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S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 All 5-Screw & Vintage 4-Screw SWING-OUT Cylinder REVOLVERS, and the 35 Autos and 32 Autos


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Old 05-20-2017, 05:54 PM
Dobie406 Dobie406 is offline
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Got this today at Springfield MO show. Bought it because I wanted a new caliber to load for, and this looks to be in very good mechanical shape. would like more specific info as to model name i.e. model of ?, ? change as it applies to this revolver and approximate date, I believe it to be from '20s based on what very little I think I know about the style of stocks and ejector rod knob, but would like input from the experts. Sorry for bad cell pic, just bought a new house and camera is in a box somewhere.
serial # 126893, 4", 5 screw
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Old 05-20-2017, 05:56 PM
Plain Old Dave Plain Old Dave is offline
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1905 Fourth Change. More pics, please. Is the rear sight notch square or U shaped?

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Old 05-20-2017, 06:08 PM
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Yes, it is from the 1920s. But ship dates for this model in that serial range tend to be all over the map. Demand was shrinking, and eventually dropped to near zero after 1929 (the reason should be obvious).

The nearest I can come to bracketing your serial number is as follows:

#125207 shipped in December, 1924 (that one was a target model).

#127612 shipped in May, 1927.

That will give you a rough time frame. But keep in mind that S&W did not ship guns in serial order. A letter would be required if you want any level of certainty.

A side note: All .32-20 HE revolvers made after 1905, had five screw frames. This model didn't last long enough to lose any of the five.
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Old 05-20-2017, 06:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Plain Old Dave View Post
1905 Fourth Change. More pics, please. Is the rear sight notch square or U shaped?

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The rear sight notch is cut square.
I'll try for better pictures soon, it is in really nice condition considering it's age except for the fact that there is an engraved name followed by Dallas Texas on side plate that has been covered up by even more engraving with what looks like a blooming onion from Outback Steakhouse.
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Old 05-20-2017, 06:48 PM
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Nice pickup.
I've got ammo stashed away for a gun just like that.
Haven't found the gun yet though.
Then I have to remember not to shoot rifle ammo through it.
Seems half of what I finds is that.
Unlikely you'll have the same results....I just happen to like old obscure ammo and boxes.
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Old 05-20-2017, 07:05 PM
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Default Blooming Onion

It's really a shame
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Old 05-20-2017, 08:05 PM
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Certainly an odd engraving, but that would not stop me from buying it, at the right price. I need a companion revolver in that caliber to go with a Marlin 32-20. I'm finding the 32-20 brass to be a bit "sensitive" when loading, but I really enjoy shooting that caliber.

Congratulations! I hope someone can tell us what the "blooming onion" signifies.
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Old 05-20-2017, 08:17 PM
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"Congratulations! I hope someone can tell us what the "blooming onion" signifies."

just a crude cover-up of someones name and Dallas Texas
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Old 05-20-2017, 08:34 PM
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Let me start by saying I really like the caliber. And shooting it is even fun. Reloading it can be a bear. I bet I've crumpled more cases in this caliber than all the other calibers I've reloaded for combined. And that's a lot of ammo. I have done a bunch of trouble shooting and I've discovered its really sensitive to the shell holder. Its a tall thin case and any wobble will give you a runined round. I don't load hot rounds, so its a very gentle cartridge to fire. I went with a Browning for a companion M92. Say what you want about the Japanese machining, its far better than anything being made these days here in America.

We all hear and are scared off by the admonition against shooting rifle ammo. The truth is, you won't find any of it. Good luck trying. Forget the labeling, its the 80 grain bullets that live with the high pressure rounds. And history has proven over the years that a bunch of it has been fired with no damage. These are pretty well built guns and a whole lot of M&Ps were subjected to 38/44 ammo that shouldn't have been. The 32 has a lot more metal in the cylinder and barrel than the 38.
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Old 05-20-2017, 11:52 PM
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The 32-20 is to my mind the ultimate mid-sized revolver, and yours is a few thousand below the gun that'll shoot plum through a man. Bizarrely, the 32-20 is one of the more expensive handguns to shoot storebought shells through, but one of the more affordable ones to reload for. Less powder and less lead, see. All told, though, the 32-20 is a fighting gun.

They won't let the police have them 32-20s. They'll shoot right through a man.
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Old 05-21-2017, 10:23 AM
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I show several .32-20s with SNs not much lower than yours as shipping in 1924. So it is very possible yours was made in 1924-25. S&W ceased manufacture of .32-20s around 1929-30, but they continued to be catalogued and sold until WWII. Those who enjoy shooting .32-20 guns are usually either reloaders or wealthy enough to afford factory ammo.

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Old 05-21-2017, 02:19 PM
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Don't know if I should name this gun "The Bloomin Onion" or "The Fat Artichoke". What say you all? I'll decide once my dies get here
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Old 05-21-2017, 03:55 PM
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"We all hear and are scared off by the admonition against shooting rifle ammo. The truth is, you won't find any of it."

Well, not strictly correct! Fact is ALL .32-20 ammunition is rifle ammunition! .32-20 was, is, and always will be a rifle cartridge that was adopted for revolver use (Colt SAA.) soon after its' introduction by Winchester for the Model 1873 rifle in 1882.

That said, ALL current manufacture .32-20 ammunition is suitable for use in any appropriately chambered firearm, rifle or revolver, as long is it is the flat point 100-120 grain bullet, either lead or jacketed, makes no difference.

Contrary to others advice I definitely would not suggest shooting the "Hi-Speed" rifle specific cartridges in a S&W, Colt SAA maybe. When the manufacturer warns to NOT use a load for a specific application it is wise to heed that recommendation! This is not equivalent to shooting .38 Spl. +P in an older revolver, more like shooting .357 Magnum pressure loads in a .38 if they would chamber!

