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09-13-2020, 08:14 PM
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S&W .32 Long revolver info needed
I have in my possession a S&W .32 Long six-shot revolver. It does not have a model number anywhere on the revolver, at least that I can see. Number locations are as follows: bottom of frame between grips - 571620; underside of barrel - N 571620; inside of frame next to yoke - W 29273; inside of yoke - 29273; left side of barrel - "Smith & Wesson," with stylized ampersand between the words; right side of barrel - "32 Long Cartridge," with stylized brackets on either end of designation. Does anyone know the specific model of this revolver?
The former owner now long deceased was one of the engineers at the Packard Motor Car Co. who modified the Rolls Royce Merlin engine to fit the Army Air Force's A-36 Apache dive bomber - converting the aircraft into the better-known world-beating P-51B Mustang. I'd like to know something about this revolver, he was already dead when my aunt, who knew him, gave the weapon to me. Apparently he gave it to her knowing his end was near. I'm not sure of the age of the revolver and chose this forum at random thinking it was likely given his age he may have acquired it sometime in the 1950s - but I may be wrong. This is one way of finding out. Thanks in advance!
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09-13-2020, 08:28 PM
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That serial number puts it into the post WWII period. If it has a square butt, it would be a Regulation Police .32. Round butt would make it. .32 Hand Ejector. In 1957, they were given model numbers, 31 and 30. Since it is not model number marked, it must be before 1957ish.
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09-13-2020, 09:09 PM
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Welcome aboard from ol' Wyo.
I have .32 Hand Ejector, round butt, serial number 637539 and it
shipped on June 1, 1956, so yours likely shipped before that.
Building on NovaJoe's info, here are photos of my .32 HE and
my '58 shipped Model 31 (.32 Regulation Police).
They're dandies. My grandmother taught me, at age 7, to shoot
her Model 31.
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Last edited by two-bit cowboy; 09-14-2020 at 09:40 AM.
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09-13-2020, 09:24 PM
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Have you taken the grips off yet? With that serial number, it probably is an early coil spring variant, but again with S&W "never say never" and it might be a late leaf spring model. I hope Hondo44 comes on soon and gives you the full story on it. BTW, this late with factory nickel (as can be determined by the N under the barrel) is a little less common. The 571620 number is the serial number and the other number is an assembly number to keep parts together after "soft fitting." After it left the factory it ceased to have meaning except perhaps to tell whether there has been some parts swapping... or in your gun's case not!
Pictures would be nice (we love pictures here) and a barrel measurement (from the cylinder face to the muzzle) would be questions some of us would ask.
Regards,
Froggie
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09-13-2020, 09:27 PM
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The closest SN I have to yours on my list is 586848 which shipped in 2/53. Post-WWII production began at SN 536685. Yours is very likely from 1951-52. At that time is was called simply the ".32 Hand Ejector." Model numbering did not begin until the late 1950s. Is it Nickel plated, as the N prefix to the SN on the barrel suggests?
Last edited by DWalt; 09-13-2020 at 09:37 PM.
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09-13-2020, 10:17 PM
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Hi guys, and thanks for getting back so quickly. Answers to some of the questions:
Yes, it's nickel-plated.
I get 3&1/4 inches in barrel length using the criteria you outlined for me.
And yes, the revolver has a rounded butt. Sorry, my mistake.
Are parts interchangeable between the '31 and '30?
Last edited by FightinTitan; 09-13-2020 at 10:32 PM.
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09-13-2020, 10:30 PM
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Here is #596038 that shipped in January of 1951. Correct picture this time.. Thanks, Jim
32 HE 2 inch.jpg
20180214_115405.jpg
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09-13-2020, 10:31 PM
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Quote:
yes, the revolver has a square butt
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So, it is a postwar .32 Regulation Police.
A 3 1/4" barrel would be correct; one of the standard lengths at that time.
