Terrier ID and dating help

[antique41]

I think I'm in the right place and have correctly id the name of the pistol. I purchased this little Terrier and am totally confused as to which variant it is and when it was made. It is a 6 screw gun and appears to have pre-war features. The SN is 581XX. It has a smooth trigger and the grips are numbered to the gun. Which variant would this gun be and when was it made. TIAlittle

 

[DWalt]

Your Terrier likely shipped in the late 1950-early 1951 timeframe. I list SN 580xx as shipping in 12/50, way too early to have a model number, might call it a pre-Model 32. I think it would have an I-frame at that time as it has a leaf spring.

 

[gordonrick]

Yours is an early post-war I-frame Terrier. I have 58260 which is identical to yours. It has the "satin" blue finish common at the time.

The "improved I-frame" began shortly after in about mid-1951 and has the coil hammer spring instead of leaf spring. Based on other numbers I've seen, early 1951 is a very good guess.

It is hard not to fall in love with the Terrier. You may very well become an addict.

 

[DocB]

Wow. Just wow. The only post-war Smith I haven't been to locate over the past three years anywhere at any price. I had one back in 1992. Let a good friend have it to give to his daughter who was going off to college. These little guns just don't exist here in Middle Georgia.

 

[antique41]

Wow. Just wow. The only post-war Smith I haven't been to locate over the past three years anywhere at any price. I had one back in 1992. Let a good friend have it to give to his daughter who was going off to college. These little guns just don't exist here in Middle Georgia.

Funny you should mention that. I picked up the Terrier Monday in Newnan, Ga.

 

[Hondo44]

Welcome to the forum.

I agree with almost all that other members posted above.

Officially you have a ".38 S&W Terrier".

In more descriptive collector terminology, you have a "Transitional Model .38 S&W Terrier".

It did become the Model 32 after 1957, but it's way too early and different to be called a Pre Model 32.

Enjoy!

 

[DCWilson]

Nice score! The prewar and early postwar Terriers are some of my favorite S&W products. My only postwar is 56073, which shipped in October 1950. It has the wrong stocks on it, but is otherwise identical to yours.

 

[raljr1]

I looked a long time to find one at a reasonable price...it wasn't perfect, but it should make a nice carry piece for a Mrs. who is a little recoil sensitive.

 

[ky wonder]

ok I will ask what is the caliber, 38,32, ect

 

[HeyJoe]

38 Smith and Wesson

 

[antique41]

As can be told from the pictures, the finish on my Terrier is not perfect, but it locks up like a bank vault. I bought it because I think the I frame Smith's are a great combination of small size and light recoil. I plan to shoot this one and have 2 boxes of Buffalo Bore 125 gr hard cast FN ammo coming.

 

[Hondo44]

ok I will ask what is the caliber, 38,32, ect

the Terrier Model name only refers to the 5 shot 38 S&W chambered I frame and after 1960, J frame.

It was originally introduced on the .32 I frame in 1936, so the factory therefore referred to it as a .38/32; a .38 built on the .32 frame.

 

[shouldazagged]

I am very, very envious.

 

[gordonrick]

Definitely not enough pictures in this thread. Here's mine - a couple of hundred numbers down the line from the OP's - plus some leather I found for sale at the range a couple of days after I bought the Terrier from a local pawn shop. Fits like a glove. Coincidence?

 

[goatsnguns]

I like Terriers too!

 

[Jimmyjones]

I like Terriers too!

That's where they are !

 

[raljr1]

I like Terriers too!

View attachment 262634

No wonder no one else can find them

 

[bracebeemer]

Love Terriers! My two are less than 300 numbers apart and use the improved I Frame. Serial numbers are in the 69XXX range and both probably shipped in April 1953.
Bill

 

[Green Frog]

Well, I thought there was a reason I had to search so hard to find an I-frame Terrier for my own, and now I know what it is. All you other guys are scarfing them up! Antique41, you've made an entrance that is guaranteed to impress and let me add, "welcome aboard" for it.

I personally got on my I-frame acquisition kick about 4 years ago when it seemed like most of the guys on this forum couldn't even spell I-frame and couldn't have cared less. With the "help" and encouragement of my two favorite enablers, Hondo44 and DCWilson who egged me on from afar, I was able to grab up several as the interest here was just getting off the ground. Now everyone seems to be wanting one, and the one you got seems to be about the toughest to find. To complete my "trifecta" of snubs I had to pay more for the Terrier and had to "settle" for a pre-War example, even though I was searching for the very one you got. Congratulations, but be aware, you are on the top of a slippery slope... one will probably not be enough. You'll want at least a 32 HE, maybe a couple of Regulation Police models, and then of course a 22 Heavy Frame Target or two and..... it never ends! Welcome to the insanity. Here are a couple of my favorite pictures of some of my I-frames, the trifecta of a Terrier, a 32 HE snub and a Baby Chief (which is technically the first J-frame, but is really more of a coil spring I-frame size) and "Mutt and Jeff" the same 32 snub with its longer nosed target brother a 32 Regulation Police Target.

BTW, you might look for one of the rather commonly found pre-War Regulation Police models in 38 S&W with a 4" barrel to serve as company for your Terrier. No, I'm not an enabler, not very much anyway!

Regards
Froggie

 

[bigolddave]

Sometimes you have to look close. My second Terrier I bought in Houma, LA. It was labeled as a Chief's Special; I was thrilled to see it was a Terrier. The C&R license strikes again!