In the world of "gun looniness" I just had an amazing coincidence.
After posting on a thread somewhere on this site just a few days ago (I could not find it just now to reference it) that I had been enduring a long time quest to find a Smith & Wesson Model 35 revolver well wouldn't you know it I found one just yesterday after MANY years of searching!
The VarmintWife and I were up Bozeman, Montana way and had dropped off some relatives at the airport when I decided to divert a bit and check out a distant gunshop.
I am so glad I did!
There on the shelf was a MINT perfect condition Smith & Wesson Model 35-1 in 22 L.R. AND, it was factory nickel plated.
The 6" barreled Model 35-1 also had what appeared to me to be a factory installed "Target Trigger" - the trigger was difficult to measure for width, just now, but it appeared to me to be right at .400" wide according to my Browne & Sharp dial caliper.
The side plate screws were inspected under magnification and they certainly appeared to me to NEVER have been "turned".
The hammer appeared to be normal non-target width to me.
The pistol was just flawless and I surprised myself by asking the proprietor if I could remove the grips and inspect the "J' frame for the "N" stamp, which designates factory nickel plating. He let me remove the grips and in addition to a big'ole "N" stamped in the frame there was also a similar size "R" stamped near the "N".
I then became aware that indeed the pistol grip frame was a "R"ound butt.
I happily dished out the several hundred dollar bills to acquire this mint pistol and was so pleased to finally add a Model 35 to my collection - what a coincidence after just publicly exclaiming my long time difficulty in finding a 35 just days earlier!
Got home last night with the pistol and spent the evening trying to find ANY reference to a Model 35-1 being nickel plated - with NO luck online nor in my Smith & Wesson reference books!
Anyone have any insights or suggestions where to look to for information on Model 35's being factory nickel plated or having target triggers?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions or insights.
This pistol just stuns me as to its perfect condition and its age at 51 years - which I was able to ascertain from one of my Smith & Wesson reference books.
Half a century old and flawless - my kind of pistol!
I did get an inkling as to how rare these pistols are from numerous observations posted by other Smith & Wesson enthusiasts who commented how rare they were/are.
I even stooped so low as to visit "gunbreaker.com" and they showed 67 (sixty seven) items listed when "Smith & Wesson Model 35" was searched - out of 67 (sixty seven!) entries under Model 35 Smith & Wessons only 1 (one!) was actually a Model 35!
These pistols were manufactured from 1953 to 1973 - but I could NOT find any information on total production numbers.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Maybe I will buy a lotto ticket - I am feeling lucky?
Long live Smith & Wesson pre-lock revolvers!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
P.S.: I even went to the Smith & Wesson "Forum" but found no information there - I was signing up to be able to ask questions on that site but among many other overbearing and intrusive questions "they" wanted my exact birthday, I declined that and was rejected - he-he.
