models 33 and 36

[JB3rd]

saw a NIB model 33 today, 4" .38 spcl -- looked absolutely pristine. don't remember the serial number though. dealer wanted $400. would possibly go for $375. Seems a bit high. what do you guys think? I read somewhere that model 33s were discontinued in the early '70s.

Also saw a 36, 3" .38 spcl. it was slightly used- -perfect bluing except for two small scratches. no other blemishes. serial was J992xxx. dealer wanted $350. Any ideas on the age of this revolver?

I liked both of them but was kinda set back by the prices. I don't know that much about smith revolvers in general, but thought these two were about $50-$75 too high.

Any of you guys care to share your thoughts?

 

[Mike Irwin]

"saw a NIB model 33 today, 4" .38 spcl."

Not in .38 Special you didn't.

The Model 33 was made only in .38 Smith & Wesson, as a continuation of the old I-framed .38 Regulation Police.

Model numbering came about in 1957, while the J-frame was phased into production in 1961.

Straight Model 33s have the I-frame, those marked 33-1 are built on the J-frame.

I'd be willing to pay $400 for one new in box with all the goodies, but less without.

The Model 36 seems to be 1982 production. It's also a big on the spendy side for my tastes.

 

[JB3rd]

the 33 mentioned above was marked 33-1. I didn't make that distinction earlier since I figured the -1 was due to minor changes, not a change from the I- to J-frame. The revolver was quite nice, with original box. I'm pretty sure it was marked ".38 S&W Special Ctg" Wish I could remember the SN.

thanks for the info, Mike.

 

[Mike Irwin]

JB,

If it is a J-frame .38 Spl. in 4", it's a fairly rare gun on its face. S&W hasn't made but a handful of J-frame 4" guns. If it's marked 33-1 with a 4" barrel AND is chambered in .38 Special, it's even rarer still, to the point where you absolutely should buy it. It might be a one of a kind gun.

I think, however, that it's either mismarked in the case, it's mismarked on the gun (S&W has a happy habit of mismarking guns as to caliber or model number), or both. Or you're simply not remembering correctly what you saw.

And WOW!

I just found a couple of errors in "The Standard Catalog of S&W" first edition!

Appendix 5 lists modern (with model number) revolvers by caliber.

Under .38 S&W they have a single gun listed -- the Model 11, a variant on the K-frame Military & Police.

They have the Model 33 listed in the .38 Spl. table, which isn't correct.

They also failed to list the Model 32, the .38/.32 Terrier, which was also in .38 S&W.

Whoops, just found the Model 32. Also incorrectly listed in the .38 Spl. table.

 

[JB3rd]

Thanks, Mike

Next chance I get I'll go take a closer look. I know it was a J-frame, marked 33-1 and has a 4" barrel, and I'm almost certain it's 38 special.

might be a hidden gem waiting to be collected. The shop I saw it in is 45 miles out of my way home from work - - got to think up some excuse to go over there again.

hmmm.....still have some Christmas shopping to do......that revolver would fit the wife's hands perfectly...........sounds like a good reason to me

If she doesn't like it......I'll keep it! ........... might work.......

wish me luck!

 

[Tamara]

S&W hasn't made but a handful of J-frame 4" guns.

Only all those 31's and 33's.

 

[Brian Williams]

There she goes again, JB3rd "You've been Tam'ed"

Sweet Gun "El Pistolero Senorita"

 

[BigG]

Geez, Mike, I've even seen 4" J frames and I have no interest in them. Here's a tip: A S&W can be one of a kind, but if nobody wants to collect it, it ain't worth any more than something similar. Good deal? Yeah, if it's your thing but not otherwise. It's a great field for people who want to start a collection on a smaller investment but I don't think they are going thru the roof any time soon.

 

[Mike Irwin]

This sentence

"S&W hasn't made but a handful of J-frame 4" guns."

Should have read

"S&W hasn't made but a handful of J-frame 4" .38 Special guns."

I should have included that for those among us who didn't get the idea that we were talking about .38s...

There's an enormous difference between the .38 S&W in 4" and the .38 Special in 4" in a J frame.

An even bigger difference between a .38 and a .32...

Thousands of 4" J frame .38 S&Ws were made, perhaps fewer than 100 4" .38 Specials J frames across all models.

The 3" barrel was the standard for the .38 Spl. J frame.


"A S&W can be one of a kind, but if nobody wants to collect it, it ain't worth any more than something similar."

Trust me, it's not hard to find someone who would immediately snap up a mismark. A rare caliber/barrel configuration? You'd have people barking at your door.

I have standing orders from a half-dozen hardcore S&W collectors who will IMMEDIATELY take off my hands any mismarked or "odd variation" guns that I find. Depending on what it is, my finder's fee can be quite substantial. I've already paid for two guns on finder's fees alone.