Old S&W .22 Revolver

ThePunisher

ThePunisher

CGN Regular
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Location
Belleville/Kingston Ontario
I recently picked up an old S&W revolver from a friend of a friend, sight unseen. He was going to destroy unless someone wanted it, so I bought it. I bought it sight unseen as a K22 Masterpiece. It most definetly is not. The CFO raised holy hell on this thing as it was registered incorrectly as a K22; they claim it is a 22/32 S&W. It is in rough shape and I have not cleaned it up, but was wondering if anyone could indeed confirm what this is. The unit still locks up pretty tight. On the top of the barrel it says:

smith&wesson springfield mass usa patd mar 27,94 aug 4 96. dec 22 96. oct 8 01. dec 17 01. feb 6 06. sept 14 08.

Any info folks?
SW.jpg
 
According to my Second Edition Standard Catalog S&W, this is indeed the 22/32 Hand Ejector(22/32 Bekeart Model or 22/32 Heavy Frame Target)
Built on the .32 hand ejector "I" frame.6 shot cylinder, 6 inch barrel pinned barrel, cylinder 1.26 inches long.Front sight is a thin blade, (1/10 or 1/8 inch)
with a bead top pinned into a raised boss. says here, adjustable rearsights for windage and elevation. .240 inch smooth trigger, and .240 " checkered hammer. Flat faced hammer, with floating firing pin.
A small S&W trademark is on the left hand side of the frame.

This model was named after San Francisco dealer Philip Bekeart who originally contracted S&W to manufacture this revolver. Circa 1911-1941.
[1911-15, Bekeart Model, 1915-41, 22/32 Heavy Frame Target Model] But these were not a regular catalogued item until 1915, at about serial number range 160,000. Cylinder chambers recessed for the case head began about 1935 at serial number range 525,600.
 
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Here is what a K22 looks like, the top one. I bought it new in May, 1953. It is a 22 on a K frame, with no model number. They later became the Model 17.
The one below it is a 357 Magnum, also before they designated it as the Model 27. This one is just marked, S & W 357 MAGNUM.
Rs002.jpg
 
ThePunisher said:
Thanks for the info! Serial number on this thing is 225###. Man, I wish it was in better shape:(
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Unfortuneately, in the early 22/32 I frames, this catalog has sketchy/skant info on these early 32 framed revolvers.

Looking at the serial number ranges of production is displayed as such:

.22/.32 Hand Ejector Series
1911-1941; 160000-536684
1923; 384###

I wish I could be more specific......I wonder if Silverback could chime in???
Overall a nice rimfire revolver you have there Punisher, it is stated that prior to Bekeart's request, all .22 frames were small and made just for easy concealment mostly. Example, the early Ladysmith series.:D

Nice pair of Smiths there H4831! :)
I have a Pre-Model 20 Heavy Duty N-frame, that would compliment them, very nicely.(1940)

There is something very appealing about Smith Six Shooters!
 
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Thanks, "The Punisher." I find it hard to photograph guns, because the glare from the light often makes it look like some bluing is gone.
Here is the same 357. Compare the two pictures and you can get a better idea of the bluing. In the picture of the two of them, the cameral angle missed the glare on the 22.
I also have a S&W, 44 mag, Model 29-2, with, virtually 100% blue, that fits in well in the group. The 357 is on the EE here.
P1020692.jpg
 
Brutus said:
According to my Second Edition Standard Catalog S&W, this is indeed the 22/32 Hand Ejector(22/32 Bekeart Model or 22/32 Heavy Frame Target)
Built on the .32 hand ejector "I" frame.6 shot cylinder, 6 inch barrel pinned barrel, cylinder 1.26 inches long.Front sight is a thin blade, (1/10 or 1/8 inch)
with a bead top pinned into a raised boss. says here, adjustable rearsights for windage and elevation. .240 inch smooth trigger, and .240 " checkered hammer. Flat faced hammer, with floating firing pin.
A small S&W trademark is on the left hand side of the frame.

This model was named after San Francisco dealer Philip Bekeart who originally contracted S&W to manufacture this revolver. Circa 1911-1941.
[1911-15, Bekeart Model, 1915-41, 22/32 Heavy Frame Target Model] But these were not a regular catalogued item until 1915, at about serial number range 160,000. Cylinder chambers recessed for the case head began about 1935 at serial number range 525,600.
Click to expand...

Brutus nailed it, the picture in my 3rd Edition of the Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson looks exactly like your revolver, for the purpose of the CFO it should be a S&W .22/32 Hand Ejector. I don't know why the CFO is upset, when it was originally registered a government official would have completed the paperwork, not you.
 
I giggled out loud when you wrote that the CFO was mad that it was registered incorrectly, I just picked up from an R.C.M.P. detachment a Indian IA1 Fn that the constable had correctly identified to the CFR who then promply changed the registration to a Canadian C1A1!!!

Scott
 
Hey Punisher, that is a fine looking old revolver there. (but then most revolvers are) If cleaning it up is not your thing I would love a chance to get ahold of it, clean it up for my wife and I to shoot.:)
 
This is a real nice .22. Yes, the finish look rough, but if it is mechanically sound, this thing is a shooter. Find someone who can do a restauration on it , if the look is important for you. There is not a lot of these around in Canada.

And for the CFO, I had a .38 M&P registered as a mdl 10. When I told them that, they were pissed, but , Hey, it was not me who registered it as a MDL 10!!

Yves
 
I gave it a good cleaning, and it seems to work fine. Still has rifling in the barrel (though it does look like there is a bit of pitting). The firing pin was stuck, but a bit of Hoppes 9 freed that up right quickly. Took it to the range this morning and it shot beautiful - the single action trigger is very nice, while the double action was a bit of a pull. Overall, a very nice gun to shoot...
 
Glad to know that she shoots fine, at this point don't refinish the gun as it will destroy the collector value if you happen want to sell it. It is a great fine indeed but the friend of your friend is not quite a good friend:).

Trigun
 
I doubt it is worth anything as a collector - alot of the blueing is off, and there are marks on the wood - dings (I think someone used the bottom of the wood stocks as a hammer!!!). As mentioned,there is a bit of pitting in the barrel as well. Be lucky if it is worth $100 I imagine...
 
ThePunisher said:
I doubt it is worth anything as a collector - alot of the blueing is off, and there are marks on the wood - dings (I think someone used the bottom of the wood stocks as a hammer!!!). As mentioned,there is a bit of pitting in the barrel as well. Be lucky if it is worth $100 I imagine...
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If you ask for $100 at the EE, I can tell you will get more than ten PM as soon as you posted.

Trigun
 
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