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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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  #1  
Old 04-10-2018, 10:55 AM
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32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel  
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Default 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel

I have acquired a fairly nice nickel plated SW revolver that I believe to be a .32. I have not located a serial number anywhere. Numbers appear to be part numbers. I can barely make out S&W Special on the barrel. Other barrel markings appear to be patent dates (?). I would like to know if it is a 32, about how old it is and of course estimated value. I am no longer a collector, so I might sell it or trade it if it's a collectable. I do have other weapons, I just like this gun. Someone added a shoe to the trigger, a grip extension. I am attaching several pictures to help identify this piece. Thank you for your help.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg SW-grip_shoe.jpg (90.0 KB, 243 views)
File Type: jpg SW-screws.jpg (78.2 KB, 228 views)
File Type: jpg SW-swingout.jpg (68.2 KB, 205 views)
File Type: jpg SW-grip_removed.jpg (64.1 KB, 187 views)
File Type: jpg 4in-barrel.jpg (78.3 KB, 177 views)
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  #2  
Old 04-10-2018, 11:14 AM
scha scha is offline
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32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel  
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With the barrel underlug this appears to be an "N" frame (large) revolver. There should be a serial number on the butt of the frame, on the barrel under flat and on the rear of the cylinder.
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Old 04-10-2018, 11:15 AM
gmborkovic gmborkovic is offline
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32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel  
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OK! look on bottom of grip frame/butt. Send a pic.
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Old 04-10-2018, 11:19 AM
Shark Bait Shark Bait is offline
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32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel  
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I see what appears to be a SN on the face of the cylinder, but can't make it out.
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Old 04-10-2018, 11:29 AM
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32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel  
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Welcome! From the size of the charge holes this is likely a pre-WW II .38/44 Heavy Duty revolver. It has been refinished, which would explain the faint barrel rollmarks (it would have read .38 S & W Special on the right side). The serial number from the locations mentioned above will tell how old it is; if there is no number on the flat bottom of the grip frame it was removed by a previous owner, a big no-no legally.
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  #6  
Old 04-10-2018, 02:22 PM
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32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel  
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I agree with Alan - it is a refinished prewar .38/44 Heavy Duty.

There are at least two reasons it cannot be a .32. 1) no .32 that I know of had a shrouded extractor rod; and 2) no .32 caliber marking would include the word "Special."

Stocks are non-original.

The missing serial number from the butt is a big problem. Without that number, the value is zilch (actually worse than that).
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Old 04-10-2018, 08:24 PM
Hondo44 Hondo44 is offline
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32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel  
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The neatest thing about it is the Humpback Hammer, albeit nickel plated now.

I agree with those above otherwise.

Hopefully the serial # is restamped on the left side of the grip frame in lieu of it being missing from the butt.
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Old 04-11-2018, 04:35 AM
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32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel  
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Thank you all for input. My 1st thought was also 38 but no. For grins, not to shoot tried a 357. It almost fit. No SN on butt or handle I will remove other grip and check other areas. I check the other marking. May be the refinish destorted the chamber size. Later.
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Old 04-11-2018, 06:51 AM
Hondo44 Hondo44 is offline
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32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel  
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The finish can not distort the chamber size.

Please tell us in detail in what way the 38 Special did not fit. But a 357 almost did. They're the same diameter and the 357 is just 1/10" longer.
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Old 04-11-2018, 10:17 AM
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32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel  
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I have used a 38 in my 357, not the other way for obvious reason. After cleaning the cylinder, I did find that the 357 does fit except for the length as you indicated. So that solves that question. I don't have a 38, but since I have gotten good feedback I'm confident it is a 38. Thank you.
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Old 04-11-2018, 10:25 AM
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32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hondo44 View Post
The finish can not distort the chamber size.

