Local seller has what I beleive to be a 4th change Model 1905 in 32-20. I have not seen the gun yet, but it has been described as 90-95% in it's original configuration. Grips are are numbered to gun (see pics). Just what was wondering what this would be worth to a collector. I'm not real big on these, but like the old S&W. Thanks to all.........

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Very nice gun. I don't keep up with the market on 32-20s but recently had the opportunity to purchase one very similar except with a 5" barrel and paid $410. Mine is s/n 141XXX and shipped in 1929.

Russ

That is a 4th Change 32-20 made in the mid-1920s. The 4" barrel is less common and the condition looks to be a solid 95%+. From your pictures, I can not see any area that has lost it's bluing except maybe around the muzzle. Grips look very good as well. 32-20 is a great shooting gun and I would say it would be valued at $400 to $500.

linde, I have a 32-20 with serial number 142XXX, would it have also been shipped in 1929?

I don't think anyone can guess the ship dates on .32-20s. They seem to have produced a large number in the late 1920s and then stored them instead of shipping them. Those guns could have shipped over a range of dates from the 1920s until the 1940s. S&W didn't ship in serial number sequence.

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Dick Burg

I agree with rburg . . . he pretty well summed it up.

Russ

linde & rburg, thanks for the info.

Don't know if this will help but I was looking at one a few weeks ago with a 5" bbl. I'm not good with %, but my guess would be 85-90%. S/N was 983xx and shipped Apr. 1921. It had what the GS said were Ivory grips. Turned out they were not, thanks to a lot of help from Forum members and a phone call from Ditrina. ( Thanks to all). The price was $800 and when I told them the grips were not Ivory they went to $700 and I passed on it.
Has anyone checked the blue book on this gun? Seems to be quite high on this.

Its all in your perspective and the actual condition of the gun.

My buddy Joe paid that amount for his fixed sight gun back in December. Its what we call "unblemished". And it has a high 120,000s serial #.

Both David Carroll and another vendor had guns LNIB, with the "B" a pretty important part of it. They were displayed at the January OGCA show. Both were priced at about $1400+.

Its my view that a gun without its original grips won't command top dollar, or even enter the game. Fake ivory might just as well be plastic or rubber handles. Real ivory, on the other hand, is a pretty easy to absorb consolation prize. If they fit well its as good as walnut.

Because of renewed interest in this caliber, we're looking at every gun we see in the caliber, including "Colts" and "Winchesters". At the show over the weekend, I could have purchased 3 or 4 guns in the description you describe, none over $500. Sometimes it burns to walk away, but its the right thing to do.

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Dick Burg

I saw the gun today. Very nice. Almost seemed too nice. The roll stamping on top of the barrel were more crisper than the sides. Almost seems as if the metal was expanded more and deeper on the sides compared to the top and then blued. It may be correct but it is hard to tell. Maybe because the lettering on top was of a smaller font?? Did not smell of any cold blueing. The seller was a nice guy. The gun belonged to his father and now looking to sell it. I offered $400.00. No box or papers. Anyone have further thoughts please let me know.

A four-inch .32-20 will be loud and probably not too balistically effective. That's probably why more weren't sold.

If you're collecting this and get a good price, fine. For real use, just get a .38 Special and be happier with it.

Thanks TexasStar for your reply. However, i'm looking at this as a collectible not as a shooter. I really can appreciate the early S&W for their craftsmanship. Was really looking for some feedback as if $400 was a fair price or pass on it. Thanks again to all..........

Yes, $400 is a fair price. You're the one judging condition and paying the money. But as a reference, almost all prewar M&Ps in nice condition are selling for more than that. It seems that over the last year the prices have just kept edging upward, and the supply of guns seems to be drying up. Remember, $400 only buys you 100 gallons of gasoline these days. Back when they were $150 guns, gasoline wasn't that expensive, either. Or anything else.

I would advise you to look again at the gun, very closely. If it shows no signs of refinishing, its worth that price. My best guess is the inflation of gun prices won't be stopping anytime soon. We're going to be looking back at the good old days, when you could pick up a nice keeper grade gun for only $400 or so.

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Dick Burg

Thanks rburg. I did pick it up today for the $400. I don't think it has been refinished at all. All the numbers match including the penciled S/N on the right stock. All lettering is sharp. However I did notice a finish difference on the right side. I tried to take some pics of what seems to be a small two tone apperance on the right side of the entire sideplate leading up to the bottom of the cylinder on the frame. The sideplate being a duller finish than the forward part which has a more polished look. The left side is all the same. I have seen this finish on some other revolvers from S&W. Any explanation for this??? Check out the pics. Thanks again to all. It is a sweet gun......

