I am seriously considering buying a nickel .32 S&W Long from a friend. The piece has a 3.25? inch barrel and a serial number 6730XX. There are three screws on the right side of the frame and a flat cylinder latch release. Its bore and six chambers are super bright and, though there's a couple of rust spots under the grips, the revolver is very clean. Anyone know for sure what I'm looking at, what it may be worth and when it was made?

Is this an I Frame? If so, are J Frame grips and adapters interchangeable with this piece?

What is the difference in the more modern Models 30 and 31?

Thanks, CW3RDL

Model 30 is a round butt (.32 Hand Ejector). Model 31 is square (.32 Regulation Police).
Pictures?
Going from memory, that is a pre-WW2 gun. It would be an I frame. The J frame didn't exist until the 1950s.

I take that back. That SN puts it early post-WW2. Still most likely an I frame.

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Chris
SWCA #2243 SWHF #292

It's a 32 Hand Ejector Model of 1953 New I frame, the last iteration of the I frame design. The barrel is 3".

You're correct, it's a Pre model 30 if it has a rd butt, most likely shipped in the first half of 1958 just before they were stamped Model 30. If it has a sq butt, it's a 32 Regulation Police, Pre model 31.

No difference from the Models 30 and 31, but the Models 30-1 and 31-1 are made on the J frame beginning Jan 1961.

In 1966 the standard thumb piece replaced the flat latch and in 1968 the large diamond around the grip screw was deleted.

If the nickel finish is original, it's worth in the $500 ball park w/o box and tools. But if the hammer and trigger are not color cased hardened, the nickel plating is not original.


There are two I frame and two J frame grip sizes. I and J frames and stocks are the same size for the same vintage.

1. Before 1953 and with 5 or more screws (back to 1896 for the I frame), the I and J frames and stocks are the same size.

'Mini' diamond Magnas were used on I and J frames after the demise of the 'rd top' Service grips of pre war style.

Pre war I, post war I, and Improved I grip frames (and Single Shots), and the Baby J grip frame up to 1953 are the same size and interchangeable, whether ‘mini’ Magnas or the 'rd top' Service grips of pre war style.

2. The Models of 1953 New I frame and New J frame grip frames and stocks to the present with 4 or less screws (until the demise of the NEW I frame Jan 1961) are also the same size, both 1/8" longer than the pre 1953 RB stocks.

The 1953 I/J square butt grip frame never had square corners like K/N frames; they have very rounded corners.

Much more detail here in the commentaries:
THE POST WAR I FRAMES EVOLUTION
http://smith-wessonforum.com/blog.php?u=134353

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Jim
S&WCA #819

6743xx shipped in 8/58. Fairly close to yours.

Welcome aboard from Wyoming.

Pre-model 30 637539 shipped on June 1, 1956. Model 31 689371 shipped in Aug 1958.

Based on these two samples it's hard to say when yours shipped.

A letter would tell you, but you have to decide if the $75 is worth the money.

Cheers

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

Jim, Chris, DWalt and Bob, Thanks for answering all those questions. It does have case hardened trigger and hammer and a round butt. I measured the barrel with my tape measure last night; you are correct that it has a 3" barrel. The repository of knowledge in the members of this forum is amazing. It is great to have so many willing to share their knowledge with newcomers like me. Regards, Ralph

Ralph,

By the way, thank you for your US Army service and your Law Enforcement service!

If you join the S&WCA (S&W Collectors Association) it's less than a letter and you can call for shipping dates for as many guns as you need.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Mine says hello:

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Now go make God proud...

Jim,

After 26 years as a peace officer and 37 years, 9 months in the Army, USAR and Guard, I only got a pulled muscle and a light concussion as a paratrooper; still have all my fingers and toes, most of my brain....and a lot of good friends and stories. I wouldn't trade the experience for any amount of money. The "thanks" I get from people makes it worth some physical misery and early mornings "doing more work by 9 A.M. than most people do all day"...as the old recruiting video said.

Can I join by the S&W Collectors Association online? If so, do you have an email/online address by which to contact the S&WCA. I'm sold.

Regards,

Ralph

Ralph,

Here's the online website:

Smith & Wesson Collectors Association

Jim

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Jim
S&WCA #819