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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 07-16-2011, 10:25 AM
shreaddogfilms shreaddogfilms is offline
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S&W Model 32 Terrier in .38 SW S&W Model 32 Terrier in .38 SW S&W Model 32 Terrier in .38 SW S&W Model 32 Terrier in .38 SW S&W Model 32 Terrier in .38 SW  
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Morning everyone, I am new to your great forum, what a great place, thanks.

I just acquired a S&W model 32 Terrier in .38 S&W 2- inch
it is in as new condition, there are no outward signs of firing.
I was wondering if someone could assist in determining it's
year of birth.
S/N 6608x.
Thanks very much all.
shreaddog.
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Old 07-16-2011, 11:34 AM
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Is it stamped as a Model 32? If so, it was made between 1957 and 1961. In 1961 the 32-1 came out.

I think the -1 was when the J frame was used rather than the I frame as it was before then.
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Old 07-16-2011, 11:42 AM
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Yours likely shipped sometime between January and April of 1952 based on the partial serial number you shared.
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Old 07-16-2011, 12:53 PM
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d is right. I have one with an 80,000 number I figure was made around 1955. With a 66,000 number it can't possibly be model marked so why are you calling it a Model 32? I foolishly assumed you were calling it by its correct name.
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Old 07-16-2011, 01:46 PM
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Welcome to the forum. As you see, you have entered a Proper Terminology Enforcement Zone.

Congratulations on your acquisition. Terriers are very cool little revolvers.

S&W initiated the use of model numbers in 1957; before that models were identified by names. The standard convention for referring to the same model before numbers were established is to call them "Pre-" guns. Yours is a .38/32 Terrier, or Pre-32 for short.

The postwar small-frame revolvers ("I-frame") went through a lot of design development in a short period of time. The earliest ones are indistinguishable from their prewar predecessors (or almost so), but in short order obvious changes began to appear. If your gun has a flat mainspring, it is still in the early configuration. Soon after small-frame revolver production resumed, the company went to a coil mainspring. These guns are called "Improved I-frames."

You can tell what kind of mainspring you have by glancing at the bottom of the forestrap behind the trigger guard. If there is a screw there, that is the strain screw that tensions a flat spring. If there is no screw, you have a coil mainspring.

Or you could take the stocks off and check directly. As Yogi Berra said, "You can observe a lot just by looking."

Can you post pics? We love pics here.
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Old 07-16-2011, 09:38 PM
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welcome to the forum! we love terriers, and we definitely need pics!
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Old 07-17-2011, 07:02 PM
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Pictures, we gotta have pictures! Does the front of the grip frame have the strain screw for a flat mainspring or is it plain, indicating the presence of the later coil spring? Does the front sight look like a little half moon or is it more of a ramp style? What does the top edge of the grips look like... a little bump in the middle of each to fit the cutout in the frame, or a "swoop" up toward the back of the frame. Most importantly, is it available for trade? The Terriers are great little guns, congratulations on finding yours and welcome to the forum... you'll like it here.

Froggie
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Old 07-28-2011, 07:19 PM
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Default S&W Model 32 Terrier in .38 SW

Hi All

Sorry for the delay in getting back (at the motoGP)- fun.
The complete serial number on my Terrier is 66085, it
appears to be totally origional with no screw behind the trigger guard, it also has the half moon type of front sight.
It also has what I will call a "pinned" barrel, the gun appears to have never been discharged, other than test fired, very, very faint cylinder drag marks, and all screws have never seen a screwdriver, I would say wood, bluing, bore are 98%.

On the cylinder release button side of the barrel, it say's smith & wesson, on the opposite side it say's .38 S & W. CTG
Wondering if you all can tell me it's birthday.

