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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 10-17-2017, 09:47 PM
lign lign is offline
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Hi All! I'm glad to join the forum, and I hope you'll help me identify my old Smith. I bought it 15 or so years ago at a gunshow. The main owner of the table was away and some guy (his brother I think??) said "I'll sell it to you for $125 (maybe it was $150 - it was a long time ago). I knew I had gotten a steal, but I never looked into it. I've always treasured it for it's jewel-like action and glass-smooth trigger. For some reason, I chose to take it out tonight and do some research and now I think I got an incredible steal and I feel guilty. From reading tonight, I see it is a 5-screw hand ejector. I was delighted to see a bunch of patent dates on the barrel (last one is Sept 14, '09). It is chambered in .32 Long (which is part of the reason I bought it since my old top-breaks in .32 short are really expensive to feed) Serial number is 148xxx. Can anyone tell me approximately when it was made? I'm also curious about value although I'll never sell it. Bluing is conservative 70% with light pitting in a few spots. Bore is mostly shiny with a few dark places. Some small areas of case-hardening are still visible on trigger and hammer. Action and lockup are flawless and tight with probably a 3lb (maybe 2?) perfect, crisp trigger. Thanks in advance for any replies!
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Old 10-17-2017, 10:18 PM
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Welcome to the forum.

We always prefer to see a picture to verify the description, but a .32 S&W Long Hand Ejector with that serial is most likely a Model of 1903, 5th change. I have one with a very close serial, #147703, which shipped in November 1911.

Valuations are tricky without pictures, especially since these are not rare, so condition is a big factor, and your “70% with light pitting” does not sound exciting, at least from a collector’s point of view. So I’m going to leave that guessing to others.
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Old 10-17-2017, 10:24 PM
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Welcome to the forum. We need photos or it didn't happen.
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Old 10-17-2017, 10:47 PM
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Thanks for the responses! It's certainly no collector's piece by any stretch. It is missing the original grips and wears a pair of Uncle Mike's that someone put on it before me. I just love old, well-made things. I have a sizable collection of old woodworking tools and handplanes. Modern stuff just doesn't have the same appeal as hand-fitted things that you just want to hold. I guess I'm kinda weird.
I'll try to figure out how to post some pictures. Does anyone know where I can get a set of correct original stocks?
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Old 10-17-2017, 10:59 PM
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Not sure if this picture is going to show up. Sure looks a lot more raggedy under the harsh flash than it does in my dim den lights...
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Old 10-17-2017, 11:45 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lign View Post
Not sure if this picture is going to show up. Sure looks a lot more raggedy under the harsh flash than it does in my dim den lights...
I do believe that photo is sufficient to confirm my tentative identification above. It looks like the 4.25” barrel length.

For a proper appreciation of the finish, flash photography is indeed not ideal. You might want to take it outside or set it near a large window tomorrow and get some shots in natural light.

The original stocks would have been black hard rubber. Checkered walnut may have been available as special order. Auction sites like e-bay or Gunbroker are a good place to start looking.
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Old 10-18-2017, 04:37 AM
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Yes, checkered walnut stocks with recessed gold medallions were an option between 1910 and 1920.
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Old 10-18-2017, 07:07 AM
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That gun is probabaly worth 4 to 5 hundred dollars depending on person looking at it ,but keep in mind I am notorious for paying too much for guns I like and that one is right up my alley .Enjoy they aren't making them like that anymore .
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Old 10-18-2017, 07:39 AM
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I would say that's a $400 gun. Might find one in a pawn shop at $350. The rubber stocks jlhold it down a bit, and condition wise, it's average....fun per $ is pretty high on these 32s, IMHO.

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Old 10-18-2017, 10:12 PM
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Thank you SO MUCH! That is exactly the information I was hoping for. Couldn't justify spending $75 for a letter. So my Smith appears to be made sometime between 1911 and 1915. That is just so cool to me. I wish it could talk!

Like I said, I never plan to sell this gun and I plan to pass it on to my son. Besides the pure pleasure of experiencing the action, it is chambered in .32 which I have a soft spot for in spite of its deep unpopularity. Someday I'd like to get ahold of one of the original Colt pocket semi-autos in .32acp.

I imagine that S&W ownership from when my gun was made over 100 years ago would be proud to know that my 687 and my 629 both have factory triggers that are just as good as this one from a hundred + years ago (although their actions and finish are not as good). I'll start the hunt for a proper pair of grips. Thanks a ton guys!
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Old 10-18-2017, 10:53 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lign View Post
Hi All! I'm glad to join the forum, and I hope you'll help me identify my old Smith. I bought it 15 or so years ago at a gunshow. The main owner of the table was away and some guy (his brother I think??) said "I'll sell it to you for $125 (maybe it was $150 - it was a long time ago). I knew I had gotten a steal, but I never looked into it. I've always treasured it for it's jewel-like action and glass-smooth trigger. For some reason, I chose to take it out tonight and do some research and now I think I got an incredible steal and I feel guilty. From reading tonight, I see it is a 5-screw hand ejector. I was delighted to see a bunch of patent dates on the barrel (last one is Sept 14, '09). It is chambered in .32 Long (which is part of the reason I bought it since my old top-breaks in .32 short are really expensive to feed) Serial number is 148xxx. Can anyone tell me approximately when it was made? I'm also curious about value although I'll never sell it. Bluing is conservative 70% with light pitting in a few spots. Bore is mostly shiny with a few dark places. Some small areas of case-hardening are still visible on trigger and hammer. Action and lockup are flawless and tight with probably a 3lb (maybe 2?) perfect, crisp trigger. Thanks in advance for any replies!
Good possibility this one shipped in Jan of 1912. Nice piece, hopefully you'll be able to locate a nice original set of grips for it.
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Old 10-19-2017, 07:03 AM
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I own 1558xx (a nickel, 4.25" barrel) which letters as shipping Feb. 3, 1912.

Stu

Last edited by stu1ritter; 10-19-2017 at 07:10 AM. Reason: added text
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Old 10-20-2017, 01:57 AM
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Thank you, Ken and Stu! That narrows it down even more. That means mine is almost certainly from 1911 or 1912. Crazy. That makes it older than my beloved Grampa. My Grandpa was born in 1919. When I picked him up from the eye doctor yesterday, he said that "when I turn 100, I have to renew my license, if I decide to keep it." I said it must be wild to say "when I turn 100," but he didn't catch it. He's finally under the fog of years. I can't understand. He was an incredibly healthy man, (I watched him ride a bicycle backward when he was 70) and a health nut (to put it mildly) all his life, way before there was such a thing. I'll never live anywhere near that long, but maybe my son and his descendants will be appreciating this revolver long after I'm gone... Thanks guys...
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Old 10-20-2017, 05:51 AM
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I must say I like the way you think as far as passing a fine revolver down to your son and keeping it in your family .I always joke with my own sons that I believe they come to visit our firearms more so than me .
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