Trying To Date My 22/32 Kit Gun

[Deltamac]

Good Evening All,
I inherited a 22LR 32 Kit gun from my grandparents when they passed away. I've shot the pistol many times as a kid, but never knew much about it. It's a 32 Kit Gun (2" barrel). The serial number on the bottom of the butt is 9340. I've included a couple pictures and I assume it is a round butt. Unfortunately, it had some aftermarket plastic grips that, I guess, were supposed to look like ivory. I think I have a lead on a set of correct wood grips. Anyway, I was hoping someone could help me with the date of the revolver. Thank you in advance and I'm happy to provide more info if I've missed something.

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

Yes, it is a round butt.

 

[USBP SW]

I don't have any reference material available to pinpoint the date of your revolver but it's a model of 1953 22/32 kit gun. I would estimate it to be manufactured in the mid-1950's.

 

[Model19man]

It looks very nice to me! Unfortunately S&W liked to build revolvers not by serial number so that one could have shipped any time from 1953 to about 1957 when they started to assign model numbers to those. It's fairly desirable in that condition. I think you would be wise to search for a decent set of proper wood grips for it.

Note that a S&W official letter could pinpoint the manufacture date (if you ask for it) and the ship date, plus the vendor. It is likely worth it.

 

[murphydog]

Welcome! As noted above it is a model of 1953 Kit Gun, and two reported serial numbers are published - 5000 in 1954 and 11000 in 1955. So it is a fair bet it was produced in 1954, but the ship (sales) date may be that year or perhaps 1955. Our local J frame expert 'Jack' may be along shortly.

 

[JP@AK]

Hi Deltamac and welcome to the S&W Forum.

Your Kit Gun is a nice early example. Both the serial number and the four screw sideplate identify it as an early example of the Model of 1953 .22/32 Kit Gun.

Your revolver is built on the New I Frame, first introduced in 1953, hence the name, Model of 1953. The earliest examples had four screws in the sideplate, as yours does. The newer 3 screw sideplate began showing up in the summer of 1955 at around serial number 15,000. It is probably reasonable to assume your example was assembled in 1954.

One additional note: You correctly identified it in the title of your post, but in the body you wrote, "It's a 32 Kit Gun (2" barrel)." The gun's official name is .22/32 Kit Gun. The reason is that it is built on the .32 size frame, but chambered for the .22 rimfire cartridge. S&W used similar nomenclature with its .38 caliber Heavy Duty and Outdoorsman's revolver, clear back in the 1930s (in the same era as the Kit Gun was first introduced). Those were called .38/44, meaning they were .38 caliber revolvers built on the .44 size frame.

 

[Deltamac]

Wow! Thank you for the response (thank you to everyone). I've learned so much in the hour, or so, since I made the post. The information you have provided helps a great deal. Very interesting for certain. I'm hoping to source those "correct" wood grips and keep shooting this little revolver.

 

[JP@AK]

I'm hoping to source those "correct" wood grips and keep shooting this little revolver.

From 1953 until the I frame was discontinued in c. 1961, round butt Magna stocks were the same size for both the I and J frame revolvers. So, you can search for either I or J frame round butt stocks from any time in that period. Also in that timeframe, the stocks will have the smooth diamond at the screw location. The diamond ended sometime after January, 1966.

Here is a picture of two Kit Guns. The bottom unit is a Model of 1953 like yours. It is wearing correct stocks. That's what you are looking for.

 

[Truckman]

You might find what you need in our own sales forum here......Ben

 

[rct269]

"This little revolver" (and its cousin, the Chiefs Special Target) will shoot just fine (get a pair of target grips----or the Fitz Gunfighter grips for the round butt), and find somebody/somebodies who spout off when you say you can shoot better than the/some posted low slow fire scores with your snub nose at pretty much any Bullseye match. (I think they call them "Precision Pistol" matches nowadays.)

The spouting off will go along these lines: "Oh yeah, for how much?"---after your claim you can do better with your snub nose----works every time!! Then you're up!

The secret to success is knowing you can beat those scores---so practice-practice-practice!!! Then you can make some money---and boggle their minds!

Now "slow fire" is shooting at 50 yards (or closer at smaller targets) so it ain't all that easy when you start practicing---but it's a piece of cake afterwards when you're ready to start running your mouth---and making some money---and boggling some minds----and it's A HOOT---'cause the crowd'll be on your side!!

Ralph Tremaine

 

[John Adams]

3 digit 1953 kitgun

Here is my early 1953 kit gun. The finish light spots are RenWax not yet rubbed in.These little revolvers can be a lot of fun. Enjoy yours.

 

[USBP SW]

I would recommend that you exercise caution when purchasing the grips, I have an early example with the (improved I frame?) and I seem to recall the grips were shorter than the J frame grips.

 

[Retired W4]

Welcome to the forum from Hot 'Lanta. The Kit Gun is a handy little thing and fun to shoot. I have #7041 and it is the star of my modest kit gun collection.

 

[max503]

Mine is from the 70's. It's favorite ammo is Stingers and Mini-Mags. Yours might be due for a main spring. Mine needs a new one every 5-10 years, it seems. I like these grips best.

 

[rct269]

The grips are the Achilles's heel when it comes to precision shooting with these guns. It doesn't make any difference if all you're doing is murdering tin cans up close and personal, but when you want too hit what you're aiming at----+/- a half inch a looooooooong ways off, the grips become where the rubber meets the road!!

Push come to shove, you want something that fits your hand--even if you need to have them custom made to order---and the grips they came with don't fit anybody's hand-----'cept maybe for a little kid!

Ralph Tremaine

As an aside, I was blessed with a square butt version of this gun; and I'm thinking the J frame target grips fit it. Having said that, it may very well be those grips fit my Chiefs Special Target instead----it's been a good long time back, and I can't say for sure and certain.

 

[RKmesa]

Just for reference, SN 9757 shipped in December 1954.

 

[dobegrant]

Welcome from Arizona, very neat heirloom

 

[Hondo44]

You will experience confusion when shopping for your grips:

Your gun is a new I frame not a J frame however both models of 1953 I and J frame use the same size grip.

And the pre 1953 I and J frames use the same size grips as each other BUT THEY are both too short for your gun!