S&W .32WCF Hand Ejector Target??

Tony Blue · #1 02-29-2012, 10:02 PM

Today I found a 6" Hand Ejector 4TH model S/N 85057 Target in .32WCF. I went straight to The History Book and found this revolver in .32Long, .38 but not .32-20. The numbers match and it appears original. Was is special order?

glowe · #2 03-01-2012, 10:00 AM

Welcome to the Forum. 32-20 was a standard caliber offering in the Model 1905 until 1940. There were 144,000 of these manufactured and serialized seperately from the 38 Special 1905s. Your K frame revolver is actually a Model 1905, Fourth Change Hand Ejector, shipped from the factory 1919-1920 timeframe. There were about 80,000 of this change made from 1915 to 1940.

These are great shooters.

glenncal1 · #3 03-01-2012, 10:50 AM

Adjustable sights on a 32-20 is a rare bird. Good score, probably a very nice shooter.

H Richard · #4 03-01-2012, 11:23 AM

In the picture of the underside of the barrel with the S/N, I notice some stampings close to the frame. Is that a "Star", which may indicate a barrel swap? I couldn't read the S/N on the gun butt but I assume they are matching?

wetdog · #5 03-01-2012, 11:57 AM

The Target model is worth a premium . According to the SCSW the target model did not begin until 1923 for the 4th change.

Tony Blue · #6 03-01-2012, 06:58 PM

The frame and cylinder S/N is 85057. The barrel has s/n B85057. No star that I can see. Thank you for the reply.

VM · #7 03-01-2012, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony Blue

The frame and cylinder S/N is 85057. The barrel has s/n B85057. No star that I can see. Thank you for the reply.

The "B" on barrel is for Blue and a proper marking
Cool Revolver!

Oh, and Welcome to the Forum!

Green Frog · #8 03-01-2012, 08:02 PM

I would say 'way cool revolver!!

Welcome to the Forum... You really know how to make an entrance!

You own a revolver many folks, myself included, just dream of finding. They are rare enough I have never even seen one in person. Congratulations on a great find. So what will you do for an encore?

Froggie

N7BLW · #9 03-03-2012, 02:35 AM

Here's a little more info on the S&W 32-20s.
I've been building a detailed database on these guns since 1991. Some of the info in the SCSW came from there. I currently have data on over 400 pieces. Much of it has not yet been entered into the system.

By my count of the survivors, about 25% were target guns.

S/N 85059 (two numbers away from the piece in this thread) was a 6 inch target, too. I don't have any other info on it.

The earliest 1905 4th change target I have detailed info on is 71930. It was shipped 11/1/1916 as a 6 inch blued gun with a Paine bead front sight. The original owner (a friend of the fellow I got the info from) had the factory rebarrel it to a 5 inch gun in November, 1947.

Here are some other serial numbers, with ship dates, that bracket 85057:
84678 - 12/1919 (6", service sights)
84912 - 1/17/1920 (6", target sights)
86946 - 1/22/1920 (5", service sights)

Muley Gil · #10 03-03-2012, 03:35 PM

I used to own # 30802; it shipped in March 1907. It was a 6" square butt .32-20 Target.

N7BLW · #11 03-03-2012, 05:21 PM

Hi, Gil. That piece has been around some. I originally got the details from Bill Webb in 2004.He lives near me.

mjr · #12 03-03-2012, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N7BLW

By my count of the survivors, about 25% were target guns.

That's surprising to me. Was the .32-20 a particularly desirable target round?

Muley Gil · #13 03-03-2012, 06:42 PM

It was considered a good hunting round back in its day. It shoots flatter than a .38 special, though with a lighter weight bullet.