Looking for DOB on .32 HE

[Mercury]

I'm hoping that someone might be able to help me out with a DOB on a pre-model 30 in .32 long. I recently purchased it and I am curious when it was made.
It was listed as a Post-War, improved I-frame 5-Screw with the coil spring. It has a small trigger guard and a round butt, modern hammer block, 4-line address, small ejector knob, and half moon front sight. Serial # is 5901XX.

Thanks for your help,
Mercury.

 

[Hammerdown]

I'm hoping that someone might be able to help me out with a DOB on a pre-model 30 in .32 long. I recently purchased it and I am curious when it was made.
It was listed as a Post-War, improved I-frame 5-Screw with the coil spring. It has a small trigger guard and a round butt, modern hammer block, 4-line address, small ejector knob, and half moon front sight. Serial # is 5901XX.

Thanks for your help,
Mercury.

Hello Mercury
Fine Pre-30 you have there. As close as I can figure, your revolver should be from around 1952 Vintage. I have studied the Pre-30's for awhile and have one Logged in close to yours in it's serial number. You do Understand to Nail the exact date it shipped, a Factory letter would be needed ? They are hard to Track serial wise as they tossed in The 22-32's and Kit Guns in the same branch of serial numbers with these. Oddly, Yours has a newer Looking cylinder release as I think it should have had a Flat Latch similar in looks of the one shown. Here is one that shipped in 1958 but is NOT Model Marked. It had a very rough Life Cosmetically as a Blued revolver but Locked up tight and was seldom shot. It was Very badly corroded when I got it But Ford's Refinishing Took it to it's Present level of eye appeal with a hard Chrome finish and it is carried daily showing no wear on it since it was refinished by them. Regards, Hammerdown

 

[29aholic]

I believe Kurt is right on all accounts and on the latch as well.

Kurt...you gotta take pics of that gun with the pin back in it.

 

[Hammerdown]

I believe Kurt is right on all accounts and on the latch as well.

Kurt...you gotta take pics of that gun with the pin back in it.

Hey Curtis
Nah, I like to Hear others ask where it went. ? I caved and Gave it to Our Daughter when she Got married Last January and have Not seen it since. I told her I would sleep Much Better Knowing she had it by her bed side at Night since I could no Longer Protect & Watch over her in Our Home .. Now her Hubby wants one and he aint Getting my 431. This was Her First Handgun and she Wept when she Opened the Box I handed it in to her knowing how much I Liked it. I Kept the serial numbered Grips that were correct on it, Placed them in the safe and replaced them with a set of smooth Presentation Grade Magnas. She Loves it, and Carries it daily Now in her Purse... Hammerdown

 

[29aholic]

I hope the barrel dont fall out while its in her purse

 

[Mercury]

Hi Hammerdown,
Thank you for your quick reply. 1952 you say? IIRC, I read somewhere on this forum that these where made up to '53, so your estimate is right on.
The cylinder release has now got me wondering if it was ever replaced at some time?
I'm not sure that I'll letter it, I don't think that it has enough collector's value to warrant it. There is some freckling on the front and back strap, which isn't too bad. There are also several rust spots on the top strap and a small one on the cylinder, which I'll have to address. It is a little thing; nice and tight, so it should be a good shooter.

Your gun looks great! It looks like Ford's did an excellent job with it. I noticed that it's either a 3 or a 4-screw. The trigger guard looks oval, is it a J-frame?

Thanks again for your response. It's going to be fun researching and learning about these little guns, so maybe I will get it lettered after all?

Best regards,
Mercury.

 

[Hammerdown]

Hi Hammerdown,
Thank you for your quick reply. 1952 you say? IIRC, I read somewhere on this forum that these where made up to '53, so your estimate is right on.
The cylinder release has now got me wondering if it was ever replaced at some time?
I'm not sure that I'll letter it, I don't think that it has enough collector's value to warrant it. There is some freckling on the front and back strap, which isn't too bad. There are also several rust spots on the top strap and a small one on the cylinder, which I'll have to address. It is a little thing; nice and tight, so it should be a good shooter.

Your gun looks great! It looks like Ford's did an excellent job with it. I noticed that it's either a 3 or a 4-screw. The trigger guard looks oval, is it a J-frame?

Thanks again for your response. It's going to be fun researching and learning about these little guns, so maybe I will get it lettered after all?

Best regards,
Mercury.

Hello Mercury
I have heard they used Three slightly different Flat style cylinder latch's over the years. I do have three to compare or show you, they are from slightly different times frame as noted, but they do not appear to be different though. I have heard the Pitch of the Latch differed in size and configuration slightly. Shown below is my Model Marked 36 Model that shipped in 1962 that they still were using the flat latch on shown below, along with a Pre-30 Nickel 3" Revolver that shipped in 1955 also with a flat latch. I Called Ford's and spoke with the Owner Larna. It was her suggestion to hard Chrome my Revolver as she shared with me Hard Chrome would take the Most abuse without showing it from Daily carry. Some Don't like the Looks of Hard Chrome and call the Finish Bumper shop, but to me for what I use it for it is Perfect and Takes far more abuse than Blued or Nickel would and does not show any scratch's.


