I found to be what I think is a M&P in .32 S&W Long, 4" barrel, dull blue finish, 95-98% condition, no box or documents. The dealer said he might take $900 for it. Is this a good deal. I need help from the experts. Thanks.

Perhaps. What is the serial number (and don't forget the prefix; maybe S or C)?

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

The serial number is C 688XX.

Thanks. That points to 1949 and fits with other known .32 M&P revolvers that left the factory in mid-year 1949. It would have the high speed hammer, which came along in the Spring of 1948.

There were also .32 M&P revolvers in the high S prefix range. Most (maybe all) of those had the older long action.

This gun is collectible, especially in the condition described. What do the stocks look like? Any chance you can get some pics to us?

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

I do not have the capability to get photos. The stocks are magnas and are in good shape. The dealer is in a not well lit area and there was a crowd so I did not get to handle the revolver. It has the short action. I don't know if it has a speed hammer.

Buy it. It's a hen's tooth. The .32 Long M&Ps are quite unusual and it was never catalogued by S&W. Supposedly, most were made for export sale (to whom has never been disclosed, but at least one turned up in Brazil), and only a very few were sold on the US commercial market. The total number made is shown as 4813, in two SN ranges, S975000-S975500 and C49000-C71500. Those with 5" and 2" barrel lengths are known but scarce, and 4" barrels are more numerous. C69098 was a 4" .32 M&P shipped on 8/12/49, and is the closest dated SN I have listed to the subject revolver. I have understood that most of those sold on the U. S. commercial market were sold by Sloan's Sporting Goods in New York City. I will guarantee that you can find pre-WWII .357 Registered Magnums much more easily than you can find a .32 M&P.

With short action, and in that serial range, it does have what's known as the 'hi-speed' hammer.

Mark

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S&W Forum Member #721

At that time, the two were one and the same. And S&W called it the "high speed hammer."

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Will you be at that dealers door the first thing Mon. AM?

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I'd be a buyer @ $900 with no haggling. I've wanted one of those for a long,long time. PLEASE post pics & letter it if you get it!!!

Yes it is a good buy.

This is from an odd duck gun I bought years ago.
It shows the two serial ranges.

This one was quite a bit before them.

In the years since I've owned it can't find a thing on who it went out on memo to.
It certainly was a very early post war gun.

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Paul
S&WCA #2726

I have one,sn.C 29507. I'm thinking from about 1949 or so. It has a 4" barrel and the hi speed hammer. You really need to get the gun because you probably won't ever have the chance to buy another one.

Which barrel length does it have since not the 2"?

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Jim here it is now.
The kickers are it's 38 special now and both the cylinder and barrel number to the gun.

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Paul
S&WCA #2726

Hmmm. No rework date?

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Thanks to all who responded. I have made arrangements to purchase the revolver. I can take photos when I receive it but I have yet to figure out how to put them on the forum.

When you get it, it might be a good idea to letter it, just on the off-chance it could be one of the export guns. I believe that those may have been on a police order for a larger city, or maybe some national police organization, somewhere in South America. And few or none ever made it back to the USA. Such information would be nice to know.

Here is a 5 inch M&P .32 caliber with box.



Serial C 69269 shipped October 10, 1949

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SWCA 1932 SWHF 135

Received the revolver today. I was a little too optimistic on finish. It is more like 90-92%. I am going to clean it and put some .32 shorts through it.

It's what I call the squiggle hammer. Some here call it a fish hook hammer. Well, maybe...if a big shark has partially straightened out your hook!

These guns had satin blue jobs unless you special ordered and paid $10 more.

I can see them going to Brazil, where .32's are popular. I don't really know why, as Brazilians can still have .38 Specials. Maybe less recoil and cheaper ammo?

Why? .32 Longs are anemic enough!

It's mainly a collector's gun. But if you want to shoot it, a hot .32 Long handload should kill small game and snakes well and handle defense situations, with precise bullet placement. I'd advise full wadcutter bullets for better killing power.

Buffalo Bore may have a warm .32 load.

Brick, I have to go along with Texas Star, the 32 S&W Long round was designed originally for the much smaller I-frame and it was not until later that it was chambered in the larger K-frame revolvers which were designed to utilize the much more powerful 38 Special round. I seriously doubt you would be able to do any significant damage or cause any noticeable wear from simply shooting 32 S&W Longs... even the "powerful" Buffalo Bore rounds that are still after all loaded to be safe for the I- and J-frames of the world. Enjoy!

Froggie

Weatherby, didn't you post information about that gun previously showing that it had been back to the factory to be "upgraded" to 38 Special? Wouldn't you have liked to have been there to either save that gun from the change or at least to have saved the parts to be reinstalled later? It brings tears to my eyes to think about it!

Froggie

The reason I will shoot shorts is that I have several boxes from my purchase of a pre-31. I will shoot those and then load some .32 longs. Winchester shows some pretty anemic loads with W231 and 100 grain bullet.