Same Grandfather Completely Different S&W! .22 Kit Gun?

[mhardy]

I posted several days ago about a pearl handled revolver that I had inherited from my grandfather. Here is the post: http://smith-wessonforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/540103904/m/4691042733

After talking to my mother about the information I had received from the forum she mentioned another revolver that my grandfather had owned and lo and behold out of the closet comes another S&W. This one is a .22. caliber and it is in pretty good shape also other than it looks like it has been shot a bit more and needs a cleaning. The serial on this one is 177XX and is the same on the butt, barrel, and inside the cylinder. On the left side of the gun it says just simply "Smith & Wesson" and on the right side "22 Long Rifle CTC".

From what information I can find on the forum I believe this is a .22 Kit Gun. Is that right? Any ideas as to what year this one was produced? Any idea as to if it is all original (are these the correct grips etc.)? And what would the value on this gun be?

This one has absolutely no history other than the fact that my grandfather owned it and passed it on to my mom. No idea as to if he bought it originally or where it came from. Sorry if this post belongs in the 1945 to present.

Once again thank you in advance for you help,

Matt Hardy

 

[mhardy]

I posted several days ago about a pearl handled revolver that I had inherited from my grandfather. Here is the post: http://smith-wessonforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/540103904/m/4691042733

After talking to my mother about the information I had received from the forum she mentioned another revolver that my grandfather had owned and lo and behold out of the closet comes another S&W. This one is a .22. caliber and it is in pretty good shape also other than it looks like it has been shot a bit more and needs a cleaning. The serial on this one is 177XX and is the same on the butt, barrel, and inside the cylinder. On the left side of the gun it says just simply "Smith & Wesson" and on the right side "22 Long Rifle CTC".

From what information I can find on the forum I believe this is a .22 Kit Gun. Is that right? Any ideas as to what year this one was produced? Any idea as to if it is all original (are these the correct grips etc.)? And what would the value on this gun be?

This one has absolutely no history other than the fact that my grandfather owned it and passed it on to my mom. No idea as to if he bought it originally or where it came from. Sorry if this post belongs in the 1945 to present.

Once again thank you in advance for you help,

Matt Hardy

 

[wheelgun610]

... From what information I can find on the forum I believe this is a .22 Kit Gun. Is that right?

Yup. More precisely, it a Model of 1953 - 22/32 Kit Gun. Yours is what we refer to as the "improved" I-frame. These have a coil main spring, and have no 'strain screw' on the front grip strap as found on other models that use a leaf-type main spring. The (large) screw on the upper side plate indicates 1953-'55 production.

Aside from it's obvious sentimental value, that's a fairly valuable piece, so beware of any vultures who make offers to take it off your hands.... They can be a sneaky bunch.

Nice piece! Enjoy it.

Mark

 

[mhardy]

Thanks for the info. I should probably then move the post to the 1945 to present forum. Any one know if there is an easy way to do that?

 

[KSCowboy]

Howdy,

I have one that looks exactly like it. I lettered mine, serial number 184XX which isn't too far off from yours and it was shipped December 28, 1956.

I know you can't get a factory letter right yet but I would recommend it.

 

[GSFLH05]

i think i would go clean out that closet

 

[model10]

nice looking 34 never seen one with those grips on one sweet shooting 22s it looks iike it had good care , most around here would run 400,00 or better an hard to find too , easy to carry an great shooters , i have a 2 inch an a 4 but i changed the grips to a larger size , but keep the one that cam e with it , give it a good cleaning an enjoy it , it will more than likey out live you , good find , i bet your grand dad is smiling u found it ,

 

[mhardy]

Are these the correct grips? I took both guns into Cabela's today and there was some question as to if these were the correct grips. I took the grips off tonight and they have matching numbers but I wonder if this is how they are normally marked, not in a straight line but in this strange pattern? Does this look right or is this a factory mess up or are these not original?

Any thoughts?

 

[kritter]

yes they are the correct grips/stocks, and yes they are marked correctly.
(i have a pair of them floating around here somewhere just like them that came off my kit gun..which i need to find and put back on)

 

[jjones33]

Originally posted by wheelgun610:

... From what information I can find on the forum I believe this is a .22 Kit Gun. Is that right?

Aside from it's obvious sentimental value, that's a fairly valuable piece, so beware of any vultures who make offers to take it off your hands.... They can be a sneaky bunch.

I'll give you fifty bucks for it.