[pdxrandy]

I have a small frame .22 A .22/32 Hand ejector or a Kit gun. It has a 4" barrel, round butt and what I would guess as a tiny 5100 Series target sight.

On the butt and the face of the cylinder is stamped the number 13267, the crane, the frame under the crane, and inside the side plate is stamped the number 59085.

Old Fluff said that the 13267# was out of range for a serial number.

So, what gives? Why two numbers, expecialy on the frame?

Thanks for helping me clear my mind on this. Based on these two numbers I will go back to my original question. When was this gun built?

Good energy,
~Randy:banghead:

[Jim Watson]

S&W puts fitting numbers on major gun parts to keep the matching parts together before a serial number is issued. The number on the butt is the real serial number, I don't know why it would be "out of range."

[Jim K]

The fitting of the crane to the frame is so critical that it is done before finishing and the parts are numbered to keep them together in the rest of the final fitting and finishing process. So those numbers on the crane and on the frame adjacent to it are called "assembly numbers". They are in sequence within a batch of guns, but have no meaning outside the factory.

The butt number is the serial number. It is out of range for the pre-war 22/32 guns that were numbered in the .32 Hand Ejector series (160,000 at that point), but starting in 1953, the 22/32 Kit Gun was numbered in its own series; 13267 was made in 1955.

Jim

[pdxrandy]

Thanks for the help "Gentlemen" . Now I know when all of my Smith's were built, kinda fun to know. At least for me anyway. :D :D :D

Thanks again,
~Randy