Quote:
Originally Posted by david59
thank you for your response . the thing that is confusing to me is the last patent date on the barrel is dec. 29 1914 . the ser # on the bottom of the barrel is preceded by an 'r' and except for that is the same as the one on the grip frame .
|
My mistake, I did not pick up on the asterisk replacing the last digit. Thx to members above, you now have the correct vintage.
The R preceding the barrel serial # is almost certainly a poorly stamped B which indicates the gun was originally blued when produced.
32 HISTORY
The .32 Hand Ejector and its cartridge, the 32 S&W Long are both historical. The .32 HE is the first side swing out cylinder produced by S&W, built on the first I size frame, and introduced as the 1896 Model (1st Model) along with its new cartridge.
It went thru several evolutionary changes until it became the 32 HE 3rd model in 1917 when a sq butt version was introduced as the 32 Regulation Police beginning at ~ #258000 in the same serial range as the 32 HE. The more common barrel length is the 4 1/4".
Target models with adjustable sights were available with 6" barrels as well as very rare 4 1/4" barrels, and with 2 screw extended target stocks.
The 3rd Model had a hammer safety block added around 1919 used thru WW II.
By 1920 the cyls received a heat treatment for additional strength as did all S&W revolvers.
Both were reintroduced after WW II in identical form except for the change to the much more fool proof post war sliding bar safety. They went thru more evolution in the 1950s, and in 1957 became the Model 30 w/round butt and the Model 31 w/square butt, and finally in 1961 were upgraded to the slightly longer J size frame with added -1 to the model #s.
Eventually both versions were combined as just the Model 31-1 in 1976, until discontinued in 1991. Various iterations were later introduced using the 32 H&R Mag and/or the 327 Fed Mag, both of which still use the 32 Long as well.
Any currently available 32 Long ammo in standard loadings is perfectly safe to shoot in your 32.