I just picked this revolver up. Need some help with model and possible year. The story is the gun belonged to this guys grandfather. He was a guard on a train that carried prisoners. It locks up tight. On the crane it reads 943. The sn is 20513x. Any help would be great.
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Your gun appears to be a .32 Hand Ejector Model of 1903 - 5th Change, manufactured from ca. 1910 to 1917 in the serial number range 102501 to +/- 263000. These guns were made on the "I" frame, which was smaller than the "J" frame and is no longer made. I have a similar .32 HE from 1950 - they're a lot of fun to shoot.

In collectors lingo your revolver is a .32 Hand Ejector Model of 1903 5th change. The 5th change serial numbers run from 102501 (1910)-263000 (1917). The crane number is just an assembly number for factory use. The serial number is the one on the bottom of the grip. I own 155812 which shipped in 1912.

Stu

Thanks for the good info.Any idea on what the market value would be on this. Ballpark idea.

I never cease to be astounded by the family heirlooms some people will sell...and the junk that they will buy. But I understand that sometimes people are hard up for money.

I'm sorry, but the slow connection speed I'm experiencing didn't allow me to see the image. They made that essential gun for a very long time, but I believe condition will be the main factor in value. I paid $425 for a .32 Hand Ejector in decent original shape a few years ago, later era than yours. They don't seem to go for huge amounts of money, but are still collectible.

You probably are aware of this, but the holster is a cut-down military 1911 holster.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Congrats on your acquisition of this fine 32 Hand Ejector. From my database your serial #20513x indicates it most likely shipped from the factory in the last quarter of 1913

32 HISTORY

The .32 Hand Ejector and its cartridge, the 32 S&W Long are both historical milestones. 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 Model 1896 (1st Model) along with its new cartridge. Production of this model extended to serial # 19,712.

Available barrel lengths were 3 ¼”, 4 ¼” and 6”. It went thru several evolutionary changes until it became the 32 HE 3rd model in 1917 when a sq butt version was introduced as the 32 Regulation Police beginning at ~ #258000 in the same serial range as the 32 HE. The more common barrel length for the RP is the 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. About ½ million were roduced before 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 in identical form except for the change to the much more fool proof post war sliding bar safety. They went thru more evolution in the 1950s, and 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 in standard loadings is perfectly safe to shoot in your 32. You’ll be happy with its accuracy and light recoil.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

A ball park figure in that condition, which is fair, is about $200. It is an interesting piece with it's holster and story.

I have serial 233045 which shipped in August of 1916, so yours likely shipped before that. In a shop around here, it'd probably be between 200-300, depending on how good the bore is.

I like the cartridge enough that I reload for it and have three revolvers to shoot them with. .32 S&W Long is fun to shoot, and a great introduction for newcomers to shooting, as it's about like shooting a .22. If you can't find any ammunition locally, Lucky Gunner and Graf's both carry some.

I would reload for it, cast bullets for it, shoot it a bunch and maybe even carry it.

This is the best most informative and to the point history of 32 HE and 32S&W long I have ever seen ,you always find new ways to impress kudos to you HONDO.

Just a reflection on these fine little revolvers. While I know .32 was a common caliber back then, It's hard to imagine anyone in LE / Military relying on such a small cartridge these days.

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Dave

Hey, if it was good enough for the NYCPD, it's good enough for me.

Thank you for your kind response.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

When Theodore Roosevelt became New York's police commissioner in the 1890s, he found that the police officers were carrying all sorts of firearms, from .32s up to .45s. He standardized and issued Colt .32 revolvers.

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!