Well, that's what it's labeled as anyway, and I know very little about them, other than liking them.

I have to apologize for not having pictures, it was a lunch break stop at my LGS & my phone was left on my desk buried in paperwork. It has a 6" barrel and is in an old clam shell type box, with some tools that probably didn't come with it.

It is a shooter grade with some freckles and such that I could see through the glass. Didn't fondle it due to time restraints and they were pretty busy.

I need a 32-20 (or I think I do) to go with a Marlin 1894 in that caliber. Is the $599 asking price about right for the model? I really know very little about these old beauties, but I'm going to dig my SCSW out and carry it to bed shortly.

Hope to get pictures tomorrow, or put it on lay-away. Please tell me what you know and what to look for. I know how to inspect a revolver, just don't know if it's a good deal or not.

Thanks!

Well, obviously pictures would be a big help!

Six bills seems a bit steep for a shooter grade revolver, even one in that less common caliber. Decent .32-20 Hand Ejectors are not all that hard to find.

As for what to look for, here are a few thoughts.

First, check for an adjustable rear sight. That is a potential game changer on the price.

Second, there are three distinct eras that denote the evolution of this model. 1) from 1899 to c. 1914 the barrel marking is 32 Winchester CTG; 2) from c. 1914 to 1922, the marking is 32 W.C.F. CTG; and 3) from 1922 until the end of production in c. 1929, the barrel is marked 32-20 CTG. So that alone can help you get a sense for the revolver's age.

If the barrel is actually 6", then the gun is no earlier than about 1910. Prior to that year, the long barrel offering was 6 1/2".

As you know, condition counts for a lot. Also, correct stocks can be a factor. Each of the three decades of production on this model had distinct walnut stocks. No medallion at first, then a dished gold medallion, and then no medallion again in the 1920s. (Note: some of the 1920s production guns shipped in the 1930s and some of those may have shipped with 1930s medallion stocks. So, potentially there are four styles of walnut that could be on a .32-20.)

On the round butt examples, black hard rubber is most common, but walnut stocks do exist for the round butt guns in all three decades.

My final comment is that this revolver is in no way a "pre-model 10." For one thing, it is far too old to be called that. For another, the Model 10 was never chambered for the .32 Winchester cartridge.

I hope this rather long-winded answer is helpful.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Good information! I'll be taking a tape measure too! I know it had walnut stocks, and recall thinking the one side I saw looked good, thinking there was a medallion. I'm definitely taking my phone. Does the box hold any value?

I know, need pictures. Dang it. I'm getting to be a forgetful old fart.

Thanks!

Yes, if it is the correct box for that gun. How much will depend on the condition.

Be sure to note the serial number on the butt. Shipment of these was sporadic, especially in the 1920s, but the number can still help determine the gun's approximate position in "birth order."

Stocks in the teen years looked like this:


1910 and earlier looked like this:


And these are from the 1920s:

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

I did just the opposite a while back I have three 32-20 S&W I found a Marlin 1894 in 32-20 a while back what a joy to shoot.

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Randy

The S&W revolvers in .32-20 are a joy to shoot. I have one with fixed sights and one with target sights. The fixed sights revolver is virtually mint, and I don't shoot it, but the target revolver is a great shooter.

The companion to mine is a Winchester Model 92. But what you will find is that you really need separate loads for the revolver and the rifle. It's something of a myth that they "shoot the same ammo." Yeah, they will shoot the same ammo, but they have drastically different requirements.

I posted some photos of my combination several years ago here: A Couple of .32-20s at the Range Today





You won't regret buying that revolver, and if you walk away it will haunt you.

Curl

Looking forward to seeing pics of the revolver you've found. Like solving a mystery.

Was the clam shell box wooden?
And what were the tools ?
Both those items have pretty good value.

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Paul
S&WCA #2726

By the examples I own and have seen, the transition in caliber stampings on this model in 32 Winchester seem to be all over the board. I have 32 W.C.F.s, one from late 1924 and another from late 1925. With the small numbers sold it was most likely not a fast change. It seems this caliber was never all that popular. From 1920 to 1925, there were 30,000 32-20 sold, while the same time-frame there were 175,000 38 Special 4th Change revolvers sold. Similar numbers from 1925 to 1930, with only 15,000 32-20s sold and 115,000 38s sold.

The OP states clamshell (patent) box and if original, puts the gun at the end of the 1920s or later if it is original pasteboard box.

For the OP, here is what the factory called a clam-shell box.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

I'll disagree slightly. 32/20s with really good bores are not common. The vast majority of their bores will be pitted to some degree. I've been ready to jump all over some really decent looking guns in the past, only to cool off quickly when I looked at the bore!


