Neat little .32

stykshooter · #1 03-30-2018, 09:20 AM

That came into my possession this morning...

Serial number 5231XX

shadowriders600 · #2 03-30-2018, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stykshooter

That came into my possession this morning...

Serial number 5231XX

Very nice hand ejector, 32/20or 32s&w?

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Plain Old Dave · #3 03-30-2018, 09:52 AM

Gotta be an I-frame with that serial number. Made probably between 1925 and WW2.

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Muley Gil · #4 03-30-2018, 09:54 AM

It is a .32 Long Regulation Police, built on the I frame. You can tell by the extension grips and the serial number stamped on the foregrip.

stykshooter · #5 03-30-2018, 10:00 AM

Yes... .32 Long

Wiregrassguy · #6 03-30-2018, 10:21 AM

My SWAG is 1930.

raljr1 · #7 03-30-2018, 10:34 AM

Be careful, these are like potato chips. One is never enough. Very nice example.

weatherby · #8 03-30-2018, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wiregrassguy

My SWAG is 1930.

I didn't look in the big book but going by the ejector rod and stocks
your close. See I am paying attention.

Lightfoot4 · #9 03-30-2018, 11:13 AM

Mine has a bit more wear, but still shoots nicely. My dad won it in a poker game back in the 1960s.

glowe · #10 03-30-2018, 12:40 PM

The stocks and the serial number in the front of the butt-frame are the major clues in identifying the model. The barrel shaped ejector rod knob help date it to after 1927 and the silver medallion stocks should date it only in the 1930s, but . . .

A 32 Hand Ejector, 3rd Model near your serial number shipped in 1941, of which the 32 Regulation Police were in the same serial number range, but you have 1930s style stocks?? My guess is that this series number could have shipped at the end of the 1930s decade, but no way to get much closer.

Hondo44 · #11 03-30-2018, 03:44 PM

That's certainly one of the nicest preserved 30's era .32 Regulation Police (as Muley Gil noted) - 3rd Model (I Frame). Finish looks completely original.

Since it still has the small logo on the left side of frame, and the features glowe pointed out, it was produced between 1930 and 1935.

The shipping date is really irrelevant during this period. Because due to the depression, inventory was full and sales were slow. Those with serial #s near yours in my database shipped anytime between 1930 and 1941; some even after the war.

Shoot and enjoy that one!

Hondo44 · #12 03-30-2018, 04:10 PM

32 HISTORY

The .32 Hand Ejector and its cartridge, the 32 S&W Long are both historical. The .32 HE is the first side swing out cylinder produced by S&W, built on the first I size frame, and introduced as the 1896 Model (1st Model) along with its new cartridge. Production of this model extended to serial # 19,712.

It went thru several evolutionary changes until it became the 32 HE 3rd Model in 1917 and is also when a sq butt version was introduced as the 32 Regulation Police beginning at ~ #258000 in the same serial range as the 32 HE, with a most common barrel length of 4 1/4".

Target models with adjustable sights were available with 6" barrels as well as very rare 4 1/4" barrels, and with 2 screw extended target stocks.

The 3rd Model had a hammer safety block added around 1919 used thru WW II.

By 1920 the cyls received a heat treatment for additional strength as did all S&W revolvers.

Both were reintroduced after WW II as the 32 Hand Ejector (rd butt) and 32 Regulation Police Sq butt) in near identical form except for the change to the much more fool proof post war sliding bar safety, as the Post War Transitional I frame. They went thru more evolution in the 1950s, as the Improved I frame and Model of 1953 “new” I frame. Then in 1957 became the Model 30 w/round butt and the Model 31 w/square butt, and finally in 1961 were upgraded to the slightly longer J size frame with added -1 to the model #s.

Eventually both versions were combined as just the Model 31-1 in 1976, until discontinued in 1991. Various iterations were later introduced using the 32 H&R Mag and/or the 327 Fed Mag, both of which still use the 32 Long as well.

Any currently available 32 Long ammo is perfectly safe to shoot in your 32.

stykshooter · #13 03-30-2018, 05:03 PM

Thanks guys for the wealth of information.

smithrjd · #14 03-30-2018, 08:56 PM

I have a similar one, but a 6" fun to shoot and very accurate. A light load of Bullseye and you are good to go. Rescued it from an LGS after it sat for months, nobody knew what it was. When the price hit what I would pay it came home.

raljr1 · #15 03-31-2018, 07:49 PM

ok, here's the nicest one of mine.

32 RP Nickel (2).jpg

Hondo44 · #16 03-31-2018, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smithrjd

I have a similar one, but a 6" fun to shoot and very accurate. A light load of Bullseye and you are good to go. Rescued it from an LGS after it sat for months, nobody knew what it was. When the price hit what I would pay it came home.

That's gorgeous. 1930's vintage 32 Hand Ejector - 3rd Model, but the grips are hard rubber target grips from a much earlier period. Are they numbered to the gun on the backside of the right side grip?

Hondo44 · #17 03-31-2018, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raljr1

ok, here's the nicest one of mine.

Attachment 333584

Robert,

That's another gorgeous example; a 32 Regulation Police from 1920 to 27 vintage.

