NEED HELP Identifying

[FireMedic]

Alright, old school Smith and Wesson Guru's. I have a pickle for you guys to help me with. I have just purchased what appears to be a .22/.32 postwar transitional kit gun. I will post some pictures but here is my issues. According to my Smith and Wesson Standard (4th edition) on page 134 this hits all the requirements except for serial number. It is a 5 screw i frame, 4" barrel, blue finish, 6 shot, checkered walnut square butt, USRA front sight, micrometer click rear sights, S&W monograms on both sides of the grip, and a strain screw. Everything checks except the serial number is number 45380 as verified by two places on the gun. The serial number range on those postwar transitions is 536685-590000. However, in a discrepancy, on the cylinder itself the serial number is 533505. When compared to the other .22/.32 kit guns they have physical features wrong such as top rib on barrel, deleted strain screw, etc etc that are easy to see and point out. So, what gives? Am I missing something obvious that should point me in another direction? Disclaimer, I will be posting this for sale once it is properly identified in the proper forum. This forum is not for selling objects. Therefore this post is not a sale posting. It is for identification only. So, Mods don't hate me.

 

Edited January 10 by FireMedic
I purchased the firearm from previous owner

[gregintenn]

Take the grips off and tell us the number on the frame's butt.

[FireMedic]

4 hours ago, gregintenn said:

Take the grips off and tell us the number on the frame's butt.

"533505" which matches the number on the cylinder itself.

Edited January 10 by FireMedic

[FireMedic]

So, am I crazy for thinking this is a .22/.32 kit gun prewar? The only thing that it doe not have according to the Standard description is a small S&W logo on the left side. The only logo on the left side is the "medallion" on the handle. The right side has the S&W logo.  Maybe I am just backward. Im considering right/left as if I am pointing it down range. My left hand side has no logo, my right hand side has the logo. 

EDIT: So I just found a Brownells "from the vault" video on their .22/.32 pre war kit gun and its logo (and everything else) is the same as mine. So I am assuming that's what it is unless one of you fine folk can show me where I am wrong.

Edited January 10 by FireMedic
watched youtube :P

[Ronald_55]

19 minutes ago, FireMedic said:

"533505" which matches the number on the cylinder itself.

Then 45380 is probably just an assembly number. Especially if it is from the crane. 

 

 

[FireMedic]

It was from the crane. 

[gregintenn]

10 hours ago, Ronald_55 said:

Then 45380 is probably just an assembly number. Especially if it is from the crane. 

 

 

That's what I was getting at.

[gregintenn]

Quote

According to the Production Tables in the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, the first Post WW2 I-frame serial is 536,685 in 1946.

Here's what I found on another site. I cannot verify it's accuracy. I actually think there are a few post war transitions in the 535xxx range. Without a factory letter, I wouldn't know how to know for sure, but I expect you'd be safe in describing it as either a pre war model, or else an unsolved mystery.

I take the word "transitional" to mean they used up whatever parts were available at the time while in the process of making changes. WWII was a pivotal and tough time in our nation's history. Manufacturers were trying to keep the bills paid while gearing up for wartime production, and then later, transitioning back to commercial production.

 

Collectors stress over such issues, but collectors seek pristine examples. To me, this one represents a well used I frame 22, which is still desirable in it's own right. Were I buying it, pre war/post war would not make a difference on what I would pay.

Fact is I've been impatiently waiting to see you post it in the classifieds.

Edited January 10 by gregintenn

[FireMedic]

3 hours ago, gregintenn said:

Fact is I've been impatiently waiting to see you post it in the classifieds

That's hysterical! However, before I go posting I have to figure out how much the thing is worth. I took a gamble on what I paid for it. The book value ranges from 3,000-500 depending on condition so I will need to look and see how it compares to others that have sold and what they went for. 

Edited January 10 by FireMedic