As I've said before, I think the abundance of remaining ammo with black powder, corrosive primers, and often cupro-nickel jackets pitted a lot of bores that would look much better today if they had seen only lead bullets and smokeless powder.
If you find a 32/20 with a decent bore, buy it if the price is even close to reasonable.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

I go through a good many 32/20s they were popular around here in the day. I find the bore condition usually matches exterior finish. $600 is mighty steep for shooter grade. Now Target Model is different story $1k or better just to open reguardless of condition.

IMO way too high. I think $300 for a solid shooter. Six bills would be a near collector quality piece.

Check the barrel. A large number of 32-20s are observed with bulged barrels.

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No life story has happy end.

Is this the one you are looking at?

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Jack

I'm not sure about this comment of yours:

"If the barrel is actually 6", then the gun is no earlier than about 1910."

The 32-20 and the 38 are identical guns, with the exception of caliber, and both were offered in standard barrel lengths of 4, 5, and 6 1/2 inches, with 6" available on special order. The difference between the two guns was only the chambering.

I have in my collection of .38 1899's several 6" revolvers, in blue and nickel, and fixed sight and target sight configurations.

Nice to see you are still writing!

Regards, Mike Priwer

I believe so, but the price was different yesterday, or the day before, sometime earlier this week. Time is flying by in this confused world. Haven't had a chance to get out yet today.

Edit: thanks old tanker! I see where you are now and it must be the same. Did you take this photo some time back? I recall one listed at that number a while back, but at the $799 I didn't give it much of a look at all, just a glance. I was wondering if perhaps they got a new one in, thus reflecting the lower price? Or if they lowered it to move it.

Thanks again!

Hi Mike!

That is interesting. I suppose I should have known 6" barrels were available on special order. Just didn't think about it. I know that up to c. 1910 the standard length was 6 1/2" and that's all I was thinking about. Thanks for the correction.

Thanks. I assume you are referring to writing here on the Forum. I'm retired and haven't published anything professionally for several years. I am working on a couple books though - they tell me that's what "retired" writers do; write the books they didn't have time for when they were working.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

It's been a while. They called my attention to it some time ago as they know I am fond of .32-20s. I believe the case is period to the gun while the accessories are not. If it's not there when you go look, the lower price pushed me off the fence.

Here are some additional details:
Barrel is six inches, marked "SMITH & WESSON" on the left side and "32-20 CTG" on the right.
The S&W trade mark is on the left side and "MADE IN U.S.A." is on the right, just forward of the sideplate.
It has late style non-medallion grips.
The serial number is 112644

Here's my reblued 6.5" 32-20 #46985 that I got from a big online dealer a couple years back for $249. Came with later stocks.

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No life story has happy end.

That’s the thing about this forum— almost every day I find out there’s something else I can’t live without. Today it’s a .32-20 Target.

So,.....old tanker, is it still there, or does it reside with you in Tank Central?

My workload picked up enough that I couldn't get away, today. But if she's still there, I'll go see if she whispers to me tomorrow. LOL! I don't even know how it balances, but my other 6" Ks & Ns set it my hand just right.

I haven't told the Marlin yet, no sense in breaking another heart if it's not available.

I do appreciate all of the info & the help. I've learned some things to look for. Thanks everyone! Such smart folks here, that if you don't learn something everyday, your just not paying attention closely enough.

It's found a bunk at the Hardin County Home for Unwed Revolvers. I'd been eyeing for several months but thought it was priced too high before.

Here are some pictures. The case is interesting, in spots where the flocking is bare or the paint is chipped, it appears to be molded from a dark brown phenolic plastic, perhaps Bakelite. The S&W intertwined logo is molded into te lid. The bottom shows area where it is hollowed. It has a pair of brass colored hinges and a simple sliding latch to hold closed.

The story from the consignee is that it is a "salesman's sample case." Regardless, I've not seen one like it before. The cleaning rod, screwdriver and brush look modern, but look nice enough in the case.

The serial number is 112644 and a good stablemate to the 4 inch nickel serial 115128

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Are you saying that it's gone now? No need to track over there to see about something no longer available? Just too tired I suppose but I couldn't tell by your reply old tanker.

Yes, it is gone. It is here now to keep this one company.

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That case has shown up before and has been identified, but I just can't remember what it was used for? I think it was an injected molded Phenolic resin case and the interior was a high density polyurethane solid molded insert. The interior was obviously designed for a specific revolver and I think it looks like a post-WWII N frame. The hammer outline appears to be from a target or High Speed hammer. It was not made for your model revolver, but I do not recall it being a salesman's sample, but cannot come up with an answer right now, maybe someone will comment, since I know there are others out there. As little as 5 years ago, they were showing up on ebay from time to time and sold from ridiculously low prices to ridiculously high prices. I recall from under $100 to $500 range with no particular rhyme or reason.

