I have just come into possession of a S&W 32 Long and I have no idea what I have.
The pistol has a 4.25 inch Barrel with a five screw side plate. There is also a strain screw. The yoke has the number 1871 on it which I think is a date rather than just a number. Under the barrel is the number 716045 followed by a circle. The serial number is 116045 followed by a five pointed stare. It has what I believe to be a chrome finish. Any help with date of birth would be great. New to the forum so I am working on getting a picture ASAP. Thank you in advance. D

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! We are going to need some pictures. It appears the barrel has been replaced but it's odd the factory would have put a barrel with a different SN on it. The star means factory service work. Take off the grips and take a picture of the left side of the grip frame and post it. There will be a service date on the front toe of the frame.

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

D, welcome to the forum.

You have a 32 Hand Ejector Model of 1903 - 5th Change made ~1911.

As Guy posted above, the barrel is from much later ~ 1959. And likely has a ramp front sight with a barrel rib, correct?

The 1871 # is not a date but an ASSEMBLY (factory work) #s: These multi-digit numbers of 3 to 5 digits, are on the yoke at the hinge, in the ‘yoke cut’ on frame (accompanied with a stamped inspector letter) opposite the yoke above the hinge, and inside of the sideplate, for the pre war and early post war period. Once the gun is shipped, the only use for the assembly #s is to confirm the three parts it's stamped on are original.

SERIAL # LOCATIONS: To confirm all parts are original, one can check for the 6 serial # locations for fixed sight pre war Hand Ejectors and all post war Hand Ejectors thru ~1956 (and a few as much as 3 years later).
NOTE: Observing serial #s for accuracy or even existence, especially on penciled stocks, requires magnification, bright light, and an attitude that it is there!

1. Gun butt – (or fore strap on I frames/single shots with grips that cover the butt)

2. Barrel - bottom of barrel or in extractor shroud

3. Yoke - on rear face only visible thru a chamber with a flashlight

4. Extractor star - backside

5. Cylinder - rear face

6. Right stock only - on back, except most target stocks; stamped, scratched or penciled depending on vintage and stock material. (except most post war target grips because individual fitting not required.)

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Under the left grip is the number 453 stamped into the frame. I am still working on getting the pictures posted. D

To Hondo44 the front site sit's on a ramp and then it's a half circle dome shape. D

You read the barrel # incorrectly, it starts with a 1 and matches the guns serial #. The O after the barrel # means it was changed or serviced in S&W's Outside Service Dept. Probably refinished. That's a good thing that it was done at the factory.

All the information stamped on the left side of the grip frame under the stock will tell us more.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

The 4. 53 indicates the service work was done in April of 1953. Just a surmise but it appears the barrel needed to be replaced. This sometimes happens when you get a squib stuck in the barrel followed by another bullet. Then the barrel gets bulged. Of course it could have been for an entirely different reason.

Guy

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

It's fairly certain your 1903 originally shipped sometime in the 1910-11 period as previously stated, based upon bracketing of dated SNs I have listed. It's unlikely to have shipped after that period.

That serial number is most likely from Jun/Jul 1910.
That barrel number seems much later than 1959 though. Is there any kind of a date code on the left side of the grip frame under the stocks?

Both already asked and answered. Read the thread before responding.

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Jim
S&WCA #819