I recently bought an older S&W hand ejector, serial #158XX. Could someone please help with date of mfg. and confirm the correct caliber of ammo? I happen to think that it is chambered for .32 S&W long but have read that the weapon was also chambered for .32-20. The gun seems sound and I would like to fire it. It has what appears to be holster or pocket wear that has scrubbed the bluing from the barrel and cylinder. Any and all help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Seabee Don

should be a caliber stamp on side of barrel. 32-20 WCF?

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

Well I guess job one is to decide on the caliber, because if the weapon was chambered for both, your serial number ain't it---near as I recall anyway. So, open the cylinder, and have a look into a chamber. Do you see one ring or two----a "ring" being the typical case mouth shoulder (or any other change in the internal diameter)?

Given the better than even odds it's a 32-20 (in which case you're going to see two rings), I shall continue into this uncharted territory: #158XX suggests it's a Model of 1902 (1st change).

And if you see only one ring then there's a whole bunch of .32's----short, long, and in the middle; and I don't know diddly about any of them---hardly any of them at least.

Ralph Tremaine

Cannot find a caliber stamp on barrel anywhere. Should I just shoot the .32 S&W long?

The hand ejectors in .32 S&W long were a different frame size than those in .32-20.

If your serial number is from the butt, and there is no caliber stamped on the side of the barrel as Mike says (it would be .32 Winchester Ctg for the .32-20 at that early serial), it is more likely the .32-20 as barrel stampings on those could be inconsistent in the early years.

But blind diagnosis is iffy. A few photos of the gun and any markings would clarify things.

Thanks for the info. I'm kinda a blank slate about the older S&Ws. I only see one ring in the cylinder chambers. I could always remote fire the weapon but I hate the thought of damaging it.
Thanks again.

Don’t go overboard. The .32-20 is a significantly larger cartridge and won’t fit into a .32 S&W chamber, so you can only err in the reverse

You’d end up with bulged and split cases since the bottle-neck .32-20 is wider at the bottom than the .32S&W, but you won’t hurt anything. But it’s still better to just try out which cartridge fits the chamber; they are so different it should be obvious.

The .32 long is all that the cylinder will handle. Any idea about the date of mfg. or ship date?

Will post pics as soon as I figure out how to do so. I'm an old dude after all.

"The hand ejectors in .32 S&W Long were a different frame size than those in .32-20." (Post #5)

Actually, almost all the (pre-war) hand ejectors in .32 S&W Long were a different frame size than those in .32-20. I have one of the (admittedly few) exceptions---and a couple of 32-20's too----so the "ring" inquiry was the best I could do on short notice.

Ralph Tremaine

I believe there were a few pre-WWI .32 S&W K-frames made, I think all were target models and SNed in the .32-20 series.

If yours will chamber .32 S&W cartridges only, serial #158xx might make it a Model of 1896. If that is the case, it would be a very interesting gun. Otherwise, it could be a Model of 1903 from probably around 1904. This is why pictures are importaint.

If the #158XX came from the butt and not the yoke, It can be a 32 hand ejector Model of 1896 (1896-1903 or the next model, Model of 1903 (1903-1904). The serial # range repeated.

If the cyl opens by pulling the extractor rod knob forward, it's an 1896. If by pushing a thumb piece on the left side of frame behind the cyl, it's a 1903.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

The gun does have the serial #on the bottom of the hand grip and does have the cylinder detach on the front of the cylinder under the barrel. The bluing is appx. 70 - 75% with just a few nicks here and there. The gun is very tight and cycles the cylinder well. Any idea as to value?

Welcome to the Forum.

Sounds like a 1896.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

It's in the $400-$500 range is the best I can estimate w/o seeing it. If a 6" barrel, a bit more since they're scarcer than than the others.

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Jim
S&WCA #819