Since the rifle specific ammunition has not been made since the early 1960s you are not likely to see any, definitely not from a dealer, but just in case the photo below is what it looks like.

Dobie406, Regardless what you call it (both good names) it is a shame someone tried to cover up the original name and city that were engraved on the sideplate. The original was far more interesting and probably has far less effect on value that that monstrosity!

You should enjoy loading for this cartridge. While it is true that .32-20 (.38-40, .44-40) is easily damaged all you need to do is exercise a reasonable degree of caution when sizing and bullet seating and you won't have problems. This is one of the first cartridges I loaded, and have been doing so for ca. 55 years! Still one of my most favorite cartridges to load. In all this time I have only crushed about a dozen cases, usually new ones.
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Old 05-21-2017, 04:23 PM
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How about 1600 fps? Available through Venturamunitions, comes with 100 grain RNFP plated for $43.59 for 50. I have found other such commercial ammo out there available for purchase as well.

Load-X 32-20 Winchester 100gr JHP (Hi Speed) Ammo for Sale | Ventura Munitions
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Old 05-21-2017, 05:09 PM
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How about 1600 fps? Available through Venturamunitions, comes with 100 grain RNFP plated for $43.59 for 50. I have found other such commercial ammo out there available for purchase as well.

Load-X 32-20 Winchester 100gr JHP (Hi Speed) Ammo for Sale | Ventura Munitions
A lot of listed velocities are out of rifles; you'd do well to break 1000 from a pistol with maximum published data.
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Old 05-21-2017, 08:20 PM
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Not sure where in Mo. you are but midway lets you pick it up to avoid shipping cost. 32-20 - MidwayUSA . I've shot the ultramax in a old 1902 Smith I have, no problems.

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Old 05-21-2017, 08:37 PM
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Not sure where in Mo. you are but midway lets you pick it up to avoid shipping cost. 32-20 - MidwayUSA . I've shot the ultramax in a old Smith I have no problems.
99.9% of what I shoot I load myself, so not worried about whose factory loads are safe/suitable or not. Handloading, to me, is a big part of revolver collecting and shooting. My dies should be here Wednesday, got some virgin R-P brass at same show as gun, already have some .313 sized bullets for my .32 S&W Longs and plenty of suitable powders to choose from.

p.s. thanks though
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Old 05-21-2017, 08:50 PM
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Quote:
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99.9% of what I shoot I load myself, so not worried about whose factory loads are safe/suitable or not. Handloading, to me, is a big part of revolver collecting and shooting. My dies should be here Wednesday, got some virgin R-P brass at same show as gun, already have some .313 sized bullets for my .32 S&W Longs and plenty of suitable powders to choose from.

p.s. thanks though
Cool, I reload and cast my own also. I do buy store bought for the brass then it's roll my own.
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Old 05-22-2017, 05:14 PM
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For a short period of time the market around here was absolutely flooded with 32-20 brass, Winchester and Starline. Its a neat little cartridge and as mentioned care must be taken when de-priming and resizing. If you plan on casting, sizing and reloading lead you might want to invest in Lyman's neck expander die which for some odd reason is marked for 31 Short, the number is 7343006. I have a model 92 Winchester in 32-20 as well and always keep bullets loaded for the rifle in red boxes, green for pistol.
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Old 05-22-2017, 05:25 PM
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The only rifle I ever owned in .32-20 was a Winchester 1873, so I never used anything in it beyond the normal mild lead bullet loads, same as for my revolvers. About the largest use for .32-20 rifles today would probably be for CAS, which requires milder loads only. Not sure why anyone would want to use anything approaching the old HV .32-20 loads.
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Old 05-22-2017, 10:18 PM
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Took a poll of friends and co-workers, and the consensus is "the Blooming Onion" and so it shall be. Waiting on dies is like getting a toy for Christmas and having Santa forget batteries.
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Old 05-23-2017, 01:05 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by glowe View Post
How about 1600 fps? Available through Venturamunitions, comes with 100 grain RNFP plated for $43.59 for 50. I have found other such commercial ammo out there available for purchase as well.

Load-X 32-20 Winchester 100gr JHP (Hi Speed) Ammo for Sale | Ventura Munitions
I guess someone had to bring out some (possible) high pressure ammunition to muddy the water! I hope the box contains a warning, and the headstamp gives an indication that this may exceed SAAMI pressure specifications for .32-20. In the meantime I have to agree with Plain Old Dave that this may simply be velocity chronographed in a rifle. Velocities twice handgun figures in a 20-24" rifle barrel, compared to 4-6" revolver are not hard to believe and still be within SAAMI pressure limits.

Note the Ventura ammunition does contain this warning, at least on their web site: "*This item is not for antique firearms. It is for modern firearms. For harder pressures. Please verify use with manufacture." *** Without further information it may be wise to heed the manufacturers warning!

(***Note, this was cut & pasted from the Ventura web site so don't make any remarks about poor use of English!)

I probably should have added "From major manufacturers" in my original remarks. I hardly believe that "Boutique" ammunition manufacturers such as Ventura, or even Buffalo Bore, can be considered "major manufacturers"!
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Old 05-23-2017, 07:30 AM
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CIL used to be a major manufacturer.
This was picked up at a gun shop.
I don't think I'd try it in a handgun.
It is a 115 grain load.
There is stuff out there.
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Old 05-23-2017, 11:43 AM
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Quote:
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CIL used to be a major manufacturer.
This was picked up at a gun shop.
I don't think I'd try it in a handgun.
It is a 115 grain load.
There is stuff out there.
Actually, I think those would be safe in a handgun.
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