Just got back from the Ft. Worth gun show with my latest find. It's a sweet little I-frame 3" in .32 Long. I have to assume that that means .32 S&W Long. It has that really neat looking dual diameter ejector rod and all the numbers match (3164XX). The last patent date on the top of the barrel is "Dec 29.14". The finish is not so great but I want it as a shooter. I don't have any safe queens. (That's not exactly true, but that's another story.) It cleaned up well and the action is nice and tight, just a little end shake. The bore has good strong rifling but there are some pits in the barrel. Not really bad and I hope it won't affect the accuracy. Hopefully I will know next week at the range. The only thing that disappointed me was that it didn't have the original grips. I guess I will just have to settle for the ones that came on it. By the way, does anyone know the official designation of this model and approximately when it was produced? Thanks.

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It's a .32 Regulation Police, and can use .32 S & W or Long. Others have a better track on their SNs, but I think early 1920s sounds about right. Looks like it has lots of "honest wear/character". Enjoy!

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

If those are original stag stocks they can be sold to fund the purchase of period correct stocks.

Actually, the grips are what first attracted my attention to this gun. I looked at it and said "Isn't that cute?" (Really...I actually used the word "cute" to describe a gun. First time ever.) My partner and I finished the rest of the show then came back to the table where I had first seen the gun. I kept hoping that it had been sold. But noooo, there it was, just calling my name and saying "Take me home with you. Take me home with you." It turned out that I knew the guy whose table it was on. He gave me a brother-in-law deal that I just couldn't refuse. And I know the grips are worth about 2/3 of what I paid for gun and grips. I think I really like those grips just fine. By the way, does anyone have an explanation of why there is a step in the back strap? And also when did S&W change the cartridge designation from .32 Long to .32 S&W Long (if ever?) Thanks again.

... just the way it is now. Honest exterior wear doesn't hurt a gun one bit in my book.

Sorry, sleep-deprived and missed the stepped backstrap - this makes it a .32 Regulation Police, which came with square butt style stocks that fit into the bottom of the step. Don't know why they didn't put "S & W" into the barrel rollmark; maybe it didn't fit on the shortest barrel?

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

By interpolation, the serial number on that gun suggests production and shipment in the course of 1920. The proper stocks would be Regulation Police stocks without medallions, and you should expect that they would have the June 5, 1917 patent date on the bottom surface. These stocks sometimes show up on Ebay or Gunbroker, or perhaps someone here has an extra set they would be willing to let pass along. Any other RP stocks would fit, but if they have dished gold colored medallions they are from the 1917-1919 period, and if they have silver medallions they are from late 1930 to 1940.

If you find silver medallion RP stocks with rounded corners to the checking field, you have postwar stocks.

Fine little shooter. You will find lots of entertainment value at the range with that one.

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David Wilson

I thnk u mean you were at the Dallas Gun Show which is running today and tomorrow. Next FW show is June 22-23. Don't want someone to drive over to FW tomorrow by mistake.

Love those grips... Makes the little guy stand out....

Sorry, Kwality guy. You are right. It was the Dallas show. Since I didn't drive, and slept on the way there and back, I guess I wasn't paying attention to where I was.

That's a beautiful old gun with a ton of character.

I wonder why I NEVER see a RP? I'd really like to have one in .38 S&W, just because I like anything in .38 S&W.

Pitted barrels aren't a problem with jacketed ammo which I don't think exists in .32 Long. You might experience a bit of leading with standard lead ammo. No big deal probably.

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Bob.
SWCA 1821

DWalt, you could have seen some RPs at the Dallas show today. One guy had six or seven of them, all nice, on his table.

Jeff

That's a good looking RP, and the stocks really set it off.

Dwalt, here's a 38RP, but it is cut down and refinished.
(Not sure how that pic of the .32 Lemon-Squeezer got in there!)

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Magtech makes a SJHP in 32 S&W Long.

The step in the back strap is for the fit of the correct grips, that make the Rd butt into a Sq butt. Here's a picture, this is a .38 S&W, the the grips are the same. This is vintage 1925.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Beautiful grips! You will probably still appreciate a grip adapter.

I have a 6" RP and they are fun shooters! A friend has some nice RP grips he wants to sell, but I don't know what vintage they are. Shoot it and enjoy it. Gary

Look here to understand the step- Early 38 Regulation Police

The cartridge designation is merely a difference in markings. The cartridge was always the "32 S&W Long".

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

I knew that about the actual cartridge name, I was just curious about the caliber designation stamped on the barrel of the various Smiths down through the years.
Thank you everyone for your most enlightening information. That's what I really like about this forum. All the collective knowledge that is so freely shared.

I love the grips, kinda gives the package a bit of class. agj

The stags make it!