Question on 1905, 4th Change .32 WCF

Trooperdan · #1 08-02-2012, 03:50 PM

I've just acquired a 4" barrel, blue, cal .32 WCF model 1905, 4th change, serial number 84534. Last patent date on the barrel is DEC 28, 1914.
There is the S&W trademark in the grips but no S&W markings on the sideplate nor the left side, is this usual?

It came with an old basket weave holster and the revolver has six notches cut into the left grip and the face of the cylinder has W689411 electro-pen'ed between two cylinders, which I took to possible be a police evidence ID, interesting!

Trooperdan · #2 08-02-2012, 04:02 PM

Here is a poor cell phone pic of both.

DCWilson · #3 08-02-2012, 06:06 PM

That serial number points to a probable (but not certain) ship date in 1919. At that time S&W was not marking their revolvers because they were reestablishing normal production in the aftermath of WWI. During the War, while the company was operating under government control, the S&W logo was removed from regular production. The logo was added back in 1920, I believe, and the famous MADE IN U.S.A. rollmark was introduced in 1922. So it is perfectly correct for your gun, and any gun made in that time frame, to have no frame markings associated with the company.

Those .32-20 revolvers are great fun to shoot. Avoid the old rounds marked "for rifle use," because they are loaded too hot for handguns. But other .32-20 ammo is safe to shoot.

opoefc · #4 08-02-2012, 06:34 PM

Note: Older .32-20 ammo marked "For Rifle Use Only" as mentioned by David Wilson as not safe to shoot, can be shot in S&W revolvers. The ammo. is the same as other .32-20 ammo. and the reason for the "For Rifle Use Only" is because many countries, mostly in South & Central America, placed a tax on handgun ammo. but not on rifle ammo., so ammo. companies stamped their ammo. boxes as "For rifle Use Only" to avoid the taxes. Ed.

Trooperdan · #5 08-02-2012, 07:18 PM

Further question, upon closer examination, the trigger is also marked W689411CA and it came from California via a GA ad. Is this some type of California registration number in stead of a police evidence ID as I first thought?

Thanks for the info guys, I plan to reload .32 Long-level "fun" ammo for this old-timer. Just imagine, around 92 years old, what history might it have seen?

DCWilson · #6 08-02-2012, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by opoefc

Note: Older .32-20 ammo marked "For Rifle Use Only" as mentioned by David Wilson as not safe to shoot, can be shot in S&W revolvers. The ammo. is the same as other .32-20 ammo. and the reason for the "For Rifle Use Only" is because many countries, mostly in South & Central America, placed a tax on handgun ammo. but not on rifle ammo., so ammo. companies stamped their ammo. boxes as "For rifle Use Only" to avoid the taxes. Ed.

Ed, in all these years I have never heard that. Is there then no significant pressure difference between the "rifle" and "pistol/general" .32 WCF loadings?

Live and learn. (Though I am not doing that much living today, I am definitely learning.)

Muley Gil · #7 08-02-2012, 08:25 PM

Watch out for the factory loaded .32-20 cartridges that have a 80 gr hollow point jacketed bullets. These rounds are truly "strong rifles only". Not only should they NOT be fired in handguns, they shouldn't be fired in rifles such as the Winchester 1873.