Thanks to all

schreaddog
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Old 07-28-2011, 07:48 PM
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That serial number points to 1953 production.
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Old 05-26-2012, 11:00 AM
delmaxfield delmaxfield is offline
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The 1953 is pretty close. We still lack some of the tricky indicators that zero in on a good estimate. Like the screw or no screw in the front of the grip.(Flat vs Coil), no screw on Trigger housing makes it newer, but the round sight almost makes it seem as though the descriptions are conflicting. A great little pistol none-the-less.
DM
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Old 03-21-2013, 04:42 PM
ALninNM ALninNM is offline
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I have what I presume is a mod 32 terrier, but it is overstamped 8 making it mod 38 1. sn R50058. It is 38 S&W, I have never seen overstamped frames before. Any inputs as to exactly what this is would be appreciated.
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Old 03-21-2013, 07:54 PM
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Terriers are really cool little guns. Mine is SN 582xx which is a little earlier than yours (1950/51?). Pictures are always appreciated.

Here's a picture of the Terrier flat main spring (bottom) for comparison to a Pre-Model 36 J-Frame with the coil spring (top).

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Old 03-21-2013, 08:13 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ALninNM View Post
I have what I presume is a mod 32 terrier, but it is overstamped 8 making it mod 38 1. sn R50058. It is 38 S&W, I have never seen overstamped frames before. Any inputs as to exactly what this is would be appreciated.
Overstrikes and mistrikes are not regularly found, but they are known. If you can ignore the overstrike and make the stamp read MOD 32-1, that's what you have.

The R prefix serial numbers came along in 1969. The Model 32 was dropped from production five years later after nearly four decades of on-and-off availability. I would think your gun was probably shipped in 1973 +/- a year based on the digit count after the R.
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Old 03-21-2013, 11:32 PM
ALninNM ALninNM is offline
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Thanks that is good info. I will try to get a pix. I am a shooter not a collector, saved this from a city buyback and destruction. Is it of any value to a collector? I do not know if the overstamp makes it rare, like with coins?!
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Old 03-21-2013, 11:49 PM
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The guy I bought mine from said it was kept in the desk of a small town sheriff. Mine is surprisingly accurate. They are definitely cutie pies.

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Old 03-22-2013, 02:32 AM
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shreaddog (welcome to the forum) and pbslinger,

You both have .38 Terrier early "Improved I frames". They are #2s in the evolution below. Later Improved I frames had a barrel rib and ramp front sight.

THE POST WAR .38 S&W Reg. Police and .38 S&W Terrier I FRAMES EVOLUTION:

1. Transitional: c. 1946, leaf main spring. .38 S&W beginning c. 1948 at # 54475; as high as 582XX w/rd top stocks. (all reportedly have new style hammer block). All have 5 screw frames.

a) Pre war/post war: leaf main spring. Most like the pre war models
b) Pure post war: leaf main spring. Actual .38 S&W production in volume didn't resume until about 1950, 54804 lowest and 58470 highest known shipped in July 1951.

2. Improved I: coil main spring .38 highest round sight 6867X [#68,XXX shipped 2/53], lowest known ramp site 701XX, 71983 highest. All have 5 screw frames.

3. Model of 1953 New I Frames: the “Pre-Model #s” 4 screws & 3 screws, all have ramp sight/ribbed barrel, enlarged trigger guard and lengthened grip frame, .38 highest 4 screw, old hammer # 7671X

4. Model #’d guns c.1957: .38s made on the J frame in early 1961, -1 added, Models became 32 & 33, c. #88XXX
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Old 03-22-2013, 09:57 AM
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Congratulations on your new S&W.

I don't have any S&Ws in this caliber. I did obtain a 1952 Colt Cobra recently in 38 S&W aka 38 Colt New Police. Mine is the only proven example known to be made in this caliber for the Cobra that has a factory historical letter to back up it's provenance. Actually, we've never even seen a faked one either. A few hundred
38 NP Detective Specials were made but seemingly not so for the Cobra. I feel that perhaps Colt had special orders for a few dozen more but none have ever surfaced except this one.

I was able to get a box of mid 1950s ammo marked 38 NP instead of 38 S&W for photo and display purposes. I also picked up a new production box of Remington. Since the gun has some wear and is not pristine I decided I would shoot a couple of cylinder's worth of rounds to experience this caliber, which I have never shot before. Aside from the rareness of this gun, I don't plan to use it for self defense. I wouldn't want to get shot with one but I think there are far better calibers available than this venerable old cartridge that was first introduced in 1877.

