My .32 Winchester

[bracebeemer]

I brought this gun to the Southwest Bunch BBQ last April so I thought I would share it with those that couldn't make it out there.This gun was always in my home state of Michigan.In fact,when it was registered it was only 20 miles from where I live now. It stayed in Mr Rogers ( not that Mr. Rogers )family until about 9 or 10 years ago. The gun was shipped on February 23, 1911 directly to Lewis C. Rogers with no address listed. The family had the original box with the safety inspection certificate inside. This gave us all the information we needed.
The address listed is 1580 Vinewood Ave. Detroit,Mi. My mother who is 103 years old and sharp as a tack told me that her Aunt Irene lived two blocks from that address and they used to walk down Vinewood Ave. to go to the show on Saturday. So she probably walked right by 1580 Vinewood Ave. and this gun was in that house at that time! In any event, the gun was hardly ever used and remains in remarkable condition.
Bill

[bracebeemer]

A few more pics.

[JP@AK]

Wonderful. A marvelous addition to your collection.
I have never before seen one so nice. Congratulations!

[gripper]

Bill, You have a fantastic package!

Chad Gripp

[gmborkovic]

Not only is the gun an example of the mechanical arts of that period, but just look at the box. You can not beat that. Beautiful find.

[Old TexMex]

Real nice, and now I see that Smith&Wesson did label them "Winchester".
Stamping out ignorance, thanks

[mjr]

I would hate to own that revolver, because it appears so perfect that I'd be afraid to touch it, much less shoot it.

Absolutely beautiful find!

[Kinman]

That is truly what even a Neandertal like myself would have to refer to as collector quality...I like the .32 WCF revolvers.

[bruner1981]

That gun looks flawless! Truly beautiful. Congrats!

[Muley Gil]

Beautiful revolver there.

Well, it has a turn line and S&W fired it at the factory, so why not shoot it once and awhile? Ifn' it were mine, I would. I wouldn't stick in a holster and carry it on the tractor with me, but it would get shot.

Once I'm dead and gone, I doubt my estate will matter much if it is worth $1000 or $800.

[Chukar60]

absolutely beautiful. Love the wood in the grips of the early Smiths. Very nice find!!

[JP@AK]

Originally Posted by Chukar60

Love the wood in the grips

I agree. From looking at the photos, I believe these are Circassian walnut. The medallions are also beautiful on this one - they probably still retain some of the original gold wash that was on them.

Here is a pair of round butt Circassian walnut stocks in similar condition from the same period, on a Winchester Model.

[smitholdtimer]

bracebeemer, Your "Winchester" requires an "As New" label and is the best I've ever seen also. Just Wow on your find with the associated provenance, beautiful, absolutely beautiful.

[jsfricks]

Great find! One, to have a 32 Win and two to have one so nice!

[Dave Workman]

That is a beautiful piece. Looks like original finish, original box, the whole works.

[tekarra]

That is a beautiful revolver with an interesting story.

[les.b]

I know that I just sound like a parrot here, but how could one not repeat the compliments above? That is absolutely a stunning firearm, in a fairly rare caliber, with the box, and supporting documents, and to even have the family connection to the area where it spent it's time obviously residing at its leisure, since it appears no one was out shooting it.... Just fantastic!!!! Congratulations. As someone above stated, though, I would have a hard time fighting the battle of... Should I shoot it? I know it will lower the value. At my age, does that matter? Will my heirs care? Do I care if they do? Etc., etc., thank goodness you have that problem to wrestle with.

[Buford57]

+1 on all the compliments

I see Michigan's registration ("Safety Inspection") form didn't change much, if at all, over 50 years.

[les.b]

Yeah, I'd like to know what Lieutenant Kowalski did to determine that the gun was safe. Of course when the gun was new it wasn't a collectors item, and he might have just looked at it, or if he was a "gun guy", he might have shot it, but I imagine that the safety inspection was just a ruse to "register" guns in the first place. Not a Michigan person, so I'm not familiar with this whole "safety inspection" thing.

[bracebeemer]

Jack, they were using Circassian walnut at this time per there contemporary catalogs. I think the majority of the gold wash is still on the medallions given the lack of wear and condition of the stocks. The checkering on the stocks is so sharp that it feels like a file when you rub your fingers on it. The gun is not perfect even though there is virtually no blue wear. There is some flaking on the back and fore strap which I understand was fairly common back in those days.
Bill