Another .32-20 Hand Ejector

Chopper1388 · #1 10-05-2021, 01:55 PM

.32-20s seem to be a hot topic right now on this sub-forum, might as well get in on the action and post about mine. It is a .32-20 M&P, or .32-20 Hand Ejector Model of 1905 - 4th Change, if you prefer collectors' lingo (seems that it's impossible to please both groups). Serial number 730XX with a 5" barrel and fixed sights. I found a nice George Lawrence holster to fit it. The gun was the first pre-war revolver I owned; I traded a tasco custom shop scope for it back in 2018. It is used but not used up and still has some finish left. The revolver was a good learning tool as it taught me how to reload for the great WCF cartridges and started me into casting my own bullets. Now I only use jacketed bullets in my rifles and 1911.

Muley Gil · #2 10-05-2021, 02:03 PM

Has the barrel been replaced? It is wearing a later model barrel shaped ejector rod. Most have the mushroom head ejector rod.

Chopper1388 · #3 10-05-2021, 02:14 PM

The barrel does have the butt serial number stamped on the flat but also has a diamond stamped before the number. Maybe it went back to the factory? However, there is no date stamp on the grip frame.

SS336 · #4 10-05-2021, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muley Gil

Has the barrel been replaced? It is wearing a later model barrel shaped ejector rod. Most have the mushroom head ejector rod.

You have sharp eyes Muley Gill. I didn’t know they even made a .32-20 that late.

Old_Cop · #5 10-05-2021, 02:26 PM

Revolver and holster are perfect together.

Wiregrassguy · #6 10-05-2021, 03:01 PM

The diamond often represents a changed or modified part. It's surprising there is no star on the butt.

JP@AK · #7 10-05-2021, 03:28 PM

From what I can see, the barrel wasn't changed - just the extractor rod.

Here are the clues:
1. 32 W.C.F. CTG on the barrel. That went away in c. 1922.
2. Appears to have the two-step milled notch above the knob.
3. Serial number on the barrel flat according to Post #3.

Chopper1388 · #8 10-05-2021, 03:29 PM

There is no star on the butt. The cylinder has the butt serial number on it as well. I plan on getting it lettered at some point.

Wiregrassguy · #9 10-05-2021, 05:17 PM

Look at the diamond on the barrel flat again and see if it's really a B.

Chopper1388 · #10 10-05-2021, 05:48 PM

Since a picture is worth...

There is a B before the diamond. And the barrel is milled for the larger ejector rod end.

JP@AK · #11 10-05-2021, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chopper1388

the barrel is milled for the larger ejector rod end.

Yes. That is the two-step milling that I mentioned above. This barrel was originally mated with the mushroom shaped knob that was discontinued in the mid-1920s. This is what I thought I saw in your earlier pictures. Someone changed out the extractor rod for some reason, but the barrel is original.

Muley Gil · #12 10-05-2021, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chopper1388

Since a picture is worth...

There is a B before the diamond. And the barrel is milled for the larger ejector rod end.

I couldn't tell on my monitor if the barrel was cut for the mushroom ejector rod or not.

glowe · #13 10-05-2021, 08:40 PM

Definitely a diamond. The factory did not just stamp for the heck of it and that was always a symbol for a replaced part, so no idea why else it appears on the barrel? Also, there are examples of factory returned guns that did not receive a star or date. I have one with a replaced barrel with a different serial number and a diamond plus an "S", but no star or date. Just to check, you did take off the left stock to look for the numbers on the butt frame flat - right?

Assuming the stocks are original, they ended the use of the gold medallion in 1920, so the gun was manufactured in the teens. Not to discourage you from getting a letter, but the gun is most likely sent to a distributor or dealer. The letter of authenticity will not include any possible trips back to the factory, but rather just confirm the configuration you have and a distributor or hardware store. All the 73,XXX guns in the database were shipped in 1917.

Chopper1388 · #14 10-05-2021, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glowe

Just to check, you did take off the left stock to look for the numbers on the butt frame flat - right?

Yes, I checked under the stocks for date stamps. And I know that more than likely the factory letter won't have anything ground breaking. But I've never been disappointed in the information from a factory letter. Plus it makes it fun to daydream about how the revolver went from where it was shipped to where you found it. I know we all have guns that we wish could talk to tell us their stories.

glowe · #15 10-06-2021, 09:33 AM

I have one old 38 HE story from 1903 that involves a box I purchased that was shipped to Norvell - Shapleigh Hardware in St. Louis. Reading the bottom of the gun box, I found out who owned the gun, W. B. Luck, Big Springs Texas. It also had the name West Texas National Bank which was in Big Springs. Date on the box was May 21, 1903.

Problem was there was no gun. Searched for years until I found a nice Model 1902 that shipped very early May, 1903 so was very close to matching the date on the box. Great fun tracking down the owner, who was born in Germany and immigrated to Victoria, Texas and was employed as a book keeper there and at the bank in Big Springs. So found the employee, the bank, the distributor, and finally a gun to complete the story.

DWalt · #16 10-06-2021, 12:59 PM

It's Big Spring (singular). I used to drive through Big Spring frequently, I don't know if there is actually a "Big Spring" there or not.

Muley Gil · #17 10-06-2021, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWalt

It's Big Spring (singular). I used to drive through Big Spring frequently, I don't know if there is actually a "Big Spring" there or not.

How Big Spring Got Its Name | Big Spring, TX CVB