Your Terrier sounds like a winner

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Old 01-16-2014, 02:41 PM
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Hey guys thanks for sharing input! I have one as well and would apreciate your knowledge here are pics for you to see;ImageUploadedByTapatalk1389897646.832197.jpgImageUploadedByTapatalk1389897661.464710.jpgImageUploadedByTapatalk1389897672.014812.jpg
Thanks for helping!!


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Old 01-16-2014, 02:43 PM
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One more ImageUploadedByTapatalk1389897789.531333.jpg


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Old 01-16-2014, 02:45 PM
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Handsome looking gun, Nestor.
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Old 01-16-2014, 04:43 PM
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Thanks i bought it yesterday at my LGS for 250.00 bucks.... It's in pretty nice shape and i'd like to know an average price range on it.... I also have a model 12 and a model 39 in 9mm. I'll share pics and maybe get some feedback. ImageUploadedByTapatalk1389904889.530254.jpgImageUploadedByTapatalk1389904906.780054.jpgImageUploadedByTapatalk1389904943.330215.jpgImageUploadedByTapatalk1389904976.647621.jpgImageUploadedByTapatalk1389904988.996729.jpg


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Old 01-16-2014, 11:55 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pbslinger View Post
The guy I bought mine from said it was kept in the desk of a small town sheriff. Mine is surprisingly accurate. They are definitely cutie pies.

I have both a blue and nickel one….


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Old 01-17-2014, 12:10 AM
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nestor is that a round butt frame with square butt grips?
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Old 01-17-2014, 12:33 AM
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nester,

That's a little screamer. You did very well at that price, especially for an I frame .38 Terrier. It's just barely a model stamped example since they began in the 88XXX serial range, and I would date yours to 1958. It will have the 3rd style flat latch cyl release.
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Old 01-17-2014, 01:01 AM
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Welcome dog..I am green with envy! I have been beating the bushes to find a Terrier in the same serial # range as yours. According to my research, yours probably shipped from the factory in the spring of 1952. S&W is known for shipping out of sequence, but I am guessing that's when yours shipped out. Please post some photos when you can. At least I can look and dream. Lee
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Old 01-24-2014, 12:29 AM
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This seems the place to go to find out about Terriers, so here I go.

I have my grandfathers S&W Terrier and I would like to know as much about it as possible (date of manufacture, etc). It isn't stamped as a Model 32. It has a coil main spring instead of flat (no tension screw). But what confuses me about it is that it seems to have two sets of serial numbers. The numbers on the bottom of the strap are 71623. The number of the barrel and cylinder are also 71623. However the yoke is stamped 91498. Also the frame under the yoke is stamped 91498, with a larger 6 stamped above it and a small 1 (or maybe a 4, looks more like 1, but made by a 1 with a line at the bottom, vs the 1 in the serial number) stamped under it. Since the frame under the yoke and the back strap are all one piece, it means the frame is stamped with two different serial numbers.

My thoughts were that at some point it was sent back to S&W for repair, and the yoke was replaced. Then the factory stamped matching numbers on the frame and yoke to show that yoke mated to that frame? Any way to tell when the repair occurred from the extra numbers?

What can you guys tell me about it?

Thanks!

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Old 01-24-2014, 12:48 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KYThrill View Post
This seems the place to go to find out about Terriers, so here I go.

I have my grandfathers S&W Terrier and I would like to know as much about it as possible (date of manufacture, etc). It isn't stamped as a Model 32. It has a coil main spring instead of flat (no tension screw). But what confuses me about it is that it seems to have two sets of serial numbers. The numbers on the bottom of the strap are 71623. The number of the barrel and cylinder are also 71623. However the yoke is stamped 91498. Also the frame under the yoke is stamped 91498, with a larger 6 stamped above it and a small 1 (or maybe a 4, looks more like 1, but made by a 1 with a line at the bottom, vs the 1 in the serial number) stamped under it. Since the frame under the yoke and the back strap are all one piece, it means the frame is stamped with two different serial numbers.

