The serial number on this gun is 18948. Can anyone tell me when this gun was made.

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More pictures please! That serial number sounds like 1904, but the gun doesn't look that old, or I'm missing something. But seriously, please post some more pictures. That's quite a gun.

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Why, I aughta.....

Please don't tease us with partial images! Can you show the full gun on both sides, with close up shots of the serial number and the engraving on the other side as well? I'd also like to know if the gun has a six-inch barrel or one somewhat shorter -- about 4.25", to be precise.

I think that is probably a .32 Hand Ejector Model of 1903 (or Second Model). If so, on the evidence of the serial number you report the gun was probably shipped around 1909/10. It is interesting not only because of its engraving, which might be factory original, but also because it is target model. That is the designation applied to S&W revolvers with adjustable sights.

For $50 you can get a letter from the S&W Historian that will tell you the exact ship date, destination (perhaps an individual, but more likely a corporate distributor) and configuration when the gun left the factory. The factory invoice will tell you whether the engraving is original was applied after the gun left the factory. I suspect it is, because the special stocks include factory medallions.

Nice gun. A few of us around here like those early small-frame .32 target revolvers.

EDITED TO ADD: And welcome to the Forum. That's a very splashy and impressive way to introduce yourself.

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David Wilson

Those are the photos on Gunbroker.

Nice looking gun. Still at decent price.

Yikes! That's a beauty. 3 days left? This could get ugly.

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Why, I aughta.....

Is it the one in AZ?? If yes, look at the close-up of the cylinder... looks pretty rough to me. Also, am I the only one who thinks those rear sights look more like the post-War kind? I just get a not-so-warm-and-fuzzy feeling about it, but I may be wrong.

Froggie

Available now on the Internet: OK. I haven't visited an auction site in weeks, and therefore didn't see this one.

I get mixed signals too, but I think the rear sight is OK. There other 1903 target .32s known with numbers in the near vicinity, and the factory tended to produce that model 25-50 units at a time. What gave me pause was the gappy sideplate/frame fit. Perhaps that was emphasized by the engraver, or perhaps the engraving was undertaken to mask some surface trouble like what we see on the cylinder. We'd have to know if the engraving was original or done long after the gun was shipped. It looks to me like it might be a less ornamental grade of factory engraving. The medallion pearls support the idea of a special order.

4.25" target .32s are known from this era, but I don't know if they came with round butts standard. We are several years before the rebated frames used in Regulation Police revolvers were introduced.

The box is nice, but modern; the screwdriver is modern; the brush and swab may be prewar, but I don't know if they are proper for this gun.

The price will undoubtedly go higher; even though it has iffy aspects, the gun as configured has considerable appeal and may be completely jake if you ignore the accessories. Alas, the gun is going to have to go to somebody else, even though I dearly love early .32 Targets. My gun fund has been drained to take care of some major car repairs.

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David Wilson

I've been following this one, and am concerned about the sideplate fit, and the apparent pitting under the engraving on the cylinder. It is a 4 1/4" barrel. I'm wondering if it was a rescue of a less than desirable gun by the engraving and re-blue??? I'll be watching to see where the price goes, probably beyond my budget.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Clearly looks re-finished over some pitting on the cyl. Otherwise a righteous target model.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Mike: I posted some more pictures.

The serial number on the cylinder appears to be 19857 if I'm seeing it correctly.

That's the soft fitting #.

Serial # 49857.

It's a ".32 Hand Ejector Model of 1903-1st Change". A late one, likely a 1906 built gun; can't tell when it shipped except by letter as David said.
The shot of the butt looks like there was a lot more pitting under that blue and engraving.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

The more I look the less I like. That engraving and the full, deep blue do not go with the pitting that is also visible. Methinks somebody put a lot of lipstick on a pig.

Froggie

That made me LOL!

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Jim
S&WCA #819

What was the final price? Looks to have started out as a cool gun with a good bbl length. You would think that if someone were to engrave a gun, it wouldn't have so much rust on the cyl unless they needed a practice gun. Larry

Hasn't sold yet. It's at $905 with 13 hrs to go.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Is it just me in that the 5th screw looks like it isn't doing anything? What's up with that?

Cholo,

There's a little lip of the sideplate under the screw. The engraving line accentuates the look of a useless screw.

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Jim
S&WCA #819