Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

[joel6180]

Dom s&w 34-1

Here is a 34-1 a fellow wants to buy from me with his C&R license. I need to find out if it is 1965 manufacture or before. Those older grips are numbers matching to the gun. Thanks for any help.

a. .22 LR
b. 2”
c. Round butt
d. 6 shots
e. Adjustable sights
f. SN – M20678
g. Model 34-1

 

[Radagast]

joel6180:
That Model 34-1 .22/32 Kit Gun was manufactured between 1969 & 1971. Serial range for those years was M1 to M30000. So 1970 is likely.

 

[joel6180]

Thank you very much.

 

[CajunBass]

Something a little different this time. I put this one on layaway today. It already has a factory letter, which indicates that it was made in March of 1952. It's a 38 S&W "Terrier" with a 2" barrel, five shot, 38 s&W, round butt, with diamond magna stocks.

However, I just skimmed the letter looking for the date, and put it back in the envelope for safekeeping.

Couple of cell phone pictures before they "put it in the back."





So...my question is...Is this a "J" or an "I" frame?

 

[Radagast]

Should be a leaf spring equiped I frame, the Improved I frame with coil main spring was introduced in '53. The change to the J frame was in 1961. A J frame gun will have a -1 suffix.

 

[rcmodel]

See if it has a mainspring strain screw in the bottom front of the grip frame.

If it does, it's a lief spring I-Frame.

If it doesn't it's a modified I-Frame with a coil mainspring.


Still, the cupped thumb piece looks a little suspect for a 1952 gun.

It should be a 'flat-latch' although there were three variations of that at the time.

Flat-latch on Modified I-Frame .22/.32 Kit gun.



If you would give Radagast a partial serial number to work with he could pin it down closer I betcha!!

rc

 

[Radagast]

RC, he already has a factory letter. I'm hoping when he has it in hand he'll give me a serial number & date so I can update my SCSW.

 

[CajunBass]

I'm sorry Radagast. I totally forgot the S/N. It's on my layaway ticket. S/N is 65890. I'm reasonably sure the letter said March 19, 1952, but '52 is my birth year, and the gun is in better shape than my memory sometimes.

 

[Radagast]

Thanks Cajun.

 

[trwilkes]

Smith and Wesson Identification

I recently purchased at an auction the following, any additional information would be greatly appreciated.
Smith & Wesson
Caliber- 32
BBL Length- 4"
Grips- Round
# of Shots- 6
Sights- Fixed (frt blade)
Serial # - 58793 (matches 3 locations)
Model- B (this is not listed with serial # but is on underside of barrel about 1/2" before the serial # starts)
Finish- Nickel Plated

Trying to learn more about all models, thanks in advance for any help. Interested in anything I can find about it,

trwilkes

 

[Radagast]

1906/7. More info in your original thread.

 

[Radagast]

If you have a few bucks to spend, the reference is Standard Catalog of S&W by Supica & Nahas, third edition, Gun Digest Books.

 

[tr buckeye]

Was recently given my grandfather's old revolver. The only thing anyone can tell me about it is that it is inoperable and can't be repaired. I don't care about that - it was my grandfather's! Can you tell me what I have?

a) - Unknown Caliber
b) - bbl is 3 1/4 inches
c) - Round grips
d) - five shot cylinder
e) - fixed sights
f) - 81406 - no letter
g) - none found

 

[Radagast]

tr buckeye:
You have a .32 Single Action Manufactured between 1877 & 1891. Serial range for those years was 1-108255, so your grandfathers gun will probably fall later in that period.

 

[tr buckeye]

Thanks! The story is now more complete!

 

[Radagast]

tr buckeye:
A typo in my reply. That is a .38 Single Action, 2nd Model.

Numrich arms strips old guns for parts. They list parts for the .32 S&W variant, keep an eye on them to see if thy get parts for your gun.

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/Manufa...olvers-42026/32SingleActionRevolver-38375.htm

 

[woodruc]

hello, I inherited the following and am just wondering how old it is?

.38 cal
1.78" barrel
square grips
5 round bore
fixed sights
j9180xx
model 38 airweight

 

[Radagast]

woodruc:
Your Model 38 Bodyguard Airweight was manufactured in 1982.

 

[Radagast]

trwilkes:
Your original thread was deleted, so I'll re-post the info here.
You have a .32 Hand Ejector Model of 1903 2nd Change manufactured around 1906/1907. It predates heat treatment of cylinders, so don't run hot hand loads through it, stick to standard pressure factory loads, which should be safe to shoot in it. It lack the positive internal hammer block safety introduced in 1944, so I would treat it as a 5 shooter, leaving the hammer down on an empty chamber.

 

[woodruc]

Thank you very much! Any idea if it's OK to run +p ammo thru it?

 

[Radagast]

Should be fine, but may experience more rapid wear. Discussion i this thread:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=782821

 

[jdavis123]

Serial: 424347
.38 Spl
6" barrel
Blue
Square butt
Old style diamond grips

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[Radagast]

jdavis123:
You have a .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change manufactured between 1920 (serial number 358xxx) and 1927(serial number 500xxx). If the right side of the frame is stamped Made In USA, then it was made after May 1922. Gold grip medallions were used till roughly 1920, chrome plated grip medallions were introduced in 1929. Yours appear to be gold, which suggests an earlier gun.

 

[jdavis123]

Thank you, Radagast. I had guessed that the revolver was made sometime in the 20's. The information that you provided is interesting and helpful.

 

[wence5]

Here's another one for you..............

Model 629 no dash
.44 Magnum
8 3/8'' barrel non pinned
six shot recessed cylinder
square butt with Magna grips
rear sights adjustable
Red ramped front sight
serial #N874***