Smith & Wesson .22/32 Kit Gun, Model of 1953 (Pre-Model 34), 4-inch .22 LR, Blued, Adjustable Sights, 1956-1957
This pre-Model 34 .22/32 Kit Gun is a 1950s-era Smith & Wesson built on the New I-frame, pairing a 4-inch .22 LR barrel with adjustable sights and classic blued steel. It stands out as a clean, well-preserved example from 1956-1957 with an excellent bore and the distinctive features that define the Model of 1953 series.
Condition
Overall Condition: Very good condition, showing only light, superficial signs of prior handling or use.
Bore Condition: Excellent - Clean, mirror finish, no signs of wear.
Bore Rifling: Excellent Rifling - Sharp lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: The original high-polish bluing remains strong with only light evidence of responsible use and a faint, consistent cylinder turn line. The double-action/single-action operation cycles smoothly, and the adjustable target sights are crisp and functional. The checkered walnut grips are structurally sound with sharp texture, showing only minor superficial dings.
What’s Included
- Smith & Wesson .22/32 Kit Gun, Model of 1953 (pre-Model 34) revolver
As a true pre-model example, this revolver is correctly marked without a "MOD 34" stamp in the yoke cut. It features the New I-frame architecture associated with early .22/32 Kit Guns, offering the small-frame proportions and balance that made these revolvers a favored outdoor companion.
The 4-inch carbon-steel barrel is pinned and paired with an underlug, and the six-shot fluted cylinder is blued carbon steel to match. The unshrouded, knurled-tip ejector rod and standard checkered cylinder release (not the later flat-latch) reflect the correct configuration for this period.
Sights are fully adjustable iron sights, with a serrated ramp front and a micrometer-click adjustable rear. Together with the excellent bore and sharp rifling, this setup supports precise rimfire accuracy.
Classic S&W details include a color case-hardened, checkered-spur hammer and a narrow, smooth, color case-hardened trigger. The revolver wears checkered walnut Magna stocks with S&W medallions and the diamond-around-screw pattern on a round-butt frame, complementing the high-polish blued finish.