I picked this up yesterday. It has been a busy couple of gun buying days for me. I don't know much about these 32-20's, but I have been told that they often exhibit issues with the bore. On this gun the bore and charging holes are bright and shiny as the day they left the factory. It has some wear issues to the bluing, but it is the only 32-20 Target I have ever seen.

I've wanted a 1905 Target for a while, I just always assumed my first would be in .38 Special, but I'll take my opportunities as they come. Based on the serial number I am assuming shipment around 1923. Serial number is 11460x. The grips are numbered to the gun in pencil.

What can you guys tell me about it?

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Dave

You got a good one there. Very nice gun in a rare configuration. Mine is 125xxx and was shipped Sept. of 1924.

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NRA Life
OGCA

I'd say 1923-24 is about right. Both the Made in U.S.A and the .32-20 designation are consistent with such a date, as are the numbered stocks.

Very nice find! I am very fond of the .32-20 HE revolvers and finding one with target sights is a major plus! My only .32-20 HE with target sights dates from 1904 and it has the round butt (Model of 1902). One of these days I'll find its older brother with a square butt. I hope it is in as nice of condition as yours!

Enjoy that fine revolver!

JP

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

I can tell you that is a very nice 32-20. I looked at it back in January and low balled the seller 100 less than he was asking only because that's all I had after buying a shotgun!

I'm glad you found it and I think you got a great deal if his asking price was the same.

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Mike

I have collected Winchester Model SNs for quite awhile. My list contains a gun in the 111600s that shipped 1-31-1923, and another just under 120100 that shipped 10-16-23. Good chance yours was "put up" somewhere in this time-frame.

The target sighted guns are rare and expensive. I paid $1250 for mine a few years ago and think I got it at a good price. Military models (fixed sight) are significantly cheaper, good ones from $500 down to an occasional $300.

The bore issue is corrosion caused by black powder and old corrosive priming. Bore cleaning wasn't always emphasized. The sometimes good news is rough bore guns often shot as well as shiny ones. While the dummies often refused to even look at a gun with a rough bore, they could often be bought at a huge discount. The smart folks buy them, test shoot them. If they scatter shots everywhere, they were just resold.

David Carroll had a couple on his tables for a while (haven't seen them recently, but that means nothing) that were priced up around $3000. But those were investment grade guns, not shooters.

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Dick Burg

Yes. Buying good shotguns will make you go broke in a hurry.
Come to think of it, maybe I should sell off some of my shotguns that never get used and take the money to buy some more S&W revolvers!
Jack

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

I have not done this in quite some time and hope that it works. Here is a picture of 2 of my 32-20's. One is fixed sight and the other has adjustable sights.

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NRA Life
OGCA

Looks to me like it worked just fine!
Nice looking revolvers with 1920s era stocks. And I like that pre-Olin Winchester ammo box as well.
Thanks for the pic!
Jack

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Well yours is in much better shape cosmetically than the one I bought in December. But they are great shooters, easy 2" groups at 25 yards and they handle like a sports car. Great find.

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Jim
Many K and N Frames

Very nice find. I have half-hankered after one of these for a while, but not yet enough to hunt one down and snare it. I figured I would just wait for one to pop up in front of me, and if the gun angel on my shoulder said "Get it," I would. Hasn't happened yet, but I'm patient.

After you give it a test drive and get it dialed in, I'd like to see some target photos.

Congratulations on the pick-up.

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David Wilson