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S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 3-Screw PINNED Barrel SWING-OUT Cylinder Hand Ejectors WITH Model Numbers


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  #1  
Old 02-14-2009, 12:40 PM
GatorFarmer GatorFarmer is offline
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3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns?  
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I traded into a 3" 31-1 flat latch a while back. I'm curious about what the market was for these guns in years past. Were they sold as handy "tackle box" type outdoor guns for taking a snap shot at an errant squirrel? Or were they sold for personal defense? If so, was there any claimed advantage aside from the extra round compared to the 3" 36-1 that I also have?
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Old 02-14-2009, 12:40 PM
GatorFarmer GatorFarmer is offline
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3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns?  
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I traded into a 3" 31-1 flat latch a while back. I'm curious about what the market was for these guns in years past. Were they sold as handy "tackle box" type outdoor guns for taking a snap shot at an errant squirrel? Or were they sold for personal defense? If so, was there any claimed advantage aside from the extra round compared to the 3" 36-1 that I also have?
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  #3  
Old 02-14-2009, 01:27 PM
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The most common use I ever saw for the .32 S&W Long guns was as something that the "older Jail Matrons" could handle. But then that's been more than a week ago.
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Old 02-14-2009, 03:56 PM
Rich S Rich S is offline
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3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns?  
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iirc female NYPD officers got .32jframes and a special purse type holster as their uniform method of on duty carry not sure when the practice ended.
Regards,
Rich
found this
http://www.policeny.com/lostnypd1.html
scroll down to see the holster.
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Old 02-14-2009, 06:18 PM
Jerry in SC Jerry in SC is offline
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3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns?  
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In the South the .32 was a very popular cartridge until the early 60's. Many obviously sat in nightstands and were never fired.

I don't think folks thought of them as Kit Guns since .22 ammo was so cheap.
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Old 02-14-2009, 07:42 PM
bagolden bagolden is offline
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Personally at defense ranges I can put them where they need to go and have not felt under gunned toting my 30-1 3". Usually carry something that sends a more potent message though. Accurate enough for small game back up while deer hunting etc.
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Old 02-15-2009, 11:08 PM
toroflow1 toroflow1 is offline
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This thread is worthless without pictures...so:

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  #8  
Old 02-16-2009, 06:59 AM
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3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns?  
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My wife absolutely loves to shoot hers. Lower recoil than the .38
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Old 02-16-2009, 09:00 AM
Jerry in SC Jerry in SC is offline
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3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns?  
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I picked up a nice 30-1 for $100 last year. The .32's are great shooters, very accurate with Federal .32 wadcutters.
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Old 02-17-2009, 09:34 AM
M29since14 M29since14 is offline
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Quote:
I traded into a 3" 31-1 flat latch a while back. I'm curious about what the market was for these guns in years past. Were they sold as handy "tackle box" type outdoor guns for taking a snap shot at an errant squirrel? Or were they sold for personal defense?
The guns were always thought of (by the buyers) as light-duty defense guns, in my experience, anyway. There were not many people who had a license to carry, so the guns mainly sat in nightstand and dresser drawers. Seems odd to me now, to recall that there were so few permit holders, but that is the way it was.

Around here, for the kind of field shooting you mention, everyone would have been looking for a .22. No one wanted to pay for centerfire ammunition, and handloading was not nearly as common then as now. The Smith was a high-quality revolver (not cheap), and many low-cost .22s were available for a fraction of the price that shot reasonably well, even if mechanically crude.

In my youth, the 30s and 31s were also operating distinctly in the shadow of the Chief's Special, which was recent, but not new. The Chiefs were not easy to come by, and there was considerable demand. Law enforcement orders got priority, we were told.
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  #11  
Old 02-17-2009, 11:49 AM
BillCa BillCa is offline
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In many PD's the .32 J-Frames - Model 30's and 31's - were issued to female police officers who served in "auxillary" roles. These roles included prisoner matrons who searched female prisoners at crime scenes, had foreign language skills to interpret for crime victims and worked with children. LAPD issued them to female crime scene specialists (photo, fingerprint, evidence collectors) and some others.

Nothing wrong with the .32 Long as a close range defensive weapon. Remember that the European police often use a .32ACP pistol. It's mostly part of the badge of office. Here in the US, most folks would assume it's a .38 pointed at them without a second thought.

If you handload, you can push the .32Long cartridge in the J-frame to slightly faster velocities and still have a very docile and accurate gun.
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  #12  
Old 02-17-2009, 05:11 PM
jumbeaux jumbeaux is offline
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I worked with a lady whose husband had been a city policeman in Odessa Texas during the wild days of one of the oil booms. He carried a 32 long revolver (HE) as his duty gun (probably unauthorized). He later carried it as a deputy in NE Texas. He always said that it only came out if his fists (or blackjack) didn't do the job. He is gone now and I would love to buy it but his daughter is a Shreveport police officer now and it should be hers.

jumbeaux
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Old 02-18-2009, 01:31 AM
Hondo44 Hondo44 is offline
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3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns?  
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A 1913 vintage 32 Hand ejector was the first gun my grandfather ever gave me. He bought it new and carried it in his suit coat pocket on the streets and in the subways of NY City. I still have it with the 2nd half of the first box of ammo he ever bought for it. It's like brand new and I only fired it once. But I now have seven of them in every vintage and configuration including a 1957 Regulation Police Target. They do get under your skin.