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Here is a better pic of a gun currently on a auction. I know it's not a S&W, but you can see the difference in the finish. Mine is not as noticeable, but it is there.

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Actually I just noticed that the first pic in the beginning of this post shows the issue that I'm referring to.......

How old are you? Is your finish as good as new all over?

Its not unusual to find a gun over 80 years old to have some minor imperfections in the finish. We can guess that its some dulling due to how it laid in a box, closet, or desk drawer for 60 years. Its also nothing to get very upset over. How old is your car? Does it still look the same on all surfaces? When a part of your car starts to look a little dull, you give it a good wash and then wax it. The same treatment often works to some extent on a nice old gun. There are some wax products you can try to polish out the "bad" area. Wax works just as good as most oil for preserving the surface and denying air and moisture the ability to interact with the metal. A good cleaning, very little wax and a very soft cloth, like a towel or diaper. Whoops, they don't make those anymore, do they?

Don't get upset with the gun until you've tried everything. You're just starting on the gun. You paid shooter price and its probably going to be a very good one. Chances are if you spend some time, it'll look nearly new again. You need to worry about ammo.

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Dick Burg

Very well said. I guess I might be getting picky for something of this age. The gun actually presents itself quite well. What ammo would be used for a gun of this vintage??? I'm assuming it's not .32 WCF. I spoke to S&W this morning, and they recommended a black powder cartridge. Also not to use any modern ammo. Any suggestions on what ammo to use on this gun would be great.........

.32 WCF (.32 Winchester Center Fire) is the same thing as 32-20. I shoot mine with smokeless powder and it works fine (3.2 grains W231 behind 100 grain LSWC). Don't shoot rounds loaded for rifles only in your revolver.

Excuse my ignorance but I'm not familiar with the terms you used describing the ammo. Is this ammo currently available or is it considered to be of a more collectible grade? Is there any factory ammo that would be suggested??? Thanks again.......

I found this ammo on a current auction. Is this what I should be looking for???? It is selling for $49.50 Buy It Now. Attention Admin... I felt this was acceptable to post as I'm not disclosing the actual auction.

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That is what you should be looking for. Don't use any ammo that says it is for rifles only (there is still some out there that shows up every now and again). It will state that on the box. Winchester and Remington (and possibly others) make ammo for your revolver.

I did some searching on the Internet. Some ammo suppliers have the 32-20 100 grain for pistols available as factory new ammo. I found Winchester and Remington. This is current production ammo. Would that be acceptable for use in this gun??? i'm thinking the only difference is the one I pictured is just more collectible......

New ammo like you found is acceptable.

I'm not sure who they've hired at S&W these days, but I'm thinking they need to be tarred and feathered. We hear a stream of what I consider to be very bad advice coming out over the phone lines. I wish someone would monitor those calls and fire the idiot who makes bad suggestions.

There's nothing really bad about black powder loads, except their dirty, hard to find, and cleaning becomes a real pain. Yes, the ammo currently being produced is fine to fire. The only way to obtain any .32-20 ammo cheap is to load it yourself. From the tone of your posts, that won't happen in the near future.

Scour the gun stores near you. Its a pretty pleasant way to spend a Saturday morning. Look and then ask about .32-20 ammo. There may still be a few boxes of the dreaded "Hi Speed" labeled for rifles only, and it will be an 80 grain bullet, not the 100 grain you seek. If in doubt, print this post and carry it along with you.

The problem with black powder is it leaves soot behind. The soot and the by-products of some priming corrode and ruin the inside of the barrel. Best to just avoid it (and calling S&W if the keep giving bad advice.)

Ammo is becoming expensive. Its on the forefront of the next round of inflation. Several reasons, most relate to costs, brass and copper prices, lead prices, petroleum prices (powder and transportation). Might as well accept the fact its becoming expensive. At gun shows I used to find the ammo for about $20 a box, now its usually $40.

Around here, we destroy market prices. Once a nearly obsolete caliber gets mentioned, we take up an interest. The guns tend to vanish off shelves and closets. Soon we're out burning up ammo and demanding more. Its not the most popular caliber. That part can work to your advantage if a shop owner has a box or two he's had for a while.

One lesson you'll soon learn is if you find 2 boxes, buy them both. If you only buy one, the other will be gone when you go back. Its how ammo shortages are made, but you also feel good because you know you've got an adequate supply.

Good luck, you'll have fun.

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Dick Burg