Please tell us in detail in what way the 38 Special did not fit. But a 357 almost did. They're the same diameter and the 357 is just 1/10" longer.
Jim, not sure my earlier reply posted. So forgive me if this is a duplicate reply.
I cleaned the cylinder and did find that the 357 fit except for the length. So with the feedback from everyone I'm satisfied it is 38. Thank you.
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Old 04-11-2018, 11:35 AM
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32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel  
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Default Follow-up S&W confirmed 38 special, SN?

I have re-examined the SW revolver and after some cleaning, I am sure it is a 38 as many of you stated. I also found a stamp on the back of the trigger. It looks like "REGU.." Don't know what that means or if its important to the history of the pistol.

I found matching numbers on the rear of the cylinder and in the 'well' of the ejector on the barrel. The number is "45515". There is another number that is probably a part number on the swing-arm of the cylinder. It is "2358". There was no number on the butt of the gun. The only other number was "39" on the frame under the grips.

Thank you all for our input. I would like your opinion as to whether this would be better to keep as a collectable or would occasional range firing be okay. - Bill
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Resized_20180404_122025001_8856.jpg (49.0 KB, 52 views)
File Type: jpg SW-ejectorwell.jpg (31.8 KB, 50 views)
File Type: jpg SW-numbers.jpg (70.9 KB, 48 views)
File Type: jpg SW-trigger.jpg (48.1 KB, 51 views)
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  #13  
Old 04-13-2018, 05:45 AM
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32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel  
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I have re-examined the SW revolver and after some cleaning, I am sure it is a 38 as many of you stated. I also found a stamp on the back of the trigger. It looks like "REGU.." Don't know what that means or if its important to the history of the pistol.

I found matching numbers on the rear of the cylinder and in the 'well' of the ejector on the barrel. The number is "45515". There is another number that is probably a part number on the swing-arm of the cylinder. It is "2358". There was no number on the butt of the gun. The only other number was "39" on the frame under the grips.

Thank you all for our input. I would like your opinion as to whether this would be better to keep as a collectable or would occasional range firing be okay. - Bill
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File Type: jpg 20180404_122212.jpg (50.9 KB, 34 views)
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  #14  
Old 04-13-2018, 06:59 AM
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murphydog murphydog is offline
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32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel  
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The trigger was stamped "REG U.S. PAT OFF", indicated a patent had been issued for the part design.

SN 45515 indicates a 1935 production date; sales were slow and it may not have shipped (sold) that year. 2358 is an assembly number, a factory internal code used during manufacture and unrelated to the SN.
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Old 04-13-2018, 09:25 AM
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32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel  
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Alan, thank you!
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Old 04-13-2018, 09:50 AM
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32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel  
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As previously said, without a legible SN stamped somewhere on the grip frame (usually on the butt) it is illegal. Be careful not to get caught with it in your possession. BTW, it is equally illegal to sell it. In fact, no dealer would touch it. Also it's not a good idea to broadcast that you even own it. The SN (inside the barrel shroud) is in the 1935 production range, but it could easily have shipped a year or two later.

Last edited by DWalt; 04-13-2018 at 09:55 AM.
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Old 04-13-2018, 09:52 AM
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32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel  
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Obviously the gun has been heavily buffed and replated and could be nothing more than a shooter.
However, what several earlier commentators have said and maybe haven't emphasized enough, is the lack of a serial number on the bottom of the butt or anywhere else on the actual frame of the gun.
This lack makes the gun contraband and subjects it to confiscation and the "owner" subject to arrest and prosecution. The serials on the other various parts don't count, only the one on the frame is what matters, and it has been removed. I wouldn't have this gun in my possession under any circumstance.
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Old 04-13-2018, 03:19 PM
Hondo44 Hondo44 is offline
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32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel 32 Cal? No SN. 4-screw, 4-in barrel  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by murphydog View Post
The trigger was stamped "REG U.S. PAT OFF", indicated a patent had been issued for the part design.

SN 45515 indicates a 1935 production date; sales were slow and it may not have shipped (sold) that year. 2358 is an assembly number, a factory internal code used during manufacture and unrelated to the SN.
The photo shows the Pat info on the hammer which is the same story as th Pat info on the trigger.
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