I have an old S&W 32 hand ejector with serial # 348xxx pre 1957 (no model #). I would just like to know about year of manufacture. Family heirloom. Not interested in price. Thanks, David
The Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson says only the block of numbers from 263xxx to 536xxx was 1911 to 1942 for the Third Model (think I'm remembering correctly, didn't carry the book across the house). I'd take a swag at early twenties?
Well, the text says 1917 to 1942 and seems more consistent with other models. Also says heat treating the cylinder began in 1920 with S/N 321000. So I'll still say early twenties, like '20 or '21.