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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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Old 08-28-2012, 08:28 AM
phantomf4 phantomf4 is offline
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Default Smith and Wesson 32-20

I have a 32-20 that was my father's and he shot 32-20 ammo.The barrel has 32 WCF CTG stamped on it. It has serial number 105686. It is truly a 32-20?
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Old 08-28-2012, 08:38 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by phantomf4 View Post
It is truly a 32-20?
That looks to me like a statement but it has a question mark behind it. I will play like it is a question. The answer is: 32 Winchester Center Fire Cartridge is a 32-20. Larry
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Old 08-28-2012, 08:57 AM
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Yes it is, does it look like this one???...............



this is a 1905 Hand ejector, I think its the 4th change version and the serial number is in the #101,xxx range..marked as yours is, on the right side of the barrel
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Old 08-28-2012, 09:00 AM
phantomf4 phantomf4 is offline
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It is exactly like the one pictured. Thanks.
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Old 08-28-2012, 09:51 AM
jrd1976 jrd1976 is offline
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When Winchester developed the cartridge for their 1873 lever action rifle, they named it "32 WCF". I believe that Marlin chambered their rifles for the same cartridge and called it "32-20", so they did not have to stamp a reference to Winchester on their rifles.

S&W stamped 32 Winchester CTG on the early revolvers and 32 W.C.F. CTG on the later ones.

Since it is originally a rifle cartridge, ammo manufacturers and reloading component manufacturers usually list the cartridge in the rifle category. It is safe to shoot modern factory ammo in these old guns. But it is always a good idea to have a gunsmith inspect the gun first.

Earlier this summer I shot one made in 1915 in a club handgun steel plate match. Lots of fun to shoot.

The Model of 1905 4th change was manufactured from 1915 to 1940.

Last edited by jrd1976; 08-29-2012 at 07:43 PM.
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Old 08-28-2012, 03:41 PM
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For some time, there were smokeless powder high velocity factory loadings of the .32-20 cartridge manufactured which were specifically intended for the Winchester Model 1892 rifle/carbine and similar stronger-action rifles, NOT for revolvers or Winchester 1873 rifles. There was usually some special headstamp marking to identify those, such as HV or M92. I don't believe that loading survived WWII very long. Should you run across any so-marked, it's not a good idea to use them in a revolver.

Any newer .32-20 ammunition you find will be OK in a revolver.
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Old 08-28-2012, 09:58 PM
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Your revolver dates to 1920-1921, and is well after the SN where heat-treating of the cylinder began. It was made very close to the date when the caliber marking changed from .32 W.C.F. CTGE to .32-20 CTGE. As tops stated, they are the same cartridge.

Any 100-115 gr ammunition with a flat point bullet is correct for your revolver. If you find any old ammunition that looks like the cartridge on the right in the picture below, the hollow-point, this is the type that should not be fired in a revolver. Anything that looks like any of the other cartridges in the picture is OK. All .32-20 is marked for revolver and rifle use, as long as it isn't this hollow-point type it can be used, regardless of when it was made.
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Old 08-28-2012, 10:08 PM
Muley Gil Muley Gil is offline
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You can also find some S&Ws marked "32 Winchester".
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