Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Smith & Wesson Revolvers > S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961
o

Notices

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


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 08-20-2011, 01:18 PM
deadly deadly is offline
Member
New guy with hand ejector question New guy with hand ejector question New guy with hand ejector question New guy with hand ejector question New guy with hand ejector question  
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default New guy with hand ejector question

Hello all,
I am new to the forum and have a question about an S&W that I picked up this week. S/N 955XX, .32 WCF
Any info about date of mfr., heat treatment, suitability of modern .32-20 ammunition, etc. would be appreciated.
Sorry about the blurry one, it is HOT here in LA.
Thanks,
John
Attached Images
File Type: jpg P8200158.jpg (77.3 KB, 58 views)
File Type: jpg P8200159.jpg (57.4 KB, 50 views)
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 08-20-2011, 01:29 PM
murphydog's Avatar
murphydog murphydog is offline
Moderator
New guy with hand ejector question New guy with hand ejector question New guy with hand ejector question New guy with hand ejector question New guy with hand ejector question  
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 26,784
Likes: 938
Liked 18,877 Times in 9,241 Posts
Default

Welcome to the Forum. For the .32/20 Hand Ejector 4th change, SN 65701-144684 were made from 1915-'40, but they were probably made in larger numbers earlier in this period, so early-mid 1920s would be my guess. It is probably before "modern" heat-treatment of the era was started.

Modern factory ammo is loaded light (100 gr at 900 fps or so) and should be safe; it used to be made in a rifle loading that is not safe in revolvers, but this has been out of production for decades. Hope this is helpful.
__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 08-20-2011, 01:31 PM
s&wchad's Avatar
s&wchad s&wchad is offline
Moderator
New guy with hand ejector question New guy with hand ejector question New guy with hand ejector question New guy with hand ejector question New guy with hand ejector question  
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Great Lakes State
Posts: 29,686
Likes: 12,672
Liked 33,602 Times in 7,844 Posts
Default

Welcome to the forum.

Per the SCSW #3, heat treating of the cylinder began at 81287.

Should be safe with current ammo, appears reblued.
__________________
"I also cook."
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 08-20-2011, 01:38 PM
deadly deadly is offline
Member
New guy with hand ejector question New guy with hand ejector question New guy with hand ejector question New guy with hand ejector question New guy with hand ejector question  
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Thanks for the quick replies and info, I appreciate it. I concur with S&WChad, the piece does appear to be reblued, so it'll be a shooter.
Cheers,
John
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 08-20-2011, 01:44 PM
opoefc opoefc is offline
Absent Comrade
US Veteran
SWCA Founding Member
New guy with hand ejector question New guy with hand ejector question New guy with hand ejector question New guy with hand ejector question New guy with hand ejector question  
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: San Diego, CA. USA
Posts: 10,536
Likes: 3,529
Liked 6,883 Times in 2,796 Posts
Default

Welcome to the Forum. The gun is a .32-20 hand ejector, Model of 1905, 4th change, made 1915 to 1940. A close serial number, 95573, was shipped Jan. 21, 1921. S&W did not ship in serial numbe sequence, but your gun was probably shipped in that time frame.The stocks n your gun are replacements, using WW2 Victory Model smooth walnut stocks. Original stocks would have been checkered walnut w/o S&W medallions. Modern 32-20 ammo. is safe to shoot in these guns, if the guns are in good mechanical condition, as the rounds are loaded to low pressures. Your gun does not have the heat treated cylinder, as they did not start until serial number 81287, but that should not be a problem if you are not shooting hot handloads. original black powder .32-20 ammo. was loaded in two pressures, a low pressure for revolvers and a higher pressure for rifles. Those old boxes are usually marked for which type, but that's expensive collector ammo. so you are probably not going to be shooting that, should you have or find any. Ed.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 08-20-2011, 02:01 PM
s&wchad's Avatar
s&wchad s&wchad is offline
Moderator
New guy with hand ejector question New guy with hand ejector question New guy with hand ejector question New guy with hand ejector question New guy with hand ejector question  
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Great Lakes State
Posts: 29,686
Likes: 12,672
Liked 33,602 Times in 7,844 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by opoefc View Post
Your gun does not have the heat treated cylinder, as they did not start until serial number 81287...
His is #95,5XX so it should be heat treated.
__________________
"I also cook."
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 08-20-2011, 07:54 PM
Alk8944's Avatar
Alk8944 Alk8944 is offline
Member
New guy with hand ejector question New guy with hand ejector question New guy with hand ejector question New guy with hand ejector question New guy with hand ejector question  
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sandy Utah
Posts: 8,616
Likes: 1,554
Liked 8,611 Times in 3,452 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by opoefc View Post
Welcome to the Forum. The gun is a .32-20 hand ejector, Model of 1905, 4th change, made 1915 to 1940. A close serial number, 95573, was shipped Jan. 21, 1921. S&W did not ship in serial numbe sequence, but your gun was probably shipped in that time frame.The stocks n your gun are replacements, using WW2 Victory Model smooth walnut stocks. Original stocks would have been checkered walnut w/o S&W medallions. Modern 32-20 ammo. is safe to shoot in these guns, if the guns are in good mechanical condition, as the rounds are loaded to low pressures. (1) Your gun does not have the heat treated cylinder, as they did not start until serial number 81287, but that should not be a problem if you are not shooting hot handloads. (2) original black powder .32-20 ammo. was loaded in two pressures, a low pressure for revolvers and a higher pressure for rifles. Those old boxes are usually marked for which type, but that's expensive collector ammo. so you are probably not going to be shooting that, should you have or find any. Ed.
The OP posted his SN, which is well beyond the number generally accepted as when heat-treating began.

Yes, there were high-velocity loadings for rifles for .32-20, but they were smokeless loads with 80 gr, round nose Jacketed Hollow Point bullets. They have not been available for many years and were clearly marked as "Not for use in pistols".
__________________
Gunsmithing since 1961

Last edited by s&wchad; 08-20-2011 at 09:57 PM.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
ejector, hand ejector, scsw, victory, walnut

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
.32 Hand Ejector Question ChuckS1 S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 5 04-19-2017 04:52 PM
Mod 30 Hand ejector question stolkking1 S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 16 09-09-2014 12:24 AM
455 Hand ejector question kayak S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 9 07-17-2013 03:46 AM
.32 Hand Ejector Question rockable S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 4 07-03-2013 07:18 AM
Hand ejector question catdad S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 3 02-12-2008 03:30 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:13 PM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)