The trigger rebound spring retention pin on the left side frame just forward of the top of the grip has been driven in with a pointed punch. Perhaps when or if renickeled or refinished.

With side plate off, it should be driven out flush with side of the frame.

smithrjd · #18 03-31-2018, 08:53 PM

The target grips are not original to the revolver. I do have the original smaller one screw hard rubber grips with a serial number to the revolver. I have XXXL hands and they just did not fit me.. S/N 5142XX I think sometime in the later 20's. I do not think this one has been shot much, little to no turn line. It is getting shot now.

Hondo44 · #19 03-31-2018, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smithrjd

The target grips are not original to the revolver. I do have the original smaller one screw hard rubber grips with a serial number to the revolver. I have XXXL hands and they just did not fit me.. S/N 5142XX I think sometime in the later 20's. I do not think this one has been shot much, little to no turn line. It is getting shot now.

Cool! The target grips are a great vintage addition which really improves the looks and ergonomics of that revolver!

smithrjd · #20 03-31-2018, 09:09 PM

Its a fun little revolver. I was very surprised at how accurate it is. I normally don't do well with the fixed sight half nickel front sights. Here is the other side and the original grips.

Hondo44 · #21 03-31-2018, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smithrjd

Its a fun little revolver. I was very surprised at how accurate it is. I normally don't do well with the fixed sight half nickel front sights. Here is the other side and the original grips.

Yep, never heard anything but praise for their accuracy and comfortable recoil. Are there any refinish dates under the grip on the left side grip frame?

smithrjd · #22 03-31-2018, 09:46 PM

I did not see any, the other thing that has me wondering is there is not a "N" any where as well. No "B" either. Everything looks to good to be a refinish. Should there be a N some where for an original nickel finish? I never have been able to pin the date down as well.

Hondo44 · #23 03-31-2018, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smithrjd

I did not see any, the other thing that has me wondering is there is not a "N" any where as well. No "B" either. Everything looks to good to be a refinish. Should there be a N some where for an original nickel finish? I never have been able to pin the date down as well.

If no B or N, it's an original nickel gun! After 1930 especially, the lack of either the B or N is common to indicate orginal nickel.

Your 1930's .32 could have shipped anytime between 1930 and 1941 because of the slow sales and high inventory of the depression years. Shipped revolver chronology therefore was scattered thru the serial range.

But I can pin point manufacture of your gun a little more closely, because of its small trademark logo on the left side, to between 1930 and 1935. At the end of 1935 the logo was enlarged and stamped on the side plate.

smithrjd · #24 03-31-2018, 10:41 PM

Thanks Hondo,
No matter what it is, it's a keeper for me. I have not seen a Nickel revolver that is in this good of shape very often for it's age. I get a kick out of folks at the range when they see this one. A 'pimp" gun LOL. The thing that really gets them is I shoot it at 25 yards. My groups are normally smaller than theirs at 10 yards or less with the Plastic Fantastic Semis.

raljr1 · #25 04-01-2018, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hondo44

Robert,

That's another gorgeous example; a 32 Regulation Police from 1920 to 27 vintage.

The trigger rebound spring retention pin on the left side frame just forward of the top of the grip has been driven in with a pointed punch. Perhaps when or if renickeled or refinished.

With side plate off, it should be driven out flush with side of the frame.

Here is a better picture of that pin.

32 RP Nickel (6).jpg

Green Frog · #26 04-01-2018, 12:49 PM

Over 30 years ago I bought a 6” nickel Regulation Police in 32 S&W Long. As somebody said, it’s a slippery slope! I’ve got about a half dozen I frames now and they just keep following me home.

Froggie

glowe · #27 04-01-2018, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smithrjd

Its a fun little revolver. I was very surprised at how accurate it is. I normally don't do well with the fixed sight half nickel front sights. Here is the other side and the original grips.

Nice target stocks - did you put them on since you have the RB stocks as well? I am just trying to sort this one out. As I understand it, the I frame & Single Shot target stocks were made from the late 1890s to maybe 1910. Walnut targets took over after that, but of course, round butt hard rubber was standard. I am curious because I have not seen a hard rubber target stocks that were original to a 32 HE.

smithrjd · #28 04-01-2018, 02:51 PM

The target grips are not original, I bought them off fleabay. I got the hard rubber ones because the original stocks were hard rubber and do serial to the revolver. They were just too small for me. The longer target grips fit just right. No idea what year they might be from, figured as it came with hard rubber grips, hard rubber targets would be appropriate.

Hondo44 · #29 04-01-2018, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raljr1

Here is a better picture of that pin.

Attachment 333628

Oh much better view, just reflections. Looks completely original and not refinished because it's still a domed pin!

Hondo44 · #30 04-01-2018, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smithrjd

The target grips are not original, I bought them off fleabay. I got the hard rubber ones because the original stocks were hard rubber and do serial to the revolver. They were just too small for me. The longer target grips fit just right. No idea what year they might be from, figured as it came with hard rubber grips, hard rubber targets would be appropriate.

Yes, they look appropriate. Most likely pre 1909 2nd Model Single Shot grips.

smithrjd · #31 04-01-2018, 04:01 PM

I had no idea they are that old.. I would guess rather rare as well, they were $125 so to me a bit expensive. I do like the look and feel of them however.