Nice study Drew...

My interest in the small frame S&W's is pretty much limited to kit guns and centennials, but I still learned a couple things. kfjdrfirii

 

Very informative post Drew. Thanks very much.

 

Well done..Sir!

I've always wondered how to describe the various stock configurations. Was hoping that you might pull a few from your collection and talk a bit to the variances....


giz

 

Well done..Sir!

I've always wondered how to describe the various stock configurations. Was hoping that you might pull a few from your collection and talk a bit to the variances....


giz

Stocks? I love S&W Stocks...

That I may do.... as my schedule allows. Perhaps next weekend if we don't go fishing.... digging out all the various guns and stocks would be a challenge all by it's self....

I know DW was working on an article for the S&WCA Journal on this topic, so maybe I'll just hit some of the high spots for post 1900 Hand Ejectors.

I'm glad to hear that this study was well recieved.

Drew

 

Thanks Drew, I have come accross a few of those models but never in that condition. I really like the half-moon service sights of that era that Smith and Colt both used, simple and functional design.

 

Thanks Drew, and looking forward to it....

Folks often mistake I frame thru J frame stocks and sometimes all it takes is someone to point out the number of lines cut under the diamonds. But unless a historian puts it all together...it's all just piecemeal bits and pieces.

I applaud you and also Paul (DWFan) in your efforts...as we all gain.


giz

 

Glad to help close the informational gap.

I think that one of the things we are missing here on this forum are the fine points of collecting. This is a mistake. Sometimes stimulating the interest of someone new and helping them get involved in the history, development and design of the various types of Smith & Wessons only takes a well placed story to capture that interest and turn it into a life-long pursuit.

I know that's how I got started 40+ years ago now... and sharing with those interested and becoming friends in the process is to me, the best part of the hobby.

Drew

 

Well done sir. Thanks for the informative post and the terrific photos.

 

Excellent lesson on I's and J's!

xtm

 

Very well done, I'm learning alot here, thanks Drew.

 

Well, now I know that the pair of small frame grips I picked out of a grip box are J frame grips. I figured out they would not fit a K frame and after that I gave up.
Good study on the smaller frames Drew, I have not ever gone there. I find them a bit small for my hand and sort of stay away from them.
I am trying to restrict my collecting to post war N frames, K22's and trading material.
Bill@Yuma

 

Thanks a ton. I've never had the time to dig into these little beasties....nice photos help illustrate your point very clearly. I need that kind of short form data to keep my ADD functional.

 

Thanks Drew, I learned alot from this. ihjf

 

Not only have you illuminated "I" frames for me, but your flat latch comments schooled me in that area, too!
Muchas Thankyas,
Mike

 

Goodness me, what great information.

I just picked up a baby chief with SN 55X. I am learning much about it here...

 

Good to see your post, going to hunt 'dillos with it

 

Hey, Mick, know whut we call 'dillos down hyear? Possum on the half shell...


Would one-a y'all mods or an admin sticky this thread?

 

I have a Chief's Special that has me and some others stumped. The grip frame has been changed. A later model grip frame w/matching grips was spliced onto the earlier frame. Would the grip frame measurements/geometry of a Baby Chief allow for splicing on a J frame grip frame? The original SN is 9977. The grip frame and grips have SN 577569. You should be able to make out the splicing in the attached photos. My thoughts were that it was changed from a square butt to a round butt. I have no measurements of a shorter frame to go by. Thanks for any help that you can provide.

 

Great Post Drew, thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge!

 

Wiregrass guy beat me to it about a sticky, but still a good idea. great post and increased my limited knowledge a lot.

 

I'll create a sticky,
But it's going to be the original post only, and I'll lock it down to keep it original without all of the additional posting that followed.
I'm going to keep this thread unchanged and open for further discussion of otheres want to continue the conversations.

Regards,
Gregory

 

Hi Drew,
I recently purchased this 1954 era terrier 38/32 5 screw. It had the wrong modern grips and I expected to have it with a flat latch but it didn't. Is this latch style proper?

 

definitely a correct latch for an early postwar terrier. there are actually 3 subtly different styles, with yours being the third, that preceded the flat latch. used up til some time in late 52/very early 53 (when the "model of 1953" started using the flat type (three of those, too! got to love old smiths!)

i see yours is an "improved i" with the coil main spring. is your serial number range 57XXX-58XXXish? is the upper/rearmost screwhead on the righthand side flat or domed? most of the "improved i" frames had magnas, and that screwhead was flat to allow the grip to fit flush to the frame. if it is domed, it most likely had the small service grips, still.

i'm adding a pic showing the "domed" screw:


yours looks like a nice one!

ed

 

here's a pic of the earliest one, on a 32. they are actually a direct carryover from prewar. they are shaped like an hourglass, pinching in in front of and behind the screw area. the edges also "undercut" though you can't really tell it from the pic.


the next one is basically the same but the edges go straight down, without the undercut.

the third is like yours, with a little plumper profile. here is one on a '50 terrier. i haven't ever seen a postwar/4-line terrier with either of the earlier latches. leading me to believe that the supply of both of them had been exhausted by the "postwar" terrier's re-emergence in 1950.


the "model of 1953" features the flat latch, and switches from the early small "round" triggerguard to the larger "teardrop" style, losing the 5th screw in front of the triggerguard, and introducing the ramp front sight.

 

all that being said, s&w definitely overlapped almost everything! it provides extremely interesting hunting/collecting! personally, i think the postwar transitional period is an extremely exciting collector field. some of my favorite stuff!

ed