SMITH & WESSON PRE MODEL 43 22/32 KIT GUN AIRWEIGHT 22LR

A desirable early lightweight trail revolver — Smith & Wesson Pre-Model 43 Airweight .22/32 Kit Gun, manufactured in 1955 during the first production period of these alloy-frame kit guns.

Built on the small I-frame with an early aluminum alloy frame, this revolver was designed as an easily carried outdoors companion for fishermen, hikers, and campers. It features a 3½" barrel with ramped front sight and adjustable rear sight, providing a practical sight picture for field use while maintaining the compact proportions that defined the Kit Gun concept.

This example retains the square butt configuration, typical of early production, and is accompanied by the correct red Smith & Wesson factory box, an increasingly desirable accessory for collectors.

The Pre-Model 43 represents the transitional period before Smith & Wesson began assigning numeric model designations in 1957, making these early examples particularly attractive to collectors of classic post-war S&W revolvers.

A well-preserved early Airweight Kit Gun from 1955, combining historical significance, lightweight practicality, and the enduring appeal of Smith & Wesson’s pre-model revolver era.