The Guy that sold it to me gave me a super deal on it and I had been Looking for a Pre-30 for daily carry. It had some Cheesy Shake & Bake finish on it when I got it and they went right over the deep pit's with the finish. I Prepared it for It's Hard Chrome finish, and I can tell you it will be the last one I prepare. I made up a Jig to spin the cylinder in my 18 Volt Battery drill, and Block sanded the side Plate and frame parts starting out with 220 Grit and went on to use finer Grits making sure not to Miss any Pit's or scratch's and ended up using 1500 Grit as shown in The Two Pictures below. It is an Improved I Frame and a three screw revolver.




Larna Ford called me once it arrived at Their Shop in Florida and said I had sure gone the distance Preparing it, leaving just the application of Hard Chrome to be all that had to be done to it once it showed up. Sadly the Original S&W Monogram Stamping was about gone due to deep pitting, But Ford's Re-Cut the One it has now on it before it was Plated. What made me decide to have it Refinished was after I Bought it and shot it at the range, it was scary accurate and shot at exact Point of aim. The Barrel Nor Performance was not effected by The Lacking Pin as I shot better than 400 Rounds out of it without Incident or of it moving. I feel they are more Cosmetic than anything else as it did not move from recoil...Hammerdown













How it Looked before Refinishing

After it was Prepared for Refinishing

Model 36 No Dash Circa 1962 and a Nickel Pre-30 Four screw Circa 1955 with Flat Latch

 

[smith17]

Latches on .32s

Mercury:
I don't think there is anything unusual about your cylinder latch. My understanding has been that the 'conventional' latch was used until around the early-mid 50s or whenever that change was made from the improved I frame to the J frame. I have 2 a bit earlier than yours, both 572,000s that have the same latch as yours does. Nice guns.
Ed

 

[H Richard]

Mine is just a little longer barrel, and not nearly as nice looking, but a fabulous shooter. S/N 60009X and shipped Jan 1953 if that's any help.

Mine is a 5 screw, and has that same (newer) style cylinder release. It originally came to me with some plastic grips, so I modified some J frame boot grips to fit.

 

[dmar]

I'm hoping that someone might be able to help me out with a DOB on a pre-model 30 in .32 long. I recently purchased it and I am curious when it was made.
It was listed as a Post-War, improved I-frame 5-Screw with the coil spring. It has a small trigger guard and a round butt, modern hammer block, 4-line address, small ejector knob, and half moon front sight. Serial # is 5901XX.

Thanks for your help,
Mercury.

Nice gun; I just picked one up just like it yesterday, excellent condition with red box and docs... I think my serial # is 613xxx, but I have to double check when I get home. BTW, mine has the flat latch on it...

Also, Hammerdown, that's a great finishing job by you and Ford's. I generally like seeing guns left alone, but you really did the right thing with that piece, it looks awesome!

 

[twaits]

Here's a flat latch from '57

 

[Mercury]

Smith 17 & H Richard:
Hearing that you both have the same latch makes me feel more confident that mine is original.

H Richard: you say that yours is a fabulous shooter. I'm hoping that mine will be too. I have to locate some ammo for her and then I'll get to see.

dmar and Twaits:
I guess S&W might have used what they had on hand.

In either configuration, they are nice guns.

 

[dmar]

Smith 17 & H Richard:
Hearing that you both have the same latch makes me feel more confident that mine is original.

H Richard: you say that yours is a fabulous shooter. I'm hoping that mine will be too. I have to locate some ammo for her and then I'll get to see.

dmar and Twaits:
I guess S&W might have used what they had on hand.

In either configuration, they are nice guns.

Yes, I'd say that it's not unusual for them to use what is 'on hand,' they were making guns, and not worrying about what a collector might think 50+ years later... I have a few 'flat latch' S&Ws, and while I love the look of the flat latch, I understand why they changed to the newer style; they are easier to operate!

 

[Hammerdown]

Mercury;1154427]Smith 17 & H Richard:
Hearing that you both have the same latch makes me feel more confident that mine is original.



dmar and Twaits:
I guess S&W might have used what they had on hand.

Hello Mercury

I see Guns closer to your serial shipped evidently with the same cylinder Latch your has and that is great. Apparently the Flat Latch's came a tad Bit Later in time. It would be Interesting to Know Just When The flat Latch's started appearing on these Guns ? I Like the Looks of the flat Latch's, But they can be a challenge to open at times...Hammerdown

 

[seattleM29]

hammerdown I love what Ford's did to your gun! I have a 3 1/4" nickel version with peeling nickel--that hard chrome looks just like nickel--probably without the cost of a renickel job. Mine is no collector gun but I would love to have it looking nice again. Thumbs up!

 

[Hammerdown]

hammerdown I love what Ford's did to your gun! I have a 3 1/4" nickel version with peeling nickel--that hard chrome looks just like nickel--probably without the cost of a renickel job. Mine is no collector gun but I would love to have it looking nice again. Thumbs up!

Hello SeattleM29 & Dmar
Thanks, I appreciate your Kind words. The hard chrome High Polished finish is the same price as Nickel, but I wanted a finish that would last the Longest for daily Carry so that is why I chose the Hard Chrome over Nickel.It shows no wear and stays looking good with Rennisance Wax.The revolver was in very sad shape as I have shown but it shot excellent so that was what made me decide to give it a finish it deserved... Hammerdown