Found this in my dad's possessions,took to a gunsmith in '85 and had it cleaned.He fired it and recleaned,gave me 10 bullets and I didn't ask him anything about it.It has on L side of barrel 32 S&W CTGE (not positive,may be F),57839 for number on butt.Has black grips with crown on bottom half and an arrow type figure going to a crest of some type on top-both sides.Hold 6 bullets.Has a 39 stamped on the rear of cylinder.The bullets seem to be very loose and will fall out.Any help would be appreciated.Thanks.

If you are able to post photos, that would be most helpful. If you don't see Smith & Wesson or S & W stamped on it besides the caliber, it may not be an S & W gun.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

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Qui plantavit curabit

It has a S&W on the barrel.

tripod77, it was common for manufacturers to mark their revolvers with some marking like "Use 32 S&W Cartridges" or "Works Best With 32 Smith & Wesson Cartridges" to make people think they were getting an actual S&W. The black grips, if original, should have monograms at the top showing the intertwined S&W logo, and there should probably be a S&W monogram on the frame, either a small one under the thumb latch or a larger one on the side plate. Again, a picture would help.

Froggie

PS ... and welcome to the forum!

Welcome to the forum. The 39 on the barrel may be preceeded by a 578 even if the numbers are separated by one of the chambers. It was a common practice in the firearm industry to mark the various parts of the gun with the serial number.

The grips/stocks that you describe do not sound like S&W stocks. How does the gun open? Does it have a swing out cylinder, open by tipping the barrel up or open by moving a button and tipping the barrel down? That would help identify the style of gun.

Are there any patent dates roll stamped on the barrel top? That could help in dating the gun.

Photos would help greatly.

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James Redfield
LM #497

CTGE as oppossed to CTG is a red flag for Spanish manufacture. The crest also seems to be familiar in that vein.

Pictures are truly needed.

W.

Agree, and CTGE is also seen on Iver Johnson and Harrington & Richardson revolvers from the US. They were contemporary gun manufacturers a century or so ago and sold a lot of guns to Americans who didn't want to spend a little more on a S&W.

Does your gun have a swing-out cylinder? Or is it a top break model in which the front of the gun folds down to allow unloading and loading of the cylinder? (And I repeat the request for photos that others have made. One picture can save a lot of words and protect against misinterpretation of them.)

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David Wilson

You have to depress a button under the barrel and pull the rod and the cylinder slides out completely into your hand.

The model code REALLY looks like CTGF. Not "E". I just cannot find any info on the CTGF.

You are describing the way to remove the cylinder on a Colt or Ruger single action revolver.

If the cartridges (not just "bullets", which are just one component of a cartridge) do not fit, they are the wrong caliber.

This doesn't sound like a Smith & Wesson at all. Maybe a foreign counterfeit. Don't shoot it until you know what you have and which ammunition is correct. It might be dangerous.

We really need a photo. No kidding!

I double checked it and so did my son, it definitely says CTGF on the barrel.... it is not CTGE.

The gun is entirely Black, the pic makes it look silver.

Attached Images

rsz_1s&w.jpg (111.0 KB, 302 views)

Definitely NOT a S&W . . . I'm guessing maybe a Webley Vickers pocket pistol in 43/82 Hong Kong, often confused with the 32CTGF . . .

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Qui plantavit curabit

Why does it have S&W on the barrel?

Could be an old Iver Johnson as well, they had a similar base pin retainer. The S&W on the barrel would refer to the cartridge (CTG) or caliber.

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Even older, even crankier....

Looks to be a H&R Victor or copy!

rufe-snow
"One of my references identifies "Victor" as being a Trade Name used by Harrington & Richardson. It was used on one of their inexpensive Suicide Special revolvers, dating to the late 19th Century. Your photo appears to resemble, this class of handgun."

H & R Firearms - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Victor (Unfluted cylinder, round barrel) Available in both small and large frame. Calibers: .22, .32 and .38

Hope this helps!

D R

What people have been trying to tell you is that the barrel stamping is the CALIBER, not the MODEL, and not the brand of the gun.

It's saying the gun is chambered for the .32 Smith & Wesson CARTRIDGE, which is a caliber designation, regardless of whether the E looks like an F or not.
Denis

I'm with A10.Looks like an Iver Johnson.

All your responses are very informative.Being the is no definitive answer,in the next few days I will take it to a gun dealer in my area who has been in business many years and see what he has to say.I will post his response here and maybe you all can come to a conclusion.Thanx.

What rounds have you been putting in it?
Denis

If you can, post a photo of the other side and of the top of the barrel. Did you find any other numbers on the cylinder face before the 39. They may be faint and require a magnifying glass.

I agree, it is definitely not a S&W even though it may shoot one of the calibers with S&W in the name. There are many calibers with gun company names in them such as .35 Remington, .30-06 Springfield or .243 Winchester that can be shot in any makers gun.

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James Redfield
LM #497

I'm curious about what the "loose bullets" are.
Denis

Welcome to forum! Instead of playing guessing game with no pictures, why not just take it to any gun or pawn shop and ask them what it is.

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Mis-Placed Texan!

He actually did post a picture & actually did say he's going to take it to a local dealer.
Denis

Looks to me an awful like one of the Iver Johnson revolvers from the period before the top breaks. They usually had some marking on the top strap like 'American Bulldog' or 'Old Hickory'. The grips in partiuclar look a lot like the ones on these guns.

Dealer says-H&R,"The American,"made '30-'50.

The American I had had The American stamped on it. It was nickel with a fluted cyl.

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Dum vivo cano

your gun dealer is correct. Go to H&R firearms on wikipedia and look at the third gun down.

What rounds have you been putting in it?
What's loose & how do they fall out?
Denis