My thoughts were that at some point it was sent back to S&W for repair, and the yoke was replaced. Then the factory stamped matching numbers on the frame and yoke to show that yoke mated to that frame? Any way to tell when the repair occurred from the extra numbers?

What can you guys tell me about it?

Thanks!

Pictures below:





Welcome to the forum. Your Terrier is a real beauty. The serial number is the one on the bottom of the grip strap and on the cylinder face and under the barrel. The other numbers are assembly numbers from the factory. It most likely shipped from the factory in late 1952 or sometime in 1953. You can see that the front sight on yours is the newer ramp style which is different from the half moon of the earlier guns. The original stocks were checkered walnut "magna" stocks judging from the flat head screw under the knuckle there at the top of the grip frame and your Granddad added the mother of pearl fancies. Yours has been refinished at some time, because the factory didn't finish the hammer and trigger in nickel. If you very gently remove the pearl stocks (they crack easily) look for the letter N on the grip frame to see if it was originally a nickel gun. The letter B means it was blued. As for value...it was your Granddads, that's priceless. Lee
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Old 01-24-2014, 01:40 AM
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I'm a fan of the .38 S&W and have a few old Smith hinged-frame revolvers in this caliber. I acquired a Terrier, Pre-32, circa 1954 from a police supply, they had taken it in trade from a PD where it had been held in the evidence room after having been used in a shooting. I have always thought it was a very well-proportioned little revolver. A couple of years ago, I discovered Taurus was making a .380 ACP revolver (Model 380) that reminded me very much of my Terrier. The .380 ACP cartridge made today has a lot more usefulness for defense than the old .38 S&W and thought it would make a great gun for my wife. It uses "moon clips" so the empty cases can be ejected all at once and the clip acts like a speed-loader. It is DAO with a bobbed hammer and is still in the Taurus line-up for now...
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Old 01-24-2014, 01:59 AM
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Originally Posted by OldDominion View Post
Welcome to the forum. Your Terrier is a real beauty. The serial number is the one on the bottom of the grip strap and on the cylinder face and under the barrel. The other numbers are assembly numbers from the factory. It most likely shipped from the factory in late 1952 or sometime in 1953. You can see that the front sight on yours is the newer ramp style which is different from the half moon of the earlier guns. The original stocks were checkered walnut "magna" stocks judging from the flat head screw under the knuckle there at the top of the grip frame and your Granddad added the mother of pearl fancies. Yours has been refinished at some time, because the factory didn't finish the hammer and trigger in nickel. If you very gently remove the pearl stocks (they crack easily) look for the letter N on the grip frame to see if it was originally a nickel gun. The letter B means it was blued. As for value...it was your Granddads, that's priceless. Lee
I know that he added the pearl grips. I too believe he had it nickel plated at some point, but I don't know if it was originally blue or nickel. I do know the story was that he carried it in his pocket so much for so long that he rubbed all the finish off down to the bare metal, and had to have it refinished. Doesn't sound like nickel to me, and probably was more likely blued and then refinished in nickel.

I'm not too worried about value because its not for sale, and wouldn't be unless I'm in dire straits.

Thanks
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Old 01-24-2014, 04:34 PM
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Here is SN 52xxx, an old school Pup.

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Old 01-24-2014, 05:23 PM
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Rush,

Very nice pre war. These are so hard to find especially in original configuration with decent finish. And that's a fairly late pre war, # 54474 being the last reported.
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Old 03-16-2014, 08:28 AM
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Default Terrier Trivia

In July 1956 I bought #611xx used from Charles Greenblatt in
his shop in back of NYCPD HQ in NYC. The frame is the same as
above but the grips are wood and the round S&W emblem is
silver. The invoice has a (D3609) under the serial #?? $56.50
was the invoice total. Gun$45, 45 auto ammo $6.50, Box of 38
$3.50. Holster $1.50. It was shipped to me via Railway Express
in Long Island..FREE.

