From the Vault: Smith & Wesson K-Frame (Pre-War)

I love these old Smith and Wessons! An American classic!

Gentlemen, thank you so much for this excellent video and for sharing your incredible expertise. I don’t have (and I’ve probably not shot or even handled) a pre-War Smith. I do treasure, however, my six-inch barrel, 1947, Model 14, (K Frame) Target Masterpiece, which shares much in common with its pre-War siblings. It is a joy to shoot and its potential accuracy is a GREAT deal better than I can attain. Even with 70+ year old eyes, I can fire groups I’m proud of with all sorts of major brand FMJ loads. The workers in Springfield who produced these masterpieces — and that’s doesn’t denote the marketing designation, but rather their quality, craftsmanship and artistry — are likely long gone, but their superb work is their enduring legacy.

Thanks Guy’s Excellent Revolvers 😀😀😀👍🏼

The frame shape is gorgeous.

great vid, thanks so much !!!!  man I love the classic revolvers !!!

This is a sickness.
I'm totally enamoured with Smith revolvers. I know that some people specialize. An example would be J frame kit guns.
I am not that disciplined. I just love 5 screw guns, but K frame revolvers. I have a representative of all the "Masterpiece" models, but not of each variant.
Please, model episodes on Smith revolvers.

Very nice Smith's. Could you do an episode on the savage 99 in 250 savage? Very interested.

Carried Mod.10 M&P Government....MP CORP K-9.....Ft. Campbell..1977,started love for SW.

What do you think about the new Colt Cobra ?

Love that 22!

Outstanding! I really enjoyed that. Thank you.

Thank you from another person who got into handguns in law enforcement with S&W

I love k frame have 2 circa 1982 pinned barrel 4 and 6 inch. Super doble/ single actions. Great video.

Good video. I got my hands on what we believe, is an unfired pre-war dating to the middle 20s. I bought it with the original box which was in rather poor shape. I wanted a plinker and ended up with a jewel. Now I don't want to fire it. Aside from some very light freckling and light drag marking, it's as new. I guess I'll find another for plinking.

I just discovered Brownells from the Vault, this is the way to make a gun video! Thanks for all yalls effort!

Great American art in iron.

...glad I found this - have my late dad's 5 screw K22...gotta research the SN...

...I took the factory tour on 17 October 1996...still have the polishing stone they let us take as a souvenir...started in the forging station - ended up in the test firing station ass well as the Custom Shop...guy sounds like Gun Blue490...

I believe I have a pre war K-22 but I'm not sure, mines in a blue box.

My neighbor has a prewar Smith&Wesson 38 Special. Four digit serial number 4 screw cover. Chrome finish. Original grips silver logo. He asked me for information on the pistol.

Hi, I have a SMITH & WESSON Revolver, is 1905 Model Fourth Change and is in excellent condition and I want to know the built year, could you tell me that year?, the Serial Number is 513932 printing in three parts.
Under the Round Butt, under the Barrel and back the Cilinder front the shooter.
Thank you for your help.
MY BEST REGARDS.
BENEDICTO RODRIGUEZ AGUILAR FROM:
Chihuahua City, Chihuahua State, México Country.

I'm selling mine

I have a model 1905 Target .32-20 made in 1926, love it.

