Finally found a 32-20

[Vulcan Bob]

Hi all, I've been looking for a S&W in 32-20 for quite awhile now and since I do not have the nerve to buy over the internet It's been a bit tough to find one. However a friend of mine bought a bunch of S&W's at a estate sale and amongst them a 32-20. Got a chance to look it over this morning, appears to be a 1905 4th, serial #139365, blue, four inch barrel with what appears to be original to the gun in nice condition high dome no medallion stocks that were used in the 1920's. It's in nice condition with a bit of holster wear in the usual spots with a freckle here and there, timing and lock up and such are good with no push off or such with a bit of cylinder end shake, blueing looks to be original with good case colors on hammer and trigger. Well price was discussed and came up with what I think is a good price, and I took it. I cannot take it home today as he has to straighten up his paper work first. Hopefully wont be long as I am anxious to get her home, clean her up and check those stocks to see if they are original. When I get my grubby hands on it I'll post the obligatory beauty pic's! Then comes the fun of rounding up the reloading stuff needed to get this old girl up and running! Thanks for looking and have a great day out there.

 

[Mike McLellan]

I love my .32-20s. The bark, bite, & recoil are manageable, but I really wish ammo was easier to find. I may have to learn how to reload. The old Robert Johnson song, "32-20 blues" is a real hoot, as well.

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

Looking forward to seeing pics, Bob
And Mike, you will definitely want to reload for the 32-20 if you plan on to shoot it a lot. And you just might end up learning to cast your own bullets as well.

John

 

[DWalt]

It's difficult to date .32-20s from their SNs alone as production ceased in 1929-30, in the mid 140000 SN range. However, they continued to be cataloged and sold from inventory, or assembled from parts in inventory, until about 1940. There are reports of some factory .32-20s shipping into the 1950s. However, your SN is well toward the end of production. About the only way to find out when yours shipped is to get a factory letter ($50). At that time, yours would have been called the >32-20 Military and Police Model, as S&W ceased calling them the "Model of 1905" prior to WWI. Some collectors continue to use the Model of 1905 for guns made up to the 1940s. There is also sometimes a debate as to whether both .38 Special and .32-20 revolvers should be referred to as M&Ps, but I believe the prevailing opinion is yes. Do the grips have a matching penciled SN? Is the extractor rod knob of the mushroom style?

 

[DWalt]

I love my .32-20s. The bark, bite, & recoil are manageable, but I really wish ammo was easier to find. I may have to learn how to reload. The old Robert Johnson song, "32-20 blues" is a real hoot, as well.

Several years ago, I bought a new set of Lee .32-20 dies from eBay at a reasonable price. I recommend them. Nice thing about Lee dies is that they include the proper shell holder, some basic reloading data, and a little plastic powder measure you can use with some powders (I don't use it, but I could). My standard load is the 100 grain flat-nose lead bullet (.313") from Missouri Bullet Co. and 3.5 grains of Bullseye.

 

[rburg]

3.5 grains of Bullseye.

Wow, a magnum shooter if I've ever seen one. I crank it back to 3.0 and it works just fine. All due to my lazy attitude, its the same load I push out the wadcutters in .38 Special.

The .32-20 is a difficult round to reload. Only because of the thin cases and their tendency to crumple. You can reduce the case loss by guiding it up into the seating die. Kind of a pain to have to do.

 

[Drm50]

32/20 Reloads

I have several 32/20s, been loading them for years. Cast my own
bullets. Never had any trouble loading them. Brass last forever,
some of mine is over 50 yrs old. I've lost more brass kicked out
of rifle than lost to splitting, ect. Fun gun to shoot!

 

[Vulcan Bob]

It's difficult to date .32-20s from their SNs alone as production ceased in 1929-30, in the mid 140000 SN range. However, they continued to be cataloged and sold from inventory, or assembled from parts in inventory, until about 1940. There are reports of some factory .32-20s shipping into the 1950s. However, your SN is well toward the end of production. About the only way to find out when yours shipped is to get a factory letter ($50). At that time, yours would have been called the >32-20 Military and Police Model, as S&W ceased calling them the "Model of 1905" prior to WWI. Some collectors continue to use the Model of 1905 for guns made up to the 1940s. There is also sometimes a debate as to whether both .38 Special and .32-20 revolvers should be referred to as M&Ps, but I believe the prevailing opinion is yes. Do the grips have a matching penciled SN? Is the extractor rod knob of the mushroom style?

Hey there DWalt, yes it has the large extractor rod knob
"LERK" and didn't have the chance to check the grips yet as I don't have it home yet but I'll have the strong white light ready to look for the pencil numbering! I see Starline has brass in stock and I may buy some .313" bullets from MBC until I figure out what bullet mould I want. And thanks to all for the info!