That is a very nice 32-20 that can be dated from 1925 to 1927, with the caveat that any single gun can vary from the norm by another year or so. I have a 32 W.C.F target that shipped in August 1924 and serial number 110,XXX. Of course on the other end is the fact that the order to change the mushroom knob was done in 1927.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Amusing to include a sight adjustment tool with a fixed sight gun.

I'm sure I'll find another, at a better price. Thanks everyone for your help in try to identify it.

Maybe next time I won't lose it to a "helper".

They have what looks like a World War II Stevens M520-30 trench gun hanging on the wall between the AKs and the Henry rifles.

I'm confused about your explanation about 6" and 6-1/2" barrel lengths. The 6-1/2'' was a standard length early in the K frame hand ejectors. My price lists from 1900 into the teens show a 6-1/2" but no 6". By the 1925 catalog, the 6" is shown, but no 6-1/2". N&J, says the 6-1/2" was dropped by the 1905-3rd, but we know they kept using 6-1/2" barrels. I own a 1905-3rd with a 6-1/2".
I am skeptical that 6" would be available on special order when the 6-1/2 " was standard because that would require another forging die.






Those are often called a "Salesman's Sample Case", but that is not what they were. They were made after WW II for the new K Masterpiece guns. Roy believes the intention was to ship all of the new Masterpieces- K-22, K-32, K-38 in those cases, but the idea was quickly abandoned and only one batch of unknown size was manufactured. They later got out of the Factory via an unknown route. Judging by the number I've seen over the years, there were probably a few hundred made. Some appear to be a very dark metallic blue, others appear to be black.
They are most likely made of a material similar to a very dense form of masonite. They are not plastic. They are probably worth $200 on today's market. I found them easy to sell for $100-125 more than a decade ago.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

The companion rifles here are a Marlin 27S and Remington Model 25, both from around the mid-Twenties. Like you said, .32-20s are a joy to shoot and the slick little Remington makes just a dandy walking around rifle.

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	Remington 25.jpg (118.9 KB, 55 views)

[QUOTE=handejector;140731991...Those are often called a "Salesman's Sample Case", but that is not what they were. They were made after WW II for the new K Masterpiece guns. Roy believes the intention was to ship all of the new Masterpieces- K-22, K-32, K-38 in those cases, but the idea was quickly abandoned and only one batch of unknown size was manufactured. They later got out of the Factory via an unknown route. Judging by the number I've seen over the years, there were probably a few hundred made. Some appear to be a very dark metallic blue, others appear to be black.
They are most likely made of a material similar to a very dense form of masonite. They are not plastic. They are probably worth $200 on today's market. I found them easy to sell for $100-125 more than a decade ago.[/QUOTE]

I did some poking around the forum and found more info http://smith-wessonforum.com/138842172-post25.html

The one that came with this revolver is a very dark metallic blue, almost black. In the spots where the paint is chipped it looks an awful lot like the old brown mess hall tray in appearance and texture. What was that phenolic stuff called? Melamine, Melmac, Bakelite?

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My .32-20 M&P, serial # in the mid-108,000 range shipped on 06/22/1922. It has a 5" barrel and the caliber marking is .32 W.C.F. CTG.
The bore is perfect by the way, no pitting and no bulge.

I've got an early Winchester single shot lever action rifle in 32-20. The original barrel is marked 32 WCF. The original barrel was severely worn and I had it relined. Nice shooting pre 1900,s rifle. I've always been interested in finding a matching revolver. The story on the rifle purchased new by my great-great Grand Father, He supposed to have purchased the rifle and reloading tools, a revolver in the same caliber. I don't know where the pistol has gone. The rifle has been passed down to the oldest Grand Son. I was unaware of the different 32-20 loads? What do I need to know about finding any loaded for pistol use?

Yes, I would be a little "steamed" in that situation! Next time don't mention the price they are asking, just ask what a fair price would be for the gun...

By the way, no big surprise, but the Santa Clara County California D.A. declared gun stores are a non essential business and shall be closed during the pandemic shelter-in-place. So no ammo sales, no shopping for old revolvers/rifles!
Stay safe everyone, wear a mask when you go out...

I am always careful when asking for info on a potential buy, yes there is always a chance someone will pick up on the location, and buy it out from under you that's the chance you take when asking for help.

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Randy