The matching serial number on the barrel flat would have the N in front of it to indicate the factory nickel finish. It isn't part of the serial number. The serial number should also be on the underside of the extractor star, the rear face of the cylinder and the rear edge of the yoke. Most of those went away in the mid-1950s, before model numbers were used.
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09-13-2020, 10:47 PM
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Those 3"+ Hand Ejectors are great shooters. Don't try to hot rod it. Until
S&W switched to the J frame with the Model 30-1 and 31-1, they weren't what you want to load up to magnum velocities.
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09-13-2020, 11:03 PM
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Can you shoot .38short ?in a gun chambered for .38 long
Does anyone know if you can shoot .38 short in an old gun chambered for . 38 long?
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09-14-2020, 12:03 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Drink2full
Does anyone know if you can shoot .38 short in an old gun chambered for . 38 long?
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Welcome to the Forum.
You need to start your own thread, rather than piggyback on this one, since the topic is different.
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09-14-2020, 12:27 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Drink2full
Does anyone know if you can shoot .38 short in an old gun chambered for . 38 long?
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Please do what Gil suggested; post your question in a new thread.
BUT, you might want to clarify what you mean. .38 Short and .38 Long are Colt's cartridges. Are you actually referring to .38 S&W and .38 S&W Special ammunition? Is the gun at issue a Colt's or a Smith & Wesson? Big difference.
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09-14-2020, 10:02 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by two-bit cowboy
Welcome aboard from ol' Wyo.
I have .32 Hand Ejector, round butt, serial number 637539 and it
shipped on June 1, 1956, so yours likely shipped before that.
Building on NovaJoe's info, here are photos of my .32 HE and
my '58 shipped Model 31 (.32 Regulation Police).
They're dandies. My grandmother taught me, at age 7, to shoot
her Model 31.
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Nice Cowboy. I really like the hammer/trigger on those. How common/uncommon is that?
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09-14-2020, 10:29 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Retired W4
Nice Cowboy. I really like the hammer/trigger on those. How common/uncommon is that?
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I'm guessing, but I'm pretty sure the hammer and trigger were added later. I have installed wide target triggers, both grooved and smooth, into several I/J frames.
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09-14-2020, 04:31 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FightinTitan
Hi guys, and thanks for getting back so quickly. Answers to some of the questions:
Welcome to the forum.
Yes, it's nickel-plated.
I get 3&1/4 inches in barrel length using the criteria you outlined for me.
And yes, the revolver has a rounded butt. Sorry, my mistake.
Are parts interchangeable between the '31 and '30?
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Your #571620 .32 Hand Ejector is what's known as an "Improved I Frame" by collectors who classify the several evolutionary changes during the 1950s. That means it has the coil mainspring change from the old flat leaf main spring (seen with the grips removed).
With the 3 1/4" barrel of yours it's an "Improved I frame - 1st Variation" which means it has a 1/2 round front sight. The 2nd Variation would have a 3" barrel with a rib and ramp front sight.
From my database of serial #s with confirmed shipping dates, it was very likely shipped between Dec 1951 thru Jan 1952. However, there are examples that were held in inventory and shipped as late as 1957.
Yes the Models 30 and 31 have completely interchangeable parts except for the grips.
These are known as Dingbats and can resemble Iron Crosses: "The right side of barrel - "32 Long Cartridge," with stylized brackets on either end of designation."
You'll enjoy the accuracy and comfort of shooting this little classic S&W.
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Last edited by Hondo44; 09-14-2020 at 04:37 PM.
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09-14-2020, 04:50 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by raljr1
Here is #596038 that shipped in January of 1951.
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Robert,
That may not be the photo you intended to post with that text; the serial # and shipping date are relative to each other, but the gun is about 20 years newer.
#596038 would be an Improved I frame. The gun is a post 1968 J frame.
Or could the serial # have been misread?
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Last edited by Hondo44; 09-14-2020 at 04:59 PM.
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09-14-2020, 05:45 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hondo44
Robert,
That may not be the photo you intended to post with that text; the serial # and shipping date are relative to each other, but the gun is about 20 years newer.
