.32 Hand Ejector Model of 1896

gripper · #1 10-07-2009, 09:34 PM

The story is that this gun was stored in an attic for many years by a member of the Michigan 32nd regiment and his family for many years. The 32nd regiment was off to the Spanish American War but only made it as far as Florida and the war ended. At the end of the war this certain gentleman moved from Michigan to the east coast and supposedly purchased this gun. Although this gun has a turn ring there is no indication of being fired. I can only speculate that it was cocked and wiped down every once in a while over the last 108 years. I cannot prove that this once belonged to a member of the 32nd regiment but it is fun to imagine and any gun of this age that has stood the test of time I guess is kind of unique. Shipped May 9th, 1901 to Marcus Hartley & Co., New York City, NY. -Chad

DCWilson · #2 10-07-2009, 09:52 PM

At those prices, I'll take 10.

What a beautiful revolver. Not to sound like Chief Dan George, but when I see something that old look that good, my heart leaps up.

twaits · #3 10-07-2009, 09:59 PM

Wow that is simply stunning! Definitely the nicest '96 I've seen. Here's a pic of two of mine. The shorter one came from Hartley and Graham and was shipped in 1896. Is this somehow related to Marcus Hartley?

twaits · #4 10-07-2009, 10:03 PM

One more question, what are the three different price listings for?
My assumption is one for Nickel, one for Blue (usually more expensive back then) and one with pearl grips?

gripper · #5 10-07-2009, 10:12 PM

The least expensive being rubber stocks at 10.75, ivory stocks 12.00, and for the big spenders of that era the pearl stocks at 12.50.

twaits · #6 10-08-2009, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gripper

The least expensive being rubber stocks at 10.75, ivory stocks 12.00, and for the big spenders of that era the pearl stocks at 12.50.

According to the inflation calculator that would be almost $320 today.
Actually not too bad for a gun with real mother of pearl grips!

gripper · #7 10-08-2009, 06:36 PM

In 1901 the average hourly wage was around .25 per hour. It took a whole weeks pay just to buy a $10.75 gun. To spend an extra $1.75 for pearl grips am sure was a big deal. Of course taking into consideration you comment on inflation, the price of guns today, and average incomes in 2009 it does take a large part of a weeks paycheck to buy a nice gun now just as it did then. The only difference is the Smiths of 1901 were made by craftsman and current production guns are stamped out by CNC machines. While our modern guns are good I personally prefer the old ones.

twaits · #8 10-18-2009, 10:46 PM

Perhaps we can get some more people to post pics of their 1896s here. I love these first model HEs. That blued one that started this thread is the nicest I've ever seen.
I wonder if S&W ever did a special order with a barrel shorter than 3 and 1/4 inch? That I would really like to see. Actually I'd even like to see one that has been cut down this way.

I just noticed the ship date of that beautiful blued gun above. My nickel 1896 above with the 4 and 1/4 inch barrel was shipped on Aug. 9, 1901. Mine went to Wyeth Hardware & Metal Co. St. Joseph, MO.
The other one with the shorter barrel was shipped in 1896 and went to Hartley and Graham in NYC.

Dr.-d · #9 10-19-2009, 09:20 AM

My 1896 is not the best looking finish wise but I wish it could talk. I bought it around 7 or 8 yrs. ago from a now defunct gunshop that the oldtimer that ran it for years said when he first opened the shop in the 60's someone brought it in to sell and it sat in the shop for 40 years. I took it to the range when I got it and was surprised at how accurate these little guns are.

twaits · #10 07-28-2010, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gripper

The story is that this gun was stored in an attic for many years by a member of the Michigan 32nd regiment and his family for many years. The 32nd regiment was off to the Spanish American War but only made it as far as Florida and the war ended. At the end of the war this certain gentleman moved from Michigan to the east coast and supposedly purchased this gun. Although this gun has a turn ring there is no indication of being fired. I can only speculate that it was cocked and wiped down every once in a while over the last 108 years. I cannot prove that this once belonged to a member of the 32nd regiment but it is fun to imagine and any gun of this age that has stood the test of time I guess is kind of unique. Shipped May 9th, 1901 to Marcus Hartley & Co., New York City, NY. -Chad

Anybody know what blueing process S&W used on these? It's so rich and nice. I'd like to have it duplicated on the 1896 I'm going to restore.

gripper · #11 07-29-2010, 12:15 AM

Twaits, its what was called a carbona blue. Smith & Wesson used this process way into the 20th century on both pre and post war models. The difference is the way they polished and buffed the guns. Seems the high polish finish like this disappeared after WWII. After the war it was more of a matte finish. In the later 50's they brought back the high polish finish, but in my opinion doesn't hold a candle to the pre war finish. I am currently not sure who can reproduce this finish. -Chad