Hey All,

I went to the local gun shop the other day and saw a pair of 32 S&W Long Hand Ejector revolvers. They were in OK shape. Mechanically they seemed sound, but the finish was a bit pitted in spots and the grips were cracked on the bottom. However, overall they looked pretty good.

I really liked the guns and was thinking about buying one of them as a fun gun. Mechanically, the guns seemed OK. The timing seemed to be good and when I cocked the hammer back, the cylinder did not move much when I tried to wiggle it.

I was wondering if it's safe to fire low pressure loads in them. I was thinking about buying one of the guns (the one in better condition) and hand loading some cartridges - perhaps loading them to 32 S&W levels instead of 32 S&W Long levels.

I don't know the exact serial numbers of the two guns, but they were both around 250,000 or 275,000. I've read somewhere on the internet that S&W didn't start heat treating these guns until somewhere > serial number 331,000.

Would it be wise to buy these guns as plinkers or should I move on?

Thanks in advance.

Any book load for the .32 long should be fine as long as the gun is in good shape.

I have a .32 HE numbered under 215000 and I have no qualms shooting either wadcutter or modern roundnose ammo in it. Great little gun for fun at the range -- livelier than a .22 but compact and painless to shoot.

Guns numbered in the range you mentioned would be mid to late 'teens -- about the same time frame as WWI, from a European point of view, or a couple of years before American involvement.

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David Wilson

So then the general consensus is that if the guns are mechanically sound it should be OK to shoot? I will proceed with caution!

Thanks again. I really liked the way those little guns handled! I love the 3-1/4" barrels and the slim receivers. Too bad S&W doesn't still make some of these little gems!

The Regulation Police .32 I have (same frame) is barely enough higher in serial number to be in the heat treated cylinder range and has a 6" barrel, which on that little frame looks loooong! You are right, this little frame is the perfect size for shooting mild .32 S&W (and S&W Long) rounds. Let us know how your specimen does... we seem to be building quite the informal database about them on this forum!

Froggie

The factory 32 S&W is fine for solid frame revolvers, IMHO. It is the top breaks you need to be careful with.

I am shooting factory and factory duplicate loadings in a 32 HE about the same age as yours. Judging by the primers and ejection, these are low pressure rounds. The empties fall out of the chambers, and the primers look like what you see in a 38sp with light target loads.

Here is my Regulation Police:

Depending on how much shooting you're planning to do, I've
had no problem locating 32 S&W ammo. Since they'll work fine
in your 32 HE, that'll save you the trouble of reloading. If you already
reload, go for it. Just a thought, TACC1.

The .32 long has to be one of the least expensive rounds to reload for. Many of my favorite loads take 2 grains or less of powder, and swaged lead SWC's and WC's are cheap and easy to find. I cast my own, so it's even cheaper.

I can find the .32 S&W (and the long versions) locally, but even the bargain ammo runs $15-20 for a box of 50, and I can load my own for about $6-$10 per hundred once I've got the brass.

If you don't reload it's not a problem, ammo can be had, but I enjoy shooting the .32's so much that I have one of my progressive presses dedicated to loading the caliber.

Well guys, I went back to the gunshop today and picked up a .32 S&W Long revolver! I perused the selection and looked at the two 32 Hand Ejectors that they had in the case. I also looked at a Colt New Police in 32 Long. I also looked at two Colts that were in 38 S&W.

I eventually settled on a 32 S&W Hand Ejector. I was wrong about the serial numbers. One was a four digit serial number. The other (the one that I eventually bought) was serial number 1019XX. Does anyone know what year this was manufactured?

Out of all of the revolvers, the one that I bought seemed to have the best bore. It's not in great condition (the bore) but I could still see the rifling and the pits don't look to bad. The Colt New Police looked great on the exterior (it even had some of that beautiful Colt blue finish on it) but the bore of the barrel was pretty bad.

I also picked up a box of factory 32 S&W Long (Remington 98gr lead).

The sales clerk was very helpful. It turns out he likes old guns too. He was carrying on his person an old Webley in 38 S&W and he said he has a bunch of old guns, most of them from before WWII.

Anyway, I hope to take some pictures later this week and post them up for the board. I am also going to order some reloading dies and some brass and bullets and work up some handloads for this old gun. Besides the bore being a bit pitted, the gun is in good shape considering its age. Mechanically everything works really well and I checked the chamber alignment, the lock up, etc. and it all seems to be good.

Based on your description of the other handguns I think you made the correct choice. While I like 38 S&W and reload for it it's MUCH easier to find 32 S&W Long ammo most places. Given a choice between an old Colt and an old S&W all things being equal I'll take the S&W every time. They seem to stay tight better, parts are easier to find when needed, as well as gunsmiths when they are needed.

A serial number around 100000 puts your gun about 1910.

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David Wilson

Thanks guys. i really like my "new" 32. I am getting an urge to buy every I-frame that I encounter. I like the I frame size, even though the grips are a little tiny. It's a cool-sized gun.

...just registered...first posting. I have a Model 30 S&W .32 cal LR, I-frame, round butt, hand ejector, 3 1/4" barrel serial number 300120 and would welcome knowing a manufacture date. Would this be number 120 of the 30 series? Any information would be welcome.

Hello Ron. Welcome to the forum! Just a friendly note. It is better to start your own thread rather than piggy-backing on an existing one. It is easier to keep the responses particular to your topic. Don't be surprised if the Moderators split your question out into a new thread.

Are you sure about your .32 being a model 30? Is MOD. 30 stamped in the yoke area when the cylinder is open? Your serial number would indicate an earlier .32 HE 3rd model. We need pictures ... as many as you can make.

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

Hi Ron and welcome to the forum. There's no 32 cal LR so I think you mean the .32 S&W Long cartridge. A 300120 number is not a series so no, it's not 120 of a 30 series. The Model numbers did not come about until 1957. So as Guy has correctly identified, you have a Model .32 Hand Ejector from the 1920s era which after several changes evolved into the Model 30.

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Jim
S&WCA #819