Last edited by Lloyd A; 03-16-2014 at 08:49 AM. Reason: Invoice date should 1956 not 1966
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Old 03-18-2014, 01:20 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hondo44 View Post
THE POST WAR .38 S&W Reg. Police and .38 S&W Terrier I FRAMES EVOLUTION:

1. Transitional: c. 1946, leaf main spring. .38 S&W beginning c. 1948 at # 54475; as high as 582XX w/rd top stocks. (all reportedly have new style hammer block). All have 5 screw frames.

a) Pre war/post war: leaf main spring. Most like the pre war models
b) Pure post war: leaf main spring. Actual .38 S&W production in volume didn't resume until about 1950, 54804 lowest and 58470 highest known shipped in July 1951.

2. Improved I: coil main spring .38 highest round sight 6867X [#68,XXX shipped 2/53], lowest known ramp site 701XX, 71983 highest. All have 5 screw frames.

3. Model of 1953 New I Frames: the “Pre-Model #s” 4 screws & 3 screws, all have ramp sight/ribbed barrel, enlarged trigger guard and lengthened grip frame, .38 highest 4 screw, old hammer # 7671X

4. Model #’d guns c.1957: .38s made on the J frame in early 1961, -1 added, Models became 32 & 33, c. #88XXX
Special Thanks to Hondo44 for teaching me about I frames .

Two different variants below Left is a post war late transitional and a New I frame.
Interesting that the 1950 came with service grips but has a flat frame screw instead of domed ?

.38 S&W Post war transitional "Terrier" , matt blue finish , 5 screw frame, Leaf spring, half penny FS, numbered Walnut service grips, old style hammer, Serial 58078 Shipped Dec 1950 .

Pre Model 32 .38 S&W "Terrier" high polish blue finish, New I frame, 4 screw, ramp sight/ribbed barrel, enlarged trigger guard , lengthened grip frame , numbered diamond Magnas, 3rd style flat latch, old style hammer, Serial 77062 , 1955 ?




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Old 03-18-2014, 02:56 PM
ArizonaShooter ArizonaShooter is offline
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Default Photo to go with "Trade" question post...

I'm considering a trade for a S&W 32-1, I'll be trading a Marlin 336W worth about $400.
Nickel, stag grips, cylinder drag marks.
Would this be considered a good trade in anyone's opinion?
Thanks in advance.
image.jpg
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Old 03-18-2014, 06:02 PM
gordonrick gordonrick is offline
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Thanks for the date info on the transitional Terrier Engine49guy. I have 58260, so now I can narrow it down to (likely) a December 1950 or January 1951 shipping date. Thanks!

Rick
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Old 03-18-2014, 06:04 PM
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YES a good trade!
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Old 03-18-2014, 07:01 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gordonrick View Post
Thanks for the date info on the transitional Terrier Engine49guy. I have 58260, so now I can narrow it down to (likely) a December 1950 or January 1951 shipping date. Thanks!

Rick
Nailing down the answer to that question will probably require history letter, though sometimes if you call S&W and ask for a shipping date they will give you the month and year over the phone.

The thing is that S&W did not have a policy that forced shipment of guns in serial number order, so sometimes higher numbered specimens of a particular model would leave the factory before lower numbered specimens. You can often approximate a date by a gun's serial number, but you can't get too refined about it.
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Old 03-18-2014, 07:12 PM
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Default Terrier

I always love showing off my 1 I frame, which shipped to the NYPD in 1950. The gun is one month older than me
Enjoy
Chuck


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  #39  
Old 05-26-2014, 10:04 PM
bad_bowtie bad_bowtie is offline
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I just received a 38/32 Terrier today that belonged to my grandfather who is suffering from Alzheimer's. Wish I could ask him the history on it but his mind is gone.
It is marked mod 32 and serial # is 88382. Which should put it about 1958??




