|
|
09-21-2020, 06:50 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Western Pa, Eastern Ohio
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Liked 100 Times in 16 Posts
|
|
Just wanted to show off my newwest baby, 32 S&W
I haven't even had a chance to look up info on it. I'm excited!
|
The Following 46 Users Like Post:
|
88IROC, bigmtnman, CZU, D Brown, daddio202, DCWilson, delta-419, desi2358, glowe, gmarshall99, H Richard, Hondo44, Hunter Keith, J. R. WEEMS, j38, JayCeeNC, jbtrucker, JH1951, JohnRippert, Kansasgunner, krsmith58, kscharlie, leonardocarrillo, Luvmine, ME94, Moo Moo, Mr. Wonderful, mrcvs, mtgianni, Muley Gil, Old cop, OLDSTER, Oracle, pawncop, PeteC, quinn, R.J. in Phoenix, raljr1, rjm6120, SFIDEC, Sistema1927, StrawHat, turnerriver, Tytan01, usmc2427765, Wiregrassguy |
09-21-2020, 06:57 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: South Texas & San Antonio
Posts: 33,594
Likes: 239
Liked 29,104 Times in 14,072 Posts
|
|
Yours probably shipped in the early to mid-1952 period. Its price was about $60 at that time. It's the Regulation Police model.
|
09-21-2020, 07:08 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Western Pa, Eastern Ohio
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Liked 100 Times in 16 Posts
|
|
So, in collectors terms, this is a "pre model 30"...correct? I read a post about one that looked very similiar to this & one of the commentors stated that this era had "improved heat treat, coil spring design & to consider this to be a modern gun", if that is true, could anybody elaborate about the heat treat? it's kinda cute, it looks like a shrunken M&P Service Revolver.
|
09-21-2020, 07:10 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: South Texas & San Antonio
Posts: 33,594
Likes: 239
Liked 29,104 Times in 14,072 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by mp5guy
So, in collectors terms, this is a "pre model 30"...correct? I read a post about one that looked very similiar to this & one of the commentors stated that this era had "improved heat treat, coil spring design & to consider this to be a modern gun", if that is true, could anybody elaborate about the heat treat? it's kinda cute, it looks like a shrunken M&P Service Revolver.
|
No, it is a Regulation Police model, not a pre-30. A pre-30 is cataloged as the ".32 Hand Ejector." Heat treating of the cylinder began back after WWI. Not really necessary for a .32. If it has the coil spring it's an "Improved I-frame." If anything, yours would be a pre-Model 31, but calling it a pre-31 isn't very common.
Last edited by DWalt; 09-21-2020 at 07:25 PM.
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
09-21-2020, 07:18 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 171
Likes: 638
Liked 155 Times in 61 Posts
|
|
The .32 Regulation Police evolved into the Model 31. The difference between the Models 30 and 31 is that the 31 has a square butt - the 30 has round.
|
09-21-2020, 07:23 PM
|
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: West Central IL
Posts: 22,791
Likes: 18,498
Liked 22,386 Times in 8,267 Posts
|
|
You will also fall in love with how they shoot, mild and accurate.
__________________
H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244
|
09-21-2020, 07:48 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Western Pa, Eastern Ohio
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Liked 100 Times in 16 Posts
|
|
Actually, that is why I bought it. I have a lot of boomers & I got on a kick of the early, classic automatics which tended to 32 auto & they were so pleasant to shoot.
|
09-21-2020, 07:49 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Beautiful Eastern NC
Posts: 724
Likes: 173
Liked 1,599 Times in 448 Posts
|
|
Great small game gun to have along on a deer hunt.
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
09-21-2020, 07:50 PM
|
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: trail's end in ol' Wyo
Posts: 7,244
Likes: 17,468
Liked 18,432 Times in 5,043 Posts
|
|
I don't think I've welcomed you before.
Welcome aboard from ol' Wyo.
I deplore some collector jargon (i.e., "pre-model").
S&W never called it a pre-model. In 1952 the company didn't
know they were going to assign model numbers in 1957. Yours
is a ".32 Regulation Police."
Neat, neat revolver you have there. And the company likely
shipped it during my birth year. Yours appears to have a 4¼"
barrel -- my favorite for the .32 RP.
Great shooters. Lots of fun.
Enjoy.
__________________
Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob
|
09-21-2020, 08:20 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Central VA
Posts: 8,648
Likes: 1,567
Liked 9,404 Times in 4,215 Posts
|
|
They started making the grandfather of that gun prior to WW I and with a couple of brief breaks for wars built it pretty much continuously on up to the modern era. The main changes were from leaf to coil mainspring and from a modified set of “stocks” that covered up a modified round grip frame to a true square grip frame. Somebody at S&W figured it out that they had a good thing!