Excellent video from two great S&W Collectors, this includes S&W Historians. So when they share some S&W spec-data or juicy S&W history with us, you can take it to the bank. As much as they love their S&W Revolvers, both pre-war and post war production models, As a rookie cop in 1971, my 4-inch duty revolver, was the .38 Official Police. It was a post war production Colt Official Police. The precise fitting, the hand honed and hand fitted trigger action, and a factory blue finish that was present in every OP Model. In those years the Department were not as strict as in today's cop world. I retired from law enforcement in 2016, still carrying that same Colt .38 Revolver. As these two gentlemen here are well versed in everything S&W, I have been a student of Colt History, self taught, with much help from the good folks at the Colt Forum. S&W and Colt competed with each other for law enforcement contract guns. This competition was won by S&W in post war times. Part of the reason for Colt losing out was the "union" that organized in post war times. The prices of the Colt Guns, all models, started climbing, to off set union members money & benefit demands. So a contract for S&W Model 10's, same number comparison with the Colt line, be it the OP, the Detective Special,, and the Police Positive Special. with S&W's Model 10 and Model 36 snubby. That higher price tag that Colt had on their contract guns was much higher than the S&W Models. The S&W Model 10 would become the Heavyweight Champion in cop service revolvers! There is much more to the S&W versus Colt competition in post war times. In pre-war times, the Colt took center stage with law enforcement with their OP's, Police Positive Special, and Detective Special line-up. The cost of labor at Colt, after WW II, would ultimately lead to Colt's demise. Thank you so much gents for a great S&W video!

Lost my train of thought in line 3. Please forgive an old man's short comings. I get lost in thought frequently nowadays. Just ask the gun-grabber from way back, Joe Biden!

I have an m&p in 38/200. Canadian military marked (military police) What a great trigger, accurate as heck. I love it.

I love those revolvers wish to get one

I just got a model 1904 (matching numbers) but someone painted it. Literally painted it. I don’t know why. Anyway, I have got it cleaned up 90% but this last bit is a bit tricky. I also need a new tube for the hand ejector pin. Still, it will run again.

I thought the pre model 10 was 38 S&W
And not 38 special.

Great video, bought my first in 1982 (still own it too) and two more. Best revolvers IMO…

Beautiful pistols, outstanding condition.

What about the model 24 3 44 special

My dad had a K-frame .22 very much like the.22 shown here. I shot this as the only pistol I had access to and I loved that gun. It shot great ... if I missed it was my fault. The only reason I don't have it in my collection is somehow my son has it in HIS collection! How did that happen?! <edit> I forgot to say... I love these "from the vault" videos! You bring out such cool old guns!

Damn those are nice, thank you for showing them.

I'm right with ya Steve I too am a smith and Wesson man at heart, I love there vintage revolvers, truly work of art in every piece

😁👍☕

I have A 32 rim fire tip up which was in the Civil War By the serial numbers so you miss spoke about the 32 not Being in the Civil War but good show guys

Is dude pointing it at his belly?

Some remember the old 1950's Superman black and white tv show
The "faster than a speeding bullet" handgun shown is a S&W model 1905 in 32 cal.

...I recently bought a pre Model 10.. an M&P that started life as a Victory model with original 'diamond' grips....it was in consignment for $450.. I jumped on it!!!

Repetition is THEE best/only way to learn...like memorizing tines tables or practicing the piano...or tying your shoes...ir stripping a 1911

Older Smiths are some of the finest firearms ever made.

My Dad was a young man in the 1930's and could only drool over a new S&W K22 at $38 list price. Most all of his $20 a week went to supporting his family. The depression was a bitch. I now own 3 Pre War K22's. Wish he was still around so I could gift him with one!

Just saw this video and recognized Tom, I was a freshman at Murray State College's Gunsmithing program and he was a sophomore lol small world 😊

One of my Favorites....the .38 Special with 4inch barrel.
K Frame/ pre Model 10.
I currently have a Victory Model but would like to find a blued civilian gun.

Just inherited my great uncle’s pre model 10 he purchased brand new in November of 1927. Perfect condition with original box, sales receipt, and transfer paper. What a treasure.

"... same as they make today" That is a very generous comment.

S&W didnt NAME their models with the numbers we are familiar with today until 1957. At that point, the .38 caliber M&P became a "Model 10", and it can be argued the "pre-Model 10"s are actually "Model 10"s way back to 1942. The 'Model 10' is applied to guns made as early as 1899 if you define it by the K frame, police and military use, and double-action. More than 6 BILLION Model 10's were produced globally.