and it shoots great!
.32 Hand Ejector Model of 1903 5th Change:
Next up is a .38 M&P model of 1905 4th change. This poor thing looks like someone was trying to make some kind of presentation model out of it. It has a very worn nickle plating on the back half of it up to the cylinder lock notches, the front half has some traces of original blue remaining, with the balance grey metal. Someone's name was engraved on the sideplate and below the thumb piece. I can make out Chas. in script, but the rest has been buffed out. It was wearing a set of clear plastic stocks with a wood insert glued in the center. The insert was missing on one side. The bore and chambers are good, and there is no rust or pitting. It shoots like a house afire holding around 2" or so with my cast LSWC handloads at standard pressure at 25 yards! The stocks it was wearing are shown in the second pic. I added a later set of magnas from my wood pile. I had to rescue this poor girl. I got it for a mere $79 OTD due to the ugly finish! How could I say no? It has the less frequently seen 5" barrel too. All numbers match on the cylinder face, barrel flat, yoke and butt. Again, SCSW is really vague on these, as you all probably know. Serial number is 627xxx, which I have dated to 1934. By luck, I found another thread on this forum in which the original poster had an M&P in the same 627xxx range and he was told it was made in 1934.
.38 M&P model of 1905 4th Change
Last is a Model 37 no dash Airweight. This gun shows some carry wear on the top strap and had a rust spot on one cylinder flute that mostly brushed out. It wears its original diamond stocks that are numbered to the gun. It also is a flat latch. Serial number is 365xxx, which as best as I can pin down is from around 1964. SCSW again shows a large range from 1962-1969, but I used some clues to pin it down. It says 1962 begins with 295000. It also says that the thumbpiece was changed in 1966, so that puts it between 1963-65. I'm leaning towards 64 since its over 60000 away from 295000. Had to grab this one at $199 OTD!
Model 37 no dash
BTW, did you ever buy a gun because you had an empty box? Got this box from a buddy a few years ago clearing out his stuff, it needed a gun to go with it:
It sat empty until today! Does this addiction get so bad that it's impossible to resist poor Smiths in need of a good home? What a weekend!
First up is a .32 Hand Ejector Model 1903 5th Change in .32 S&W Long with a 6" barrel. I love long-barreled .32s so this had to come home with me. It appeared to have been stored where dampness got to it, as there was a rust spot over two cylinder flutes, there is a small chip out of the front corner of the left hard rubber stock, as can be seen in the photo, otherwise most of the blue is still remaining. Serial number is 165xxx. The SCSW is kind of vague with these and list the range my serial number is in as from 1910-1917. I'm guessing around 1912 or so, as it's near the beginning of the range. All numbers match on cylinder, barrel flat, yoke and butt. Irresistible to me at $150 OTD! Bore and chambers are good and it shoots great!
.32 Hand Ejector Model of 1903 5th Change:
Next up is a .38 M&P model of 1905 4th change. This poor thing looks like someone was trying to make some kind of presentation model out of it. It has a very worn nickle plating on the back half of it up to the cylinder lock notches, the front half has some traces of original blue remaining, with the balance grey metal. Someone's name was engraved on the sideplate and below the thumb piece. I can make out Chas. in script, but the rest has been buffed out. It was wearing a set of clear plastic stocks with a wood insert glued in the center. The insert was missing on one side. The bore and chambers are good, and there is no rust or pitting. It shoots like a house afire holding around 2" or so with my cast LSWC handloads at standard pressure at 25 yards! The stocks it was wearing are shown in the second pic. I added a later set of magnas from my wood pile. I had to rescue this poor girl. I got it for a mere $79 OTD due to the ugly finish! How could I say no? It has the less frequently seen 5" barrel too. All numbers match on the cylinder face, barrel flat, yoke and butt. Again, SCSW is really vague on these, as you all probably know. Serial number is 627xxx, which I have dated to 1934. By luck, I found another thread on this forum in which the original poster had an M&P in the same 627xxx range and he was told it was made in 1934.
.38 M&P model of 1905 4th Change
Last is a Model 37 no dash Airweight. This gun shows some carry wear on the top strap and had a rust spot on one cylinder flute that mostly brushed out. It wears its original diamond stocks that are numbered to the gun. It also is a flat latch. Serial number is 365xxx, which as best as I can pin down is from around 1964. SCSW again shows a large range from 1962-1969, but I used some clues to pin it down. It says 1962 begins with 295000. It also says that the thumbpiece was changed in 1966, so that puts it between 1963-65. I'm leaning towards 64 since its over 60000 away from 295000. Had to grab this one at $199 OTD!
Model 37 no dash
BTW, did you ever buy a gun because you had an empty box? Got this box from a buddy a few years ago clearing out his stuff, it needed a gun to go with it:
It sat empty until today! Does this addiction get so bad that it's impossible to resist poor Smiths in need of a good home? What a weekend!
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