Lately there’s been a real rise in interest (and demand and price) in these baby versions of the S&W revolvers. Congratulations and welcome aboard.
Froggie
|
09-21-2020, 08:40 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: South Texas & San Antonio
Posts: 33,594
Likes: 239
Liked 29,104 Times in 14,072 Posts
|
|
The whole "pre-Model XX" is pure collector speak as S&W never used it. And some like me don't use it either. Best to call it what the manufacturer called it when it was made, in your case, a ".32 Regulation Police."
There was also a Regulation Police chambered for the .38 S&W cartridge, and it became the Model 33. Generally, model numbering didn't begin until 1958, but I am not sure when the new nomenclature got to the RPs, probably later than 1958.
Last edited by DWalt; 09-21-2020 at 08:44 PM.
|
09-21-2020, 09:12 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Western Pa, Eastern Ohio
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Liked 100 Times in 16 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by DWalt
The whole "pre-Model XX" is pure collector speak as S&W never used it. And some like me don't use it either. Best to call it what the manufacturer called it when it was made, in your case, a ".32 Regulation Police."
There was also a Regulation Police chambered for the .38 S&W cartridge, and it became the Model 33. Generally, model numbering didn't begin until 1958, but I am not sure when the new nomenclature got to the RPs, probably later than 1958.
|
I would like to get a Regulation Police in a 38 S&W with around a 4" Barrel, I already have a nice Terrier. They seem a little more scarce.
|
09-21-2020, 11:10 PM
|
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: "Land of Disenchantment"
Posts: 3,405
Likes: 3,966
Liked 9,164 Times in 2,519 Posts
|
|
Is it round butt or square butt?
If round it is a .32 Hand Ejector. (later known as the Model 30)
If square it is a .32 Regulation Police. (later known as the Model 31)
I just purchased a 4" Model 31-1, c. 1969. I can't believe just how good it feels in the hand.
__________________
Only a cold warrior
|
09-22-2020, 02:22 AM
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: California
Posts: 19,247
Likes: 11,901
Liked 20,588 Times in 8,580 Posts
|
|
Congrats, that's a fine piece in fine condition!
The Regulation Police models have a round rebated back strap grip frame with sq butt extended stocks.
Yours is an Improved I frame 1st variation (with round front sight). When the 2nd variation Improved I frame was introduced with a ramp front sight and barrel rib the barrel was standardized at 4", the same as the .38 RP was since it's introduction in 1917.
By ~1920 the order for heat treating all cyls was implemented. But by 1945 all cyls except Magnums were ordered to no longer be heat treated. The new steel S&W began using in 1945 negated the need for heat treating.
The round top Service style sq butt stocks were used on the Reg Pol until the 1953 Model NEW I frame.
__________________
Jim
S&WCA #819
Last edited by Hondo44; 09-24-2020 at 09:40 AM.
|
The Following 3 Users Like Post:
|
|
09-23-2020, 04:52 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Western Pa, Eastern Ohio
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Liked 100 Times in 16 Posts
|
|
Thank you guys, I appreciate the education!
|
09-24-2020, 12:48 AM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 13,995
Likes: 5,005
Liked 7,699 Times in 2,623 Posts
|
|
In the "never completely trust rigid specifications" department, I'll just mention that I have two early post-war 4" .38 RP specimens with round butt frames. (Serials 54804 and 58470.) As expected, they say "Regulation Police" on the barrel -- only the .38 RPs got this marking. They basically look like Terriers with four-inch barrels. Both were shipped in July 1951.
Both letter as .38 RPs despite the round butt. This variety of RP is not often seen.
__________________
David Wilson
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
09-24-2020, 08:03 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Western Pa, Eastern Ohio
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Liked 100 Times in 16 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by DCWilson
In the "never completely trust rigid specifications" department, I'll just mention that I have two early post-war 4" .38 RP specimens with round butt frames. (Serials 54804 and 58470.) As expected, they say "Regulation Police" on the barrel -- only the .38 RPs got this marking. They basically look like Terriers with four-inch barrels. Both were shipped in July 1951.
Both letter as .38 RPs despite the round butt. This variety of RP is not often seen.
|
They sound pretty dandy!
|
09-26-2020, 05:10 PM
|
|
Absent Comrade
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Craig, Montana
Posts: 3,093
Likes: 363
Liked 2,346 Times in 893 Posts
|
|
That model/configuration, was THE first handgun I ever shot. I was eight or nine. It was my newly sworn in Uncles issue off duty gun. I took a dozen of the empties to school the next week , me and a few buddies lined them up on our desks. Until the Nun took them away from us.
I did buy one for myself but just a few years back. Thay are fun too shoot.
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
|
|
|
|