Second Model 32 DA Barrel

Boulder350 · #1 01-26-2020, 03:20 PM

Here is a 32 DA 2nd model revolver. The barrel has 2 serial numbers on it. On the right is a 5 digit number that does not match the frame. On the left is a 4 digit number that matches the frame, cylinder, latch, and stocks. Looks to me that both barrel serial numbers are the same size and font. The barrel is also 3 1/2 " long which was not listed as an option for the 2nd model. It also has the v shapped patent dates the early double actions had and the 32 single actions had. There are no dates on the frame under the stocks where it went back to the factory for repair.

Any thoughts why there are 2 serial numbers on the barrel and its 3 1/2" long?

mmaher94087 · #2 01-26-2020, 07:59 PM

Smith & Wesson never wasted anything. They were known to grab a barrel from another line to fill an order. I have an example, such as yours with matching serial numbers.

Dosgatos · #3 01-26-2020, 08:18 PM

I agree with DMur - you have a left-over SA barrel which the factory renumbered for a DA gun. My first picture shows the tops of .32 SA #24064 and .32 DA 4th Model #174930. Note that both have the usual SA patent dates on the top strap. I believe the DA did not have the patent dates running into the top strap (nor did the very early SA). My .32 DA #174930 has a SA barrel with two serial numbers: #174930 and #90132. Both sets of numbers use the same size and style dies. Both barrels are 3". I have two other .32 DA's and both have the number on the right side between the ears. The double-numbered barrel has the earlier number on right side, and the gun's number on the left side. Maybe SA #90132 was damaged or rejected, and the barrel was renumbered #174930 and used on the DA.

Boulder350 · #4 01-26-2020, 10:39 PM

Thanks for your replies gentlemen. Sounds like I should send for a letter on this one.

I knew they used up old barrels on later guns. I have 38 DA 4th model with a "model of 91" barrel on it. The numbers match on the barrel and frame and there is only one serial number. Also have a single zero 38 SA 3rd model that has a barrel that does not match the frame. That too only has one serial number on the barrel.

Did not know they used barrels that were already serial numbered in later production, or to fill special orders.

Books · #5 01-27-2020, 10:54 AM

I have three .32 DA 2nd models with 3 1/2 inch barrels. One is marked identically to the one pictured. It is lettered as going to M.W. Robinson (surprise, surprise) as part of an order of 50 with 3 1/2 in barrels. (Mentioned in Std. Catalog of S&W 4th ed.)

The factory was probably scrambling to fill the order and used 3 1/2 inch barrels from the SA. (These barrel swaps are mentioned in Roy Jinks' book.)

Books

Boulder350 · #6 03-01-2020, 12:10 AM

Here are some pictures of another one I found currently for sale on the web. Looks like they installed left over longer barrels on these early double action 32's. Looks very simular to mine, but in better shape.

Sent in for a letter on mine last week. Will see what it says

glowe · #7 03-01-2020, 10:25 AM

It is my understanding that repair stamps did not start until around 1911, so any returns to the factory before that time would have no date stamps. It would be unlikely that the factory would have allowed that barrel on the wrong gun during manufacture. Patent dates were very important to protecting their design and gave the company the ability to sue over patent infringements. Having the wrong dates on a gun would not be something the company would want during the active state of the patent when that gun was made. Based on patent dates on the barrel, it is a standard Model 1 1/2 on a 32 DA frame.

Could it have been a mistake by the workers and not caught by the inspectors? Maybe, but unlikely. Could it have been done at the factory repair shop, who did some repair work around the turn of the century, again maybe. The fact, however, is that the 32 DA was still in production into the 1900s, meaning that they would have probably used the active production barrels for a 32 DA.

It could have been a mistake by a worker when repairing the gun, since the 32 DA was still in production at that time. That is not likely, since the barrel already had a serial number stamped, which means there was a frame out there with the same number?? Also, supporting some sort of repair is that fact that the serial numbers look blurred and/or sanded over, removing some of the numbers. That raises the possibilities that a private gunsmith might have been involved.

Yet another thought would be that someone demanded a 3 1/2" barrel in a special order, and the only way to have it done was to use a 32 SA barrel. There are late 1800s examples out there where an earlier or later barrel was used on a certain model gun frame and the top rib patent dates were correctly added for the time of original manufacture.

Bottom line is that there are more possibilities than answers and I do not think factory records, if they even exist from that time period would help much.

Boulder350 · #8 03-24-2020, 09:34 PM

Well the letter arrived for this revolver. Looks like they shipped the 3 1/2" barrels on some early guns. Glad I sent away for the letter.

BMur · #9 03-25-2020, 12:36 AM

Congrats on the letter confirmation matching the barrel length.
I’ve heard the grips called Floral, Peacock, but never Turkey. Is that what that bird is? Actually it doesn’t look like either to me. Maybe it’s a chicken?

Murph

Boulder350 · #10 03-25-2020, 09:29 AM

The "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson" refers to the stocks as floral or turkey.

With modern tecnology we can easily zoom in and look at the birds features. I actually think it looks like the extinct parakeet (note the beak shape) that was native to the east coast. The birds feathers were actually used and in demand for ladies hats during the time these stocks were installed on the guns. Thats what the bill look like to me. They could be a bird of prey but that does not make as much sense with it being the smallest handgun in the smith and wesson line.

The more I think about it I bet the birds on the stocks were singing parakeets srrounded by flowers. They were probobly designed and marketed to the Ladies.

BMur · #11 03-25-2020, 10:54 AM

I think you nailed it Mark.

It sure isn't a turkey!

Murph