 

[Frank46]

Starline was just shipping out a new run of 32-20 brass a few weeks ago. Was on the waiting list for two months.Good brass. FYI. Frank

 

[27 Man]

Lyman has a couple of good moulds that I have used. 311316 uses a gas check and the 3118 is flat based. 3.0 of BE is a good load that is easy on those old guns.

 

[Muley Gil]

The mushroom style ejector rod head is larger than the LERK, also known as the barrel head style.

Which does yours have?

 

[DWalt]

What is usually called a LERK (large extractor rod knob) is the style used from about 1927-47, and is a knurled barrel shape. Earlier knobs from 1902 onward had a mushroom shape. After the LERK came what I call the KERT (knurled extractor rod tip). I have seen references to the early Mushroom knob as being the "Large Knob." If so, the Barrel knob would be the "Small Knob." I think mushroom knob, barrel knob, and no knob are more clear descriptors of what's on the end of the extractor rod.

 

[delta-419]

32-20

You bought a winner in the 32-20. I love that round, its easy to shoot with low recoil and not that hard to reload. You do need to guide the case into the die to prevent crumpled cases. I have two Winchesters ('92 & '73) chambered 1n 32WCF and three old Smiths. Bullets are fairly easy to find if you reload, I use a very simple Lee single stage press and Lee dies. Reloading is just another phase of a great hobby! Enjoy!!!

 

[Old Corp]

Congrats!
I had been looking for much the same for a few years. Then, out of nowhere. a Colt 'Super Police Positive' in .32-20 about fell in my lap.

A friend's father is the Security Director for a large bank chain. One of the old branches was closing down, and as they moved out desks, in an old desk of a male clerk, long departed, was found this Colt. Personnel turned it over to the Security Director, who in turn, gave it to his son (my friend).
He sold it to me for (IIRC) $150, as since it bore no relation to current tacticool hardware, he had zero interest in it.

So, would still like a Smith, but the Colt is about a 95% gun and should shoot OK. Hope to load for it one day.

 

[bgrafsr]

Starline was just shipping out a new run of 32-20 brass a few weeks ago. Was on the waiting list for two months.Good brass. FYI. Frank

Bought 500 cases a couple of weeks ago myself. Just got a Winchester Model 1892 in .32-20 and I have my 16-4 with a .32-20 cylinder from Hamilton Bowen.

 

[DWalt]

Congrats!
I had been looking for much the same for a few years. Then, out of nowhere. a Colt 'Super Police Positive' in .32-20 about fell in my lap.

A friend's father is the Security Director for a large bank chain. One of the old branches was closing down, and as they moved out desks, in an old desk of a male clerk, long departed, was found this Colt. Personnel turned it over to the Security Director, who in turn, gave it to his son (my friend).
He sold it to me for (IIRC) $150, as since it bore no relation to current tacticool hardware, he had zero interest in it.

So, would still like a Smith, but the Colt is about a 95% gun and should shoot OK. Hope to load for it one day.

Colt didn't use the "Super" adjective for its revolver names. They made a Police Positive and a Police Positive Special. If yours is chambered in .32-20, it would be a Police Positive Special. Colt made two other double action revolvers in .32-20 which have larger frames than the PPS - namely the "Army Special" and the "Official Police" which are essentially the same gun but made in two different time periods. All are very well-made revolvers and quite desirable in high condition.

 

[Old Corp]

DWalt - you are correct, thank you. The gun has been away in storage for a few years, as the wife and I are 'between moves' for longer than expected. Thus, I'd not laid eyes on it for some time. Just recalled some sort of superlative added to the Police Positive moniker, which IS actually 'Police Positive Special'.
My brain is wired for S&W - not much good at recalling Colt trivia.

 

[Plain Old Dave]

Congrats on your new .32-20. Something a lit of people don't get is the .32-20. You don't treat it like a pistol caliber; you treat it like a RIFLE caliber and you'll do OK. Shoot the same cases through the same gun, and neck size only. Bell your case mouths as little as you can and use the bullet as a seating die extension. Hand seat your bullets and load in a single stage press.

 

[JP@AK]

Congrats on your new .32-20. Something a lit of people don't get is the .32-20. You don't treat it like a pistol caliber; you treat it like a RIFLE caliber and you'll do OK. Shoot the same cases through the same gun, and neck size only. Bell your case mouths as little as you can and use the bullet as a seating die extension. Hand seat your bullets and load in a single stage press.

Good advice.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

The mushroom style ejector rod head is larger than the LERK, also known as the barrel head style.

Which does yours have?

My use of terminology is quaint at best. I've only handled it once but I do believe it's the "mushroom" type as it really stood out when I first laid eye's on it. I'm hoping to have it home soon!