#596038 would be an Improved I frame. The gun is a post 1968 J frame.
Or could the serial # have been misread?
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Thank you, Jim....you are correct. I changed the photo.....
32 HE 2 inch.jpg
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09-14-2020, 06:19 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by raljr1
Thank you, Jim....you are correct. I changed the photo.....
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Oh yeah, a beautiful Improved I frame - 1st Variation!
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09-14-2020, 06:32 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by raljr1
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Aha, The photo is on the car seat. Haven't gotten up the courage to let the "little lady" know that you bought another gun, eh?
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09-14-2020, 06:36 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sistema1927
Aha, The photo is on the car seat. Haven't gotten up the courage to let the "little lady" know that you bought another gun, eh?
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Oh, that's just excitement when i get another one....she knows about all of them... says they all look the same and doesn't care.
Robert
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09-14-2020, 09:03 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by raljr1
Oh, that's just excitement when i get another one....she knows about all of them... says they all look the same and doesn't care.
Robert
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I have some worth thousands and some worth hundreds. I get the same reaction.
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09-14-2020, 10:01 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by reccpd101
Those 3"+ Hand Ejectors are great shooters. Don't try to hot rod it. Until
S&W switched to the J frame with the Model 30-1 and 31-1, they weren't what you want to load up to magnum velocities.
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I recently picked up a "circa 1918" I-frame .32 Regulation Police at a LGS. It cleaned up nicely, nice trigger, can't wait to shoot it.
I like my modern semi's, but there's just something about handling a 100 year old gun that still looks good and functions well.
Pretty sure the grips and pretty nickel finish are original. But now I think maybe I need a blued Model 30/31 to pair her up with.
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09-14-2020, 10:44 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MrG5122
I have some worth thousands and some worth hundreds. I get the same reaction.
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Although I am not sure she knows about my Registered Magnum....
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09-15-2020, 12:11 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by B_Still
I recently picked up a "circa 1918" I-frame .32 Regulation Police at a LGS. It cleaned up nicely, nice trigger, can't wait to shoot it.
I like my modern semi's, but there's just something about handling a 100 year old gun that still looks good and functions well.
Pretty sure the grips and pretty nickel finish are original. But now I think maybe I need a blued Model 30/31 to pair her up with.
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Swing the cylinder open and look at the serial number that is stamped under the barrel. Blued revolvers have a "B" stamp in front of the SN. The lack of the "B" indicates that the revolver shipped from S&W with a nickel finish.
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09-15-2020, 06:37 AM
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Since we like photos and are talking about the 32 Hand Ejector Model, here is my “little” revolver. 32HE, with a 3 1/4” barrel, blued finish and gutta percha (?) stocks.
The original stocks are fragile so I am looking for sturdier replacements. The Sunday holster is a copy of that which came from the saddlers on the King Ranch.
Kevin
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09-15-2020, 11:54 PM
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32s...ya can't have just one......
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Last edited by raljr1; 09-15-2020 at 11:56 PM.
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09-16-2020, 05:54 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by B_Still
I recently picked up a "circa 1918" I-frame .32 Regulation Police at a LGS. It cleaned up nicely, nice trigger, can't wait to shoot it.
I like my modern semi's, but there's just something about handling a 100 year old gun that still looks good and functions well.
Pretty sure the grips and pretty nickel finish are original. But now I think maybe I need a blued Model 30/31 to pair her up with.
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Your photo looks to be an exact copy of mine except the grips on your firearm appear to be square butt vice rounded butt, which mine have. Otherwise looks identical.
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09-16-2020, 06:56 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FightinTitan
Your photo looks to be an exact copy of mine except the grips on your firearm appear to be square butt vice rounded butt, which mine have. Otherwise looks identical.
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Yes, that's what makes yours a 32 Hand Ejector and his a 32 Regulation Police, (hand ejector). His grip frame is also cut different however:
Photo by handejector
Photo by handejector
Photo by handejector
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