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Old 05-26-2014, 10:13 PM
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You'll get more answers if you start your own thread on this.
Very nice gun. There is writing in the box, does the cylinder have a different number on it?
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  #41  
Old 05-26-2014, 10:29 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jsfricks View Post
You'll get more answers if you start your own thread on this.
Very nice gun. There is writing in the box, does the cylinder have a different number on it?
That number along with E 1 is stamped on the crane.
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  #42  
Old 05-27-2014, 02:58 AM
Hondo44 Hondo44 is offline
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Welcome to the forum. You have a jewel of a family heirloom. I'd also guess 1958.

The serial # locations left after model # stamping began:
Gun butt
Extractor star - backside
Right stock – backside

All other numbers on the yoke (crane is a Colt term), in the 'yoke cut' opposite on the frame, and the inside of the sideplate, are factory 'soft fitting' numbers.
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Old 01-31-2015, 01:55 AM
targe targe is offline
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Hi All,

I was researching my uncle's gun that I just acquired from his son/my first cousin and came across this forum and it led me to this post. I realize it's a few years old but it seems the thread is still active.

Quote:
Originally Posted by DCWilson View Post
As you see, you have entered a Proper Terminology Enforcement Zone.

S&W initiated the use of model numbers in 1957; before that models were identified by names. The standard convention for referring to the same model before numbers were established is to call them "Pre-" guns. Yours is a .38/32 Terrier, or Pre-32 for short.
I'm a little confused by that. My uncle's gun is in the original box with matching serial number. There is a S&W brochure inside the box that's dated 1955 and on it and there are references to both a

- Model 32 - .38 Terrier
- Model 33 - .38 Regulation Police

So it seems to me that
- S&W did use both the model number and the model name to refer to these guns, at least in paperwork for some period of time
and
- the model number precedes the caliber...so why wouldn't it be called a "32/.38" vs. a ".38/32" -?

Anyway, interesting stuff. My uncle's gun is marked "Mod 33-1" on the gun and on the paper label on one box end. The box itself is stamped "Model 33" and ".38 Regulation Police" on the other end.

I'll post some pics of my uncle's gun when I figure out the posting protocols. It's pretty toasty, fired a very few times and then put up in the original box, with the brochure inside and some really thick S&W marked paper. It's all still very tight.

My cousin told me that sometime in early 60's, my uncle sold one of his shotguns to get money to buy a "S&W .38" someone had but when he went to get it, it was already sold or the person renigged on the sale, whatever. He was disappointed but that was that. Several months later or even the next year, my aunt bought him one for his birthday or their anniversary with her egg, baby chicks, and sewing money...but it turned out he actually wanted a .38 S&W Special"...so even though it wasn't actually what he wanted, he thanked my aunt profusely for the gift since she was beaming over having bought him what he wanted so much, shot the gun a few times, then put it up on the top shelf of the closet in his gun room, and secretly -so as to not hurt his wife's feelings- purchased another, similar revolver but in .38 S&W Special.

My cousin told me his dad confided in him when he was around 12 or 13 and swore him to secrecy...but a few years ago (after his dad died), his mom gave him this gun that she had bought about 50 years previously and mentioned in passing that she found out she had bought him the wrong gun and that he had secretly bought a 'replacement' for it. He asked her if she ever told him that she knew and she said something like "No, we loved each other too much to share all our secrets." or something like that.

I like how women used to understand that a secret gun purchase was actually an act of love by their husbands!

Last edited by targe; 01-31-2015 at 02:29 PM.
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Old 01-31-2015, 04:48 AM
Hondo44 Hondo44 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by targe View Post
Hi All,
I'm a little confused by that. My uncle's gun is in the original box with matching serial number. There is a S&W brochure inside the box that's dated 1955 and on it and there are references to both a

- Model 32 - .38 Terrier
- Model 33 - .38 Regulation Police

So it seems to me that
- S&W did use both the model number and the model name to refer to these guns, at least in paperwork for some period of time
and
- the model number precedes the caliber...so why wouldn't it be called a "32/.38" vs. a ".38/32" -?
Targe,

Welcome to the forum!

