Just picked up this .32 Hand Ejector 1st model Double Action Revolver yesterday. The bore is in excellent condition as well - no pitting. According to SCSW there were 19,712 made from 1896 - 1903. Mine is serial number 12,2XX. Can anyone help with shipping year for this revolver.

The nickel is very nice - not much wear and no flaking that I can see. I haven't cleaned it up yet but thought I would post some pictures. I am into it for approx. $350 after all is said and done. Probably not a steal but I thought it was a fair price. Thanks for looking!

Thanks!
Tony

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Tony in Papillion, NE

Nice looking revolver.No thumb release is cool!

You got a little gem for $350. Nice grips, nice nickel. You did great. Best

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

That's a little out of my line, but I suspect that you got a really good deal there. There are only a few of those in that condition in the world...and they ain't making any more of them!!

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

They can be found for the price you paid, but not often. Values have been rising lately and I would say a Model 1896 like yours would go for over $400 at most gun auctions and the buyer would pay buyer's premium on top of that price, so walking out the door with one would easily cost the average buyer $450 to over $500.

They are an amazing piece of S&W history, being the first hand ejector made by the company, but the real thrill is at the range, where they shoot very well today, after 120 years or so.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

You have a little gem and at a good price. Fairly scarce in such nice condition.

The Model of 1896 .32 Hand Ejector is the very first Hand Ejector produced by S&W. You'll notice they have no cartridge marking.

These were produced and shipped way out of serial # order over a period of 8 years. Below are a couple numbered around yours with their shipping dates but yours could have shipped at any time in that period, only a letter will indicate the actual date.

11057 shipped 5/19/1900
13017 4 screw, long hammer, two pins on extractor, was shipped on Sept. 26, 1896

A lot of lower numbered guns shipped much later.

Two features that vary are the length of the hammer and # of side plate screws: there are long and short hammer spurs and 3 or 4 side plate screws. Yours has the long hammer and obviously the 4 screw side plate which are thought to have been produced earlier.

Standard barrel lengths were 3 1/4", 4 1/4", and 6".

There are also target models which are rare.

Enjoy and don't be afraid to shoot it with any standard velocity off the shelf ammo. Ammo won't be found everywhere but it's still produced. You'll love it's accuracy.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

That's the first one I've ever seen, and I've been looking. I got the original box for that gun about a year ago on EBAY for $65. The instructions on the underside of the box lid confused me. I didn't even know they made a gun where you pulled on the ejector rod to open the cylinder.

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Dr. B

Congrats on a really neat find.

Did you by chance find that locally? I've been by your place several times en route to visit friends.

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

a picture of my 1896 ,it is in v good shape and it is lettered as being shipped in 1897 to P. Bekeart.S/N8216 It looks un fired

I think you got a great deal but, I think these are under appreciated so I may be a bit biased.

Attached is a picture of #11057 which Jim mentions above, shipped in May 1900 to E.K. Tryon Co. in Philadelphia. To illustrate the randomness, I owned #2324 which shipped only five months earlier, in December 1899.

I find these to be by the most fascinating 19th century Smith & Wessons. There's just something about the combination of a 20th century swing-out revolver and the somehow "Victorian" angular 19th century features. I'm almost embarrassed to admit that I missed my first chance to buy a blued version of this model at a very attractive price some years ago because I didn't recognize it. I'd never seen one before and thought I was looking at some sort of Franken-smith.

These days, prices for nickel specimen are going up, but they can be had. Good condition blued examples are almost impossible to find, like the one in my avatar, which I just wish I owned.

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Don't forget that those 1st Models are all antiques. Frames were manufactured and serial numbered before 1899. This is one S&W model does not have a antique serial number cut-off based on ship date.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

I didn't realize that. Thanks! Great information here.

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Tony in Papillion, NE

I did get this locally. A friend got it from his grandfather along with a bunch of other firearms when he passed away. I happened to have a firearm he wanted and we made a good trade. He knows how much I like S&Ws and had quite a few others from his grandfather so didn't feel too bad about parting with this one. There are plenty others he wont be so generous with - and rightfully so!

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Tony in Papillion, NE

Ah, that's great. I had a feeling it might have been a local find. Very neat! Nothing trumps local color.

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

Very nice, I wish I had one that nice in my safe.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244