This revolver was passed from my uncle to my mother when he left to go to Korea in 1950 I believe. He was listed as MIA and my mother passed it to me. Help me identify the model and date if you can....It appears to be in excellent condition. Is it safe to use with modern day ammo? Value?
32 Long Serial # 18777X
Barrel is 3 1/4"
1st patent March 27, 94
Last patent Sept 14, 09

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Any factory .32 S&W Long ammunition will be OK in it. .32 S&W ammunition will also work, but is a little shorter and with less power. Your SN indicates that it was probably shipped around 1912, possibly 1913. It would be called a .32 Hand Ejector, Model of 1903 (fifth change). It does appear to be in excellent condition. I am not very well versed on what these are selling for today, others will reply. My guess is that it would sell easily for $300-$350 in that condition.

It's nice, but appears to me to be refinished. These are super-fun little guns to shoot! And the family history is priceless.

Thanks!! Just wondered about the value as I would never sell it anyway... My uncle placed it in a holster and wrapped it in a paper bag handed it to his sister (mom) and asked her to hold it until he returned from Korea. Still have the same paper bag and holster. He was declared MIA just a few months later.

I looked at it closer and it does to appear refinished.... but I'll keep it with my no dash 66 that belonged to his brother and my grandfathers 1917 US Army 45 ACP revolver marked 'UNITED STATES PROPERTY'. Some you just don't trade or sell....

It doesn't strike me as being refinished, but it is sometimes difficult to tell from a picture. If it was refinished by S&W there may be a date marking stamped on the left side grip frame, under the grips. I am not certain if that practice started that early.

I'm no expert but I think I see several areas that appear to have evidence of sanding. Look just forward and above the latch and light sanding on opposite side. You have to hold it at the right angle for the scratches to show up...

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On the other hand, the sideplate margins seem very close and tight, and a more visible channel there usually indicates a less than expert refinishing job. A S&W factory refinish wouldn't have that problem. I can't tell if your revolver's hammer and trigger show any of the original case hardening colors but I think I may see some. Sometimes a non-factory refinisher will either polish out the case hardening colors or blue the hammer and trigger.

What a coincidence-- I just made my first batch of .32 Long DEWC this morning. You're going to enjoy shooting it, I think. They're lots of fun. Good luck finding the sights when you go to aim.

If you can't find any ammunition locally, some online places have it. I got some from Graf's while I was waiting for my dies to show up, and Lucky Gunner has some too. Fiocchi and S&B are relatively inexpensive.

It's a very nice heirloom and I'm glad to hear you're not going to sell it or the others you have.

It's clearly refinished, the ER knob, hammer, and trigger are blued and are never blued from the factory. The trigger rebound slide pin just above left grip is polished flat; was originally domed. There's pitting evident under the blue in the grooves behind the recoil shields on both sides.

__________________
Jim
S&WCA #819

I see both S&B .32 Long and Remington .32 S&W at Academy. And sometimes they have Aguila .32 Long also. About a year ago they had .32 S&W on sale for $10/box and I bought 5 boxes. Several years ago they had Federal .32 Long, haven't seen that recently. Point is, you shouldn't have a lot of difficulty in finding one or the other.

Don't mean to chide, but I wouldn't use a loaded gun for picture taking. The gun should be safe to shoot with any current factory 32 S&W or S&W Long. As Dewalt said, it shouldn't be hard to find. Federal and Winchester are still made, but harder to find than Remington or Sellier & Bellot. Fiocchi, MagTech, and PPU are foreign rounds that are also common for 32 S&W Long.