Your uncle's former gun, Model 33-1, .38 Regulation Police, identifies it as a .38 S&W Hand Ejector, square butt grip frame with a longer than 2" barrel. The Terrier having a round but grip frame with 2" barrel (although there are exceptions to those distinctions).

The -1 indicates the engineering order for the frame size change introduced in Jan 1961, from the New 'I' frame introduced in 1953, to the .38 S&W Special 'J' frame size with slightly horizontally lengthened cylinder and cylinder frame window, originally introduced in 1950.

Prior to mid 1957 S&Ws had model names only. You are correct, after assignment of Model #s, Smith did use both the Model name and # for several years. After model # assignments, those model named guns made prior with the same engineering characteristics have been referred to as pre models by collectors. The pre 1957 version of your gun would be a pre mod 33, to indicate a 38 Reg Pol that was the same as a Mod 33, but produced too early to be stamped as such.

When you see a reference like .22/32, that refers to the caliber and frame size, not a model #. So the example above is a .22 caliber handgun on a .32 cal size 'I' frame, (although a misnomer after Oct 1960 when it too was produced on the .38 Special 'J' frame). The .38 S&W was originally also produced on the .32 cal. 'I' frame from it's introduction in 1917, and in fact there are some references to it as the .38/32. Although to my knowledge, not marked on any boxes as such, but don't quote me on that, I don't know everything. Of course after Jan 1961, that was no longer applicable either, because it became a .38/38!

Although the 1955 date used in the boxes and literature began in 1955, those same dated boxes, etc., were used for several years thereafter as well. If your were to supply the serial# or a partial #, I can provide the likely year it was produced and/or shipped.

I hope this is helpful.

Thx for sharing that great story from your aunt. I would suggest that you date, sign, print it out, and keep in the gun box to document the gun's provenance for future generations. It's a fine family heirloom with a neat story.
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Last edited by Hondo44; 01-31-2015 at 03:23 PM.
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Old 01-31-2015, 08:34 AM
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"No, we loved each other too much to share all our secrets."

This might be my favorite quote from now on.....Thanks to Targe's Aunt for that.....

Oh, and I love this thread about Terriers. Going to the gun show in Pittsburgh today, and will be looking for one.
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  #46  
Old 01-31-2015, 02:31 PM
targe targe is offline
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Here are the photos. I don't think this is anything super special, seems to be pretty "standard" for what is. I appreciate the information provided and the feedback.

Last edited by targe; 07-25-2023 at 10:35 PM.
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Old 01-31-2015, 03:11 PM
Hondo44 Hondo44 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by targe View Post
Here are the photos. I don't think this is anything super special, seems to be pretty "standard" for what is. I appreciate the information provided and the feedback.
Very nice and brand new. Based on the thumb piece and diamond grips, it was produced in the 1966 to 1968 period.
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  #48  
Old 03-03-2015, 05:50 AM
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Sweet old gun. Nice touch with the Detective novel and the 200 gr. Super Police loads.
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Old 03-28-2015, 05:28 AM
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Interesting thread. MY LGS has had one in the case for some time, and has finally started to lower the price. I'm not really interested in it, but yesterday my wife asked to see it, so I/we had a chance to look it over closely. I wish I had read this thread before so I'd know more what to look for.

This one is a five screw, with the half moon front sight. The finish is what I think of as post-war flat, with diamond magna grips that show just the tinest bit of wear. The guns finish shows none that I remember, but it did appear to have been fired at some point. Caliber was 38 S&W. I THINK the S/N was 69XXX, but can't swear to that. No box or papers.

Nice little gun. It actually looked like someone washed a 2" M&P in hot water and shrank it. After looking at it my wife said "Cute but not for me." Which was a relief to me since they're asking $850.00 for it. I got no idea if that's high, low, indifferent for one of them. It's been there for a while, so I suspect it's high.
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Old 03-28-2015, 06:57 PM
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I passed on a fairly late one today at a gun show; the price was $635, and probably slightly negotiable. The two I have are older and in better shape, and I've got just a little more than that in the pair.
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