Jim
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  #14  
Old 02-18-2009, 06:54 AM
M29since14 M29since14 is offline
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3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns?  
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Quote:
But I now have seven of them... including a 1957 Regulation Police Target.
We should have a picture of that one.
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Old 02-18-2009, 07:07 AM
Texas Star Texas Star is offline
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Many years ago, my father took me on vacation to Washington, D.C. A guard at the Smithsonian showed me his gun, and it was a Model 30, I think, or pre-30. I was about 12 then, but surprised to see that a man would rely on a .32 for defense of himself and that valuable institution.

I'm almost certain that his gun was old enough that it had the half-nickle front sight, not the later ramp sight. Definitely a S&W.

A three-inch Chiefs Spcl. weighs very little more, and uses more potent ammo, and is also very accurate. I doubt that a .32 will shoot any better, although some recoil-sensitive people do shoot them better.
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Old 02-18-2009, 09:14 AM
Jerry in SC Jerry in SC is offline
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3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns?  
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Quote:
Originally posted by M29since14:
Quote:
But I now have seven of them... including a 1957 Regulation Police Target.
We should have a picture of that one.
+1
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  #17  
Old 02-18-2009, 02:09 PM
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For many years the .32 S&W Long held a number of records because of how accurate it was. And, it still is but the use isn't there any longer.
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  #18  
Old 02-18-2009, 04:46 PM
ColbyBruce ColbyBruce is online now
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I have two blue #31-1 and a nickel #30-1. middle row in the photo. Also a #331 TI .32 H&R magnum, a Walther PP and two Beretta 70 New Puma pistols in .32 a.c.p. I like .32's, would like to find a few snubbies.
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Old 02-20-2009, 01:15 AM
Hondo44 Hondo44 is offline
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3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns?  
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I'll post pictures tomorrow afternoon.

Jim
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Old 02-22-2009, 03:42 AM
Hondo44 Hondo44 is offline
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3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns?  
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Got the pictures of my 1957 .32 Reg Police Target (Pre model 31) and my 'I', Improved 'I' and 'J' frames. Writing up descriptions and will post tomorrow. Sorry for the wait.

Jim
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Old 02-23-2009, 06:38 PM
Hondo44 Hondo44 is offline
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3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns?  
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1957 .32 Reg Police Target (Pre model 31) and my 'I', Improved 'I' and 'J' frames:
My son posted pictures of the above for me under the more appropriate category; HE 1896 to 1961 under Pontiaker here:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/eve/for...4/m/4231001543
Writing up detailed descriptions and will edit post ASAP.
Jim
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Old 02-24-2009, 11:37 AM
Hondo44 Hondo44 is offline
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3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns? 3" .32 J frames - kit guns or carry guns?  
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.32 Reg. Police Postwar Target 'I' frame:

This is a 1957 era .32 Regulation Police Target 'I' frame with small trigger guard and leaf mainspring (pre Improved 'I' frame and pre model 31), #657XXX (stamped on front grip strap above the strain screw a+nd matching all other #'d parts inc. grips), 4", pre war/early postwar rebated rear grip strap with post war type checkering border on round top stocks with curved medallions. One of 196 made on left over pre war 'I' frames. You'll notice pre war sights w/Pre War steel/nickel plated sight adjusting tool to fit sight screws, pre war/early post war hammer, post war grooved trigger, and 3rd type post war (post 1966 for J frames) non-sculpted thumbpiece! Pictured w/1920, 2 screw target stocks w/gold medallions. A very convoluted transition model for sure. Brief details of these 196 guns are on page 128, 3rd edition, Standard Catalog of S&W, Supica and Nahas.




Starting top left:

.32 HE Mod 1903-5th change, 1915, 3 1/4", 'I' frame, factory pearl grips with gold medallions just like pictured inside the flip top lid of the original brown box (not shown). Thumbpiece is beautifully sculpted AND relieved under checkered flare like thumbpieces on all prewar frame sizes. Given to me by my grandfather. He had no idea what an expensive addiction he's been responsible for!

.32 HE Reg. Police Postwar (.32s are not stamped Reg. Police on barrel like .38/32 S&W CTG guns), 'I' frame (leaf mainspring, short grip frame), 1946-47 (frame Serial # stamped on front grip strap above the strain screw, matching all other parts inc. grips), 3 1/4", prewar rebated round butt grip frame with prewar checkering border on round top sq butt stocks w/post war curved medallions, smooth trigger. Type 1 postwar sculpted thumbpiece (not relieved on back under checkering like the prewars.

