Picked up a 1920, S&W Hand Eject, .32 S&W Long today

[Trooper Joe]

Found this in lower Michigan today. [Now my home equity loan is truly maxed out .]

According to my S&W book, it is the 2nd change for the Hand Eject model. Called the factory and they thought it was made about 1920.









If it has ever been shot, it was sure cleaned up perfectly.



This will go with my 1915 era Colt Police Positive in the same caliber, as well as my H&R 732.

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Can't wait to get to the range with these revolvers. The only one I ever shot was the Colt.

Trooper Joe

[KEN L]

What a beauty, congratulations!!

[two-bit cowboy]

Gorgeous.

It won't be your last, you know?

Bob

[Hondo44]

Welcome Trooper.

Wow, that's a humdinger of a 32 Hand Ejector!

Most photos are almost too dark to fully appreciate it. But It looks a little too black for original finish. I can see what could be the nice pre war factory bright blue in the last photo of it. The only mark I see on it is on the toe of the grip frame unless that's camera flash.

Can't be 1920 though and be a 2nd change. They ended in 1909.

With the serial # we could pin it down for you.

[Trooper Joe]

Originally Posted by Hondo44

Welcome Trooper.

Wow, that's a humdinger of a 32 Hand Ejector!

Most photos are almost too dark to fully appreciate it. But It looks a little too black for original finish. I can see what could be the nice pre war factory bright blue in the last photo of it. The only mark I see on it is on the toe of the grip frame unless that's camera flash.

Can't be 1920 though and be a 2nd change. They ended in 1909.

With the serial # we could pin it down for you.

I think you are correct. The factory just said it was about 1920 and I am the one who came up with the second change. In checking the S&W book again, it looks more like a 4th or 5th change if that makes any sense (a little confusing in the book).

The serial number is 6 digits (213xxx).

Really not sure about being original finish. It looks almost too good. If it has been refinished, it is about the best job I have ever seen. For what I paid for it, I am still very happy.

Trooper Joe

[Hondo44]

Joe,

It's a Model 1903 - 5th change (1910 to 1917), most likely from 1914-15.

[murphydog]

There are usually tell-tale signs of a refinish, none of which show in your photos:

Wide sideplate seam, refinished hammer/trigger, blurry metal stampings, dings/scratches/pits underneath the blue, stocks worn out of proportion to the metal finish. A pristine bore and charge holes would confirm (to me) that it is probably original.

If you can (gently), remove the stock panels and see if the SN is scratched on the inside of the right one (showing it is original to the gun), and also look for a 3-4 digit number or R-B stamped on the lower left grip frame. This would indicate it went back to the factory for work, but as noted above I wouldn't be surprised if it is original. Enjoy!

[mrcvs]

The first photographs make the finish appear dark, and I initially suspected a refinish. But, the fifth photograph makes me suspect otherwise, for the following reasons:

1) The grips look nearly new. If a firearm is refinished, it is usually due to use & wear, and the grips should also exhibit more wear to reflect previous significant use;

2) It is unusual for refinished firearms to still display vivid case colouring, as is the case with the trigger and hammer. Usually the case colouring would have dulled from use and would appear as such or would now be blued due to refinishing.

3) Likewise, if reblued, it would be unlikely that the knob on the ejector rod would not also have been blued, especially since the contrast between its pristine state and the extractor rod would not nearly be as distinct as the knob and the extractor rod would both have dulled from use;

4) The Smith & Wesson logo when viewed at an angle, as is the case in the fifth photograph, appears crisp and is not dulled. This often becomes much less crisp when reblued;

5) All edges appear sharp. Polishing prior to refinishing often leads to rounded corners and edges.

If this is refinished, which I think is unlikely, I would think that it would have occurred at Smith & Wesson. I would remove the grips to see if a month and year is stamped within, indicating the date of refinish.

And, if this IS a refinish, other than factory work, I'll eat my hat!

It sounds like the OP might have purchased this at a reasonable price. I have one, in not as nearly as nice condition, that I picked up for a song a few years ago. Given that I had so little into it, I reasoned that a factory letter was warranted, simply because even with a factory letter, I still had very little into it, and sometimes a letter can produce fascinating results.

[Trooper Joe]

Murphydog,

I took the grips off (they seem to be in perfect condition) and found the serial number stamped (not scratched) in the right side grip. (Serial number partially blocked for this photo)





Also, in checking the left side of the frame, I see no evidence or markings that this gun ever went back to the factory.



The forcing cone looks like it was just machined yesterday.



The logo on the right side looks clear and sharp (sharper than my photo) possibly indicating that this gun was never re-finished.



Same for the markings on top of the barrel.



Found the serial number sharply stamped on the rear of the cylinder.



All in all, I am very happy with this $400 gun .

Trooper Joe

[DWalt]

213xxx would date it as being from around 1913-14. I believe it is in original condition, and for $400, you did OK.