Symposium/birthday present

[Keith Brown]

Was fortunate to be able to purchase this from a nice gentleman at the recent symposium and finally got it home yesterday.
Couldn't ask for a nicer condition 22/32, and it even came with a box although not numbered to this particular gun.

Serial #458302

 

[gmborkovic]

Keith, that is a cutie with box. Pls. go shoot at least once. Still have Dads.

 

[glowe]

Very nice HFT! Looks to be 1920s gun with a 1910s box. Wonder if the company was desperate for a box or if an owner crossed out the "32" and the line about reloadable casings? The style you should look for is a "Patent" clamshell box as below.

 

[mrcvs]

Very nice HFT! Looks to be 1920s gun with a 1910s box. Wonder if the company was desperate for a box or if an owner crossed out the "32" and the line about reloadable casings?

I think the fact that the crossed out portions are "period" alterations (doesn't look like fresh ink) and the fact it was even done, proves it was factory altered and this box is original to probably this revolver, or, at least, another .22/32 HFT revolver.

Would a previous owner even notice this or care enough to even go to the trouble to cross these parts out, and why would they even bother?

To Keith, the OP, can you post a photograph of the end label of the box?

 

[Keith Brown]

Here's the box, I think it's pretty early by the serial number.

 

[glowe]

That style box was phased out around 1915 and replaced by a similar box with similar design, but had a dual language inner label. The patent clamabell box has a 1920 patent date, and was put into service in the early 1920s, then ran until WWII. Just makes sense that it was not a factory pairing. Maybe there is a faint serial number on the bottom of the box???

The non-medallion target stocks ran through the 1920s until it was replaced by the silver medallion targets.

I was too late, since Keith beat me too the question with the answer.

Wow! That end label was part of the 1,000 Beakeart guns sent to San Francisco in 1911 in serial number range 138,220 to 139,275, so likely a rare box by itself. That is the reason why the the 32 and reloading sentence was scratched out.

 

[s&wchad]

Happy Birthday Keith!

Many more... We're glad to have you here!

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Why can't I have birthdays like that? Happy birthday, Keith!

 

[mrcvs]

Wow! That end label was part of the 1,000 Beakeart guns sent to San Francisco in 1911 in serial number range 138,220 to 139,275, so likely a rare box by itself. That is the reason why the the 32 and reloading sentence was scratched out.

Normally, you want THE box, but this is "only" A box, but what A box it is!

I would think this box, being from one of the first shipments to Bekeart would be worth more alone than the increased value of this revolver if the box with it was THE box.

The serial number in conjunction with remnants of the Bekeart label is a nice bonus to an otherwise average box.

 

[smitholdtimer]

Nice Birthday Present!

I too wish you a Happy Birthday, and like Chad we are happy to have you here as well as proud to know you, Happy Birthday!

 

[Keith Brown]

Birthday was the 4th, but close enough to the symposium that it was a good excuse ! This is my second 22/32, bought my first from forum member Modified about a year ago and decided then I was going to need another ! Here's a pic couple pics of it.

 

[RKmesa]

Here's the box, I think it's pretty early by the serial number.

Keith:

Great gun - amazing condition!!! And wonderful box!!! I have SN 138,337 (pretty close to the box number) that shipped 6/30/1911 to Phillip Bekeart Co, San Francisco, CA. It is almost as nice as your gun...... NOT...







Congrats again my friend!

 

[raljr1]

That is in great condition. Most of these I see are very well used, and show it. Nice pickup, congrats.

 

[mh51]

I'd say you had a super birthday! NICE!!

 

[glowe]

I would ask anyone who has a first production Beakeart HFT and an original box to post a picture of the end label. I would love to read that label and see the inner label as well? I would guess that there may not be any out there today.

 

[cmansguns]

another theory about the box

The OP gun is beautiful, very high condition and the box is certainly high value because of the label.

What caught my eye is the "damage" in the extreme corner of the OP box....it looked familiar to me.

I got out my box (THE box) for my 22/32HFT (s/n 224963) which was manufactured on April 20, 1915 according to another Forum Member who has the floor foreman's production records, and shipped on September 20, 1915 per Letter.

My pics show the same style box, with similar damage on one, and only one, corner. Due to the fragile condition of these old boxes, and the deteriorating "rice paper' covering the original cleaning rod, I asked my daughter who is a university professor and has been involved with fine art restoration about a possible source of this damage.

I think she nailed it.........gun is in box way high up on store shelves in narrow aisles back in 1915 at Shapleigh Hardware in St. Louis, MO. Very common in those days, clerk uses a rolling ladder, climbs the ladder, reaches out with hand and with box label facing out...the "damage" is exactly where the thumb would be to extract the heavy box containing the gun and accessories.

I'll do 2 posts to get some pictures up, but I think that is it.

Any other theories out there?

 

[cmansguns]

more pics 1915 store shelves

More pics of 1915 shelves, ladders and destination of my 22/32 HFT.

 

[Keith Brown]

Charlie, that's a great theory and I'll go with it, neat pics also, love old photos and postcards. And that's a dandy 22/32. Although my focus has been M&P Targets for quite awhile I feel like I'm going to want a few more of these !

 

[JSR III]

I can't make out the last digit of the serial number but it looks like 13915X possibly 3. Regardless according to my database the guns in the 139150 to 139159 range all shipped in August, September or October of 1911.

If in fact it is 139153 then it shipped 8-31-1911 to Wm. Hoegee in LA, CA.

Of those 10 guns only 139,154 shipped to Bekeart in the 10-13-1911 shipment. They also appear to have left stock imprint numbers in the 800 or 900 range.

 

[JSR III]

Wow! That end label was part of the 1,000 Beakeart guns sent to San Francisco in 1911 in serial number range 138,220 to 139,275, so likely a rare box by itself.

Just a few corrections to the above. The first run was 1,050 and was from serial 138226 to 139275. Bekeart did not receive 1,000 guns and only received 294. The remaining 756 went to other S&W dealers of the day or in a few cases directly to individuals as was customary in the day.