A relative who knows I am a gun nut gave me this just recently. The old holster has a military look to me. The revolver is in great condition. It has 32 long on the barrel. The serial # is 316xxx and it has a screw at the top of the trigger guard in front. It had been hidden away for many moons.

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I'm not an expert, but I have a very similar gun that belonged to my maternal grandfather. Yours appears to be a 32 Hand Ejector, Third Model. If so, it was made sometime between 1911 and 1942. Mine is the immediate predecessor, the Model of 1903 Fifth Change. Congratulations on your gun.

A nice gift!

The five screw .32 Hand Ejector (yours is a Third Model) had this screw configuration from 1903 until after WWII.

Here is one of mine that shipped in March, 1916.


The Model of 1903 is fun to shoot, but I have some difficulty in shooting them well because of the size of the grip frame. It is difficult for me to get my trigger finger properly positioned for a straight-back squeeze.

I do better with I frames that have the two-screw target stocks, like this .22/32 Target.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! Your gun likely shipped in 1919 or 1920. It is about 4000 units before heat treating the cylinder began in 1920 at SN 321000. In case no one has told you, don't store it in the holster as that can lead to rusting. The holster appears to be period correct although it probably isn't military. That flap-over design was quite popular at the time. It could use some Blackrock Leather N Rich to restore it a bit.

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

On my list is 3181xx which shipped in 7/20 and yours would probably be from close to that time. The S&W logo stamp on the frame resumed sometime in 1920 after being absent during the WWI years. It also does not have the MADE IN U.S.A. frame stamp which began in 1922.

U.S. Navy used a holster like that for shore patrol circa WWII -

I have a black version of that holster that came with my. 455 hand ejector, second model.

Guy

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

What a GREAT gift! That holster needs some TLC--QUICK Wish I had it. I doubt thecylinder is heat treated so dont hot rod it. CONGRATS!!!!

Thanks to all for the information. To me, these older guns have an elegance about them that the newer ones don't. Don't misunderstand, I love them all no matter their birth date!

Nice little 32 and holster. On the holster, it looks solid and appears to have good stitching. Many people think that it should be shiny and apply some leather treatment to it right away. Be careful that if you do put something on the leather, it does not contain any petroleum distillates which will make it shiny but will actually destroy the leather over time.
A lanolin based conditioner will be your best bet if you have to put anything at all on it.

Great find congrats!!

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