"new to me" S&W 32 Regulation Police"revolver

[mrchuck]

Serial# 394590.This number is on the trigger side of the frame grip,and on the cylinder side where you load, and on the bottom flat of the barrel where the ejector rod snaps into place.
Also, this same # is "penciled" in on the inside of each stock.
Both of them. It is very faint, but you can clearly read the numbers.
These are all original parts.
The large ejector rod knob says it is a Regulation Police model.
The caliber is 32 long ctg as shown on the right side of the barrel when pointing it.
The assembly # 13789 is on the frame where the cylinder snaps closed.On the bottom of the left side walnut grip is stamped
PAT.JUNE 5,1917
The barrel measures 4 1/4".
The barrel inside is clean and the grooves look sharp.
I believe this info tells me it is a .32 Reg Police Rebated SQ.Butt.
Also a .32 HE Third Model.
I am no expert, just have been reading about this revolver on this SW Forum.
I have not shot it yet.
I have 3 very old 32 Long cartridges in my small collection of vintage ammo.
Now for your help and advice:
How old is it? Have I described it correctly?
I purchased it this last week-end at the Canton, TX Gun Show.
I'll tell you how much I paid for it as soon as I get answers to my above questions.
My wife loves the petite size this revolver is.
I am posting photos,I hope.

[DWalt]

Serial# 394590 would make it likely to have shipped in 1925. It is a .32 RP and a nice one. There was also a .38 RP chambered for .38 S&W cartridges.

[daddio202]

You found one in pretty good shape, very nice with all matching numbers. I can't help on value and date but been on the lookout myself for something in the 32 long. Would be a great caliber to reload once you got the casings won't be expensive at all to reload. Many people have commented on the 32 s&w and the 32 s&w long as a fun and accurate shooting caliber. Pretty easy to find new ammo online for it. A couple mfrs.make it including Magtech, and PPI. not very expensive either. Enjoy that old beauty!! Get her out there shooting again.

[mrchuck]

I forgot to mention that this is an I Frame.

[DWalt]

You didn't need to.

[two-bit cowboy]

Congrats on a very nice .32 RP. Gorgeous!

[mrchuck]

I paid 300 Dollars cash to the young couple who owned it.
They received it from their family inheritance in Dallas,TX.

[murphydog]

You did well for a nice original example of this model. Hope the family doesn't eventually regret selling a family heirloom...

Any current factory standard .32 Long ammo is safe to shoot in it; wadcutters will punch nice clean, round holes in the paper but I bet you already knew that. Enjoy!

[Wiregrassguy]

.32 RP SN 391918 shipped in August 1924. I suspect yours shipped either with it or within a month or so. The RP's were serial numbered in the same range as the .32 Hand Ejectors. S&W was turning them out in pretty good numbers in the early to mid-1920's. The above gun was my paternal grandfather's.

[les.b]

mrchuck:

That is a beautiful RP. I have a thing for these little I frames, and have a number of them. My oldest RP is from April of 1921, and my latest is from January 1973!! (I'll have to check, but I think it was a J frame by then, but they still called it Regulation Police...as I have the box for it). I also have a number of .32 Hand Ejectors. I reload the caliber, and it is a great cartridge to load for and shoot.

Here's mine from 1921, serial 351257:



I read your reference to the thread on another one...sorry I missed it when you first posted. Enjoy that revolver...but watch out, I'll bet mrschuck has her eye on it!!

Best Regards, Les

[goatsnguns]

Mr. Chuck

You did very well on that 32 RP, it's a beauty. I have paid that much for a beat up RP parts gun, parts are a little hard to find. I have a number of these little guns , 32's & 38 S&W. The 38 RP has "Regulation Police' stamped on the right side of the barrel. I sure wish they had done that with the 32's. The 32 is the revolver I reload for and shoot the most.

Enjoy your RP, I am sure you will.

[Hondo44]

Originally Posted by mrchuck

The large ejector rod knob says it is a Regulation Police model.
grooves look sharp.
I believe this info tells me it is a .32 Reg Police Rebated SQ.Butt.

Now for your help and advice:
How old is it? Have I described it correctly?
I purchased it this last week-end at the Canton, TX Gun Show.
I'll tell you how much I paid for it as soon as I get answers to my above questions.

Congrats!
You did quite well on your purchase, both condition and price wise.
You've described it very well. The square butt adapter stocks distinguish it as an RP.

The large 'mushroom' extractor knob is not unique to the Reg Police version however, and was shared by all models w/o shrouded barrels until the change order of 1/22/27.

The 32 Reg Police had an ~ serial #258001 when first introduced in 1917.

Enjoy shooting and sharing it with your wife. Have you taught her how to clean it?

[mrchuck]

My wife carried concealed for many years as required by her County employer.
Qualified monthly back then.
Retired,, she rarely carries and depends on me these days, as I carry as mandatory for retired LEO's 24/7/365.

[H Richard]

Very nice, I also recently got one (30969x) which shipped Mar 1920. It joins several 32 Hand Ejectors in 3 1/4" and 2" that I enjoy shooting. I also load for this, and mostly the Speer HBWC. Surprisingly accurate.

[Muley Gil]

"...as I carry as mandatory for retired LEO's 24/7/365."

Really?

Back during my cop days in Alabama, we were considered to be on duty 24/7. Since I retired in 2001, I have CCed everywhere I go, but I'm not REQUIRED to do so.

Of course, every place is different. That was a thread here on the Forum a number of years ago where the issue of "on duty" came up. Most of the Southern po-leese were on duty 24/7, while many of the Northern LEOs weren't.