.32 HE 3rd Model Postwar, 2", Improved 'I' frame (coil mainspring but still short RB grip, still 5 screw), all matching #s, pre 1954, prewar/early postwar hammer, grooved trigger, 1/2 penny sight, magna stocks, postwar type 2 semi-sculpted thumbpiece (pre flat latch). Prewar factory round top pearls look nice on it!

Top right:

.32 HE 3rd Model Postwar, 3", made 1954, same as above except serrated ramp front sight w/rib and 2nd type flat latch.

.32 Reg. Police Postwar (pre M31), 3", made 1956, all matching #s inc. stocks, 2nd type Improved 'I' frame (4 screw, coil mainspring, new larger egg shaped trigger guard and new longer square butt grip that was 1st introduced in 1952 on the Chiefs Special), prewar/early postwar hammer, ramp/rib sight, 3rd and last style 'tall' flat latch (used thru 1966 on all 2nd type Imp.'I' frames and later 'J' frame Chief's Specials), w/original Red Box (not shown).

.32 Reg. Police Postwar Target 'I' frame pictured 1st and described above.

.32 Model 31-1, J frame Reg. Police, made 1981, not pinned or recessed, 3", 3 screw. Came with the late '50s style course checkered .240" flat sided hammer but a centerfire, case colored .340" target hammer is installed (only available in 1989 on Chief's Spl. Target Model 36-6, 3" full lug barrel, with black matte finish) and an optional smooth .340" J frame combat trigger installed (not the .312" smooth one that came standard on J frames after about 1985 or so, prior to the .312" MIM smooth triggers of the '90s). Shown with it's '80s last type tool kit and blue box (not shown).




Starting Top Left:

Model of 1953 .22/32 Kit Gun Pre-Model 34, 2nd type Improved 'I' frame (4 screw, coil mainspring, new .375" wide course checkered target hammer, 1/4" longer RB grip frame or 1/2" longer sq butt grip frame and egg shaped trigger guard), 4", RB Magna stocks, all #s matching inc. stocks, 'tall' 3rd and last type flat latch, optional .400" grooved target trigger installed, shown with original brass thread tools and short blued 8 band sight adjusting tool, in original blue starburst box (not shown).

Model 34 .22/32 Kit Gun, stamped 'Mod 34' (no dash #), made 1957, 2nd type Improved 'I' frame, 3 screw, 4", serial numbered only on the butt and with matching # stamped on inside of right stock, .375" wide target hammer, came with 'tall' 3rd and last type flat latch but has a prewar sculpted thumbpiece installed, optional .400" grooved target trigger installed, new style square butt grip frame, (original stocks shown removed from gun), wearing modified factory J frame target stocks shortened to be flush with butt of grip frame and with wood over rear grip strap eliminated, original brass thread tools and knurled aluminum 9 band sight adjusting tool.

Model 34-1 .22/32 Kit Gun, made 1971, 2", J frame (1/8" longer frame window and cylinder), stamped 'Mod 34' so close to edge of yoke that the '-1' is missing, made 1971, .375" wide target hammer, block type third and final postwar style thumbpiece used on all Smiths after 1966 (ending with the introduction of the asymmetrical style in the '90s), optional .400" grooved target trigger installed, un-numbered original SB stocks (no diamond; eliminated 1968), with fluted alum., spade tipped sight adjusting tool, alum. thread cleaning tools (not shown) in original Bangor Punta blue box (not shown).

Model 34-2 .22/32 Kit Gun, made 1988, 4 1/8" barrel (together with 1/8" longer frame, making this model 1/4" longer overall than the 1957 2nd style Improved 'I' frame with 4" barrel above), new style standard smooth .312" wide combat trigger, new narrower .350" wide target hammer, added 2008 S&W "Classic Revolver" production copy of prewar sculpted style thumbpiece, square butt grip frame wearing modified factory J frame target stocks, shortened to be flush with butt of grip frame and with wood over rear grip strap eliminated, fluted alum., hollow ground tipped (last style) sight adjusting tool, alum thread cleaning tools (not shown) in original new style one piece blue box (not shown). Extra pair of unmodified full size factory J frame target stocks shown.

Top Right:

Lady Smith 3rd Model, .22 S&W Long, 7 shot, 3", 'M' frame, added just for scale.

.38 Spl., Chief's Special, 1952 (2nd year), 'J' frame (also known as Baby 'J' frame, with small rounded trigger guard and shorter, 'I' frame size RB grip), 2", 2nd model with Ramped front sight and barrel rib, prewar/early postwar type hammer and 1st style flat latch (actually the 1st 60 Chiefs used the post 1966 style but went thru all three styles of the flat latch ending in 1966).

.38 Chief's Special, 1971, tapered 3" barrel, with optional .340" smooth combat trigger installed, sq butt.

.38 Chief's Special, 1971, 2" barrel, sq butt.



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2nd model, 340, beretta, cartridge, checkering, ejector, fluted, grooved, hand ejector, kit gun, model 1, postwar, prewar, punta, recessed, round butt, serrated, supica, thumbpiece, transition, walther

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