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S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 All 5-Screw & Vintage 4-Screw SWING-OUT Cylinder REVOLVERS, and the 35 Autos and 32 Autos


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  #1  
Old 11-05-2009, 05:13 PM
SDH SDH is offline
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W.O. HARRIS' .32-20 W.O. HARRIS' .32-20 W.O. HARRIS' .32-20 W.O. HARRIS' .32-20 W.O. HARRIS' .32-20  
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Default W.O. HARRIS' .32-20

Don't imagine the name rings any bells??
I'm very pleased with the revolver and got a good price on it because the dealer said,"Nobody likes the name".
Looks like a possible factory inscription to me? Anyone with experience in the matter please comment. Serial #133939 and I think the earlier ones were marked 32WCF?
SCSW says #65,701 - 144,684, 1915 - 1945 that's a wide gap in numbers and years!?!? This one ought to have a letter!
This is my first .32-20 and I'd sure welcome more info...
BTW: all #'s match including pencil on grip.
Thanks, Steve



Last edited by SDH; 11-05-2009 at 05:18 PM. Reason: #'s match
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  #2  
Old 11-05-2009, 05:23 PM
27 Man 27 Man is offline
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W.O. HARRIS' .32-20 W.O. HARRIS' .32-20  
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That's a really nice one. I am sure that W.O. was proud to carry it. One of my .32-20 revolvers, # 104xxx, was shipped 3-22-22. My guess is that your gun left the factory early to mid 20s.
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  #3  
Old 11-05-2009, 09:16 PM
opoefc opoefc is offline
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W.O. HARRIS' .32-20 W.O. HARRIS' .32-20 W.O. HARRIS' .32-20 W.O. HARRIS' .32-20 W.O. HARRIS' .32-20  
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Serial # 134307 was shipped in Sept 1927, so your gun should be 1926-27 era. The grips w/o medalions were only used 1920-30 range. A factory letter should tell you if the inscription was a special order done by S&W, but in most similar cases inscriptions of names was an after market exercise. Nice gun. Ed #15
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Old 11-05-2009, 09:54 PM
SDH SDH is offline
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W.O. HARRIS' .32-20 W.O. HARRIS' .32-20 W.O. HARRIS' .32-20 W.O. HARRIS' .32-20 W.O. HARRIS' .32-20  
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Thanks guys!
I'm tickled with the revolver!
It's torn down on the bench for interior cleaning and a bit of stoning, and look like it was shot very little, but can't help myself, going to shoot it tomorrow!
Best,
Steve
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  #5  
Old 11-05-2009, 10:06 PM
Muley Gil Muley Gil is online now
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W.O. HARRIS' .32-20 W.O. HARRIS' .32-20 W.O. HARRIS' .32-20 W.O. HARRIS' .32-20 W.O. HARRIS' .32-20  
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Nice looking revolver. Nothing like a good .32-20.

There was a Harris Hardware store in Notasulga, Alabama, that was a S&W dealer.
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  #6  
Old 11-05-2009, 11:13 PM
29aholic 29aholic is offline
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W.O. HARRIS' .32-20 W.O. HARRIS' .32-20 W.O. HARRIS' .32-20 W.O. HARRIS' .32-20 W.O. HARRIS' .32-20  
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Great looking gun. By the looks of the inscription I am betting it is factory as it looks just like some of the factory incribed guns that have been posted on this forum.
Definitely letter it.
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  #7  
Old 11-05-2009, 11:41 PM
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That's very nice -- congratulations. I have an older renickeled .32-20 that shoots tight groups when I can see the front sight. Bet you're going to like this one.

Census records for 1900 -1930 may be able to identify a W.O. Harris that you can tie this to. Once you know where the gun was shipped, you can look for the name in counties in the vicinity. For example, there was a W.O. Harris in Waco around that time, not that far from Wolf & Klar.
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  #8  
Old 11-07-2009, 12:40 AM
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I saw this one also and was tempted. Glad to see it got a good home. I love the 32-20
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  #9  
Old 11-07-2009, 08:00 AM
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What a b e a u t i f u l Smith, and in one of my favorite calibers. I would have bought that gun in a heartbeat, no matter what name was engraved on it, because I use all this stuff, and the engraving doesn't hurt the shooting one bit. In fact, you may have discovered a real "sleeper". I once picked up a (NIB!) very old 4" model 19 for almost nothing, because some officer had apparently one time entered it into the P.D. property locker by lightly scratching his name, case # and badge # on the side of the frame. Turns out, the gun had belonged to a well known person and was well documented. If you "get tired" of that .32-20, just let me know!
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  #10  
Old 11-07-2009, 01:36 PM
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W. O. HARRIS

W. O. Harris, aged 62 years, died Sunday afternoon at a local sanitarium after an illness of only three days, following an operation, Funeral arrangements have not been completed pending word from relatives living at distant points, but will likely be Tuesday, with burial at Oakwood.
Deceased is survived by his widow, one son, Charles Harris, of Waco, six daughters, Mrs. T. Davis, Los Angeles, Cal; Mrs. Florence Craig, New York City; Mrs. F. M. Bockus, Waco, and Misses Cora, Johnny, and Billy of this city; two brothers, C. O. Harris, San Angelo, and Vol Harris, Spokane, Wash.; three sisters, Fred Loepe, Dallas: Mrs. Cora Kendall, Kingsville: and Mrs. Warren Linn, Sumner, Iowa. Mrs. Harris was engineer for the American Cotton Oil Mill,and came to Waco from Granger 11 years ago, and at the time of his death made his residence at 1604 South Sixteenth street.

The Waco News-Tribune
January 10, 1923
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  #11  
Old 11-07-2009, 02:04 PM
SDH SDH is offline
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W.O. HARRIS' .32-20 W.O. HARRIS' .32-20 W.O. HARRIS' .32-20 W.O. HARRIS' .32-20 W.O. HARRIS' .32-20  
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Hey, the enthusiasm is Great! Always nice to have other S&W loonies validate your choices! Thanks, Steve
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  #12  
Old 11-09-2009, 02:05 PM
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NICE GUN!!
The 32-20 is a favorite of mine! I'd LOVE to have a pre-war nickel example like your's.
Until I can find one, this blued specimen will have to suffice....



I particularly like the grips on this one!


Last edited by tjsguns; 11-09-2009 at 06:17 PM.
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  #13  
Old 11-09-2009, 02:30 PM
SDH SDH is offline
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W.O. HARRIS' .32-20 W.O. HARRIS' .32-20 W.O. HARRIS' .32-20 W.O. HARRIS' .32-20 W.O. HARRIS' .32-20  
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Wow Tj! That's a great looking S&W, with absolutely wonderful grips! Must be a later one with the medallions.
Don't imagine the 6" is any quieter but sure can't hurt to have some sight radius.
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  #14  
Old 11-09-2009, 10:06 PM
MJS5678 MJS5678 is offline
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W.O. HARRIS' .32-20 W.O. HARRIS' .32-20 W.O. HARRIS' .32-20 W.O. HARRIS' .32-20 W.O. HARRIS' .32-20  
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Two nice 32-20s. Looking forward to more W.O. Harris history.
TJ, keep those pictures coming! I don't know what's nicer this or the K-22s!
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  #15  
Old 11-10-2009, 03:06 PM
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Mike,
U wanna see a nice N-Frame? Take a look at the one I posted in the "Help w/ a Pre-27" thread. It's so nice everyone thinks its a re-blue....I'm now convinced it's NOT!

Last edited by tjsguns; 11-10-2009 at 03:08 PM.
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