Please History of my SW .32 Revolver

[StargateSG77]

Hi,
I am the new owner of a S&W .32 revolver and I would like to know its history.
Here are the caracteristics I know :
Model : .32 hand ejector or Regulation police ?
caliber : .32 SW long
S/N : 519011
5 screws
6" barrel
Adjustable rear sight
Number on Yoke : 3660 5
Number under barrel : B 519011
Logo S&W left side of the gun
Grip with Silver (Chrome) medaillion
Made In USA writen right side of the gun

I only have few questions :
Could anyone confirm :
Real name of this model, date of manufacture, approximative value ?
Thanks a lot
Best Regards from France (sorry for my poor american language)

 

[murphydog]

Bienvenu! You have a .32 Regulation Police Target from the 1930 decade. The wood stocks are proper for the gun and age and you might see the serial number stamped on the inside or written in pencil.

Member DCWilson (among others) is the local expert on these; he has estimated no more than about 1500 of these were made between 1917 and '42. It appears very nice and I would not be surprised to see it bring $2000 + over here, more if you have the original box and contents.

If you are able to request one, a letter of authenticity would be interesting and may tell you how it wound up in France:

Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation - Letter Process - Insuring that the rich history of Smith & Wesson will continue for generations to come

Hope this is helpful.

 

[Hondo44]

Bonjour, bienvenu aussi. Comment allez-vous?

You have un belle revolver; in stunning original condition.

If the grip frame under the extended wood target stocks looks like this:

Then as murphydog posted above, it's officially a ".32 Regulation Police Target Model" built on S&W's 'I' size frame. I also agree with him on the value.

If you do not see a notch in the back strap as shown, it would be considered a ".32 Hand Ejector Model".

From the serial # 519011 it was sold and shipped most likely in 1936, however could be earlier or later because they were not shipped in order of the serial #s. The B preceding the serial # in some locations indicates that it was originally built as a blued gun.

You will find the serial # stamped clearly on the back side of the right side stock, and 5 other locations on the gun. Also3 locations on the front and rear sights, but all hidden unless removed.

32 HISTORY

The .32 Hand Ejector and its cartridge, the 32 S&W Long are both historical. The .32 HE is the first side swing out cylinder produced by S&W, built on the first I size frame, and introduced as the 1896 Model (1st Model) along with its new cartridge.

It went thru several evolutionary changes until it became the 32 HE 3rd model in 1917 when a sq butt version was introduced as the 32 Regulation Police beginning at ~ #258000 in the same serial range as the 32 HE. The more common barrel length is the 4 1/4".

Target models were available with 6" barrels as well as very rare 4 1/4" barrels, and with 2 screw extended target stocks.

The 3rd Model had a hammer safety block added around 1919 used thru WW II.

By 1920 the cyls received a heat treatment for additional strength as did all S&W revolvers.

Both were reintroduced after WW II in identical form except for the change to the much more fool proof post war sliding bar safety. They went thru more evolution in the 1950s, and in 1957 became the Model 30 w/round butt and the Model 31 w/square butt, and finally in 1961 were upgraded to the slightly longer J size frame with added -1 to the model #s.

Eventually both versions were combined as just the Model 31-1 in 1976, until discontinued in 1991. Various iterations were later introduced using the 32 H&R Mag and/or the 327 Fed Mag, both of which still use the 32 Long as well.

Any currently available 32 Long ammo in standard loadings is perfectly safe to shoot in your 32.

ENJOY!

 

[JSR III]

Welcome to the forum.

These guns are similar in appearance and accoutrements to my favorite, the .22/32 HFT. They were built within the same serial number blocks and I show .22's in the 517,XXX and 525,XXX groups so number blocks in between were most likely set aside for the .32 caliber version. Both guns were built on the I frame and in the early 30's as others have stated came with the smaller extractor knob, silver medallion extended target stocks, small S&W logo on the left side and Patridge front sights with a matching square notch rear sight.

Not sure about the .32's but the .22's in this serial number range have ship dates ranging from 1930 to 1936. Only a letter will give you the exact date and destination. It could be interesting to find out where your gun shipped and as murphydog stated may lend a clue as to how it ended up in France.

Do you have any photos of the side and top barrel markings? I would also be interested to see if it has the last patent date of 09 or 14. Many of the .22/32's built and/or shipped around this period have either date so obviously some of the frames are older stock.

Very neat gun and in really good condition.

 

[Green Frog]

Welcome to the S&W Forum, StargateSG77. I too would be very interested to find how your rare and desirable target model I-frame made it to the neighborhood of Paris... I'm guessing some well-to-do French businessman or perhaps some American expat could have ordered it new, and since the 32 S&W Long cartridge retained its popularity on the Continent much longer than here, the caliber makes sense. If you get a "letter" and it shows the gun originally went to France when new, it would at least help solve part of its mysterious history.

My e-friend Hondo44 has given you the info needed to thoroughly identify the exact Model, but based on the date and grip configuration, I would be willing to bet a euro or two that it is a Regulation Police Target. This is the most likely (although still rare) model for it to be. This, along with the same gun in 22 LR (called the "Heavy Frame Target") were the highest development for the I-frame, and they are highly desirable among S&W enthusiasts. I don't know how inter-library loans work in France, but it might be worth your while to see if you can track down a copy of "The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, 4th edition," since there is a good write-up about the I-frames in that.

Regards,
The Green Frog

PS. As for your "poor american language," your post was better written than some I've seen from folks who live near Paris, Georgia or Paris, Texas... would that my French were anywhere nearly as proficient!

 

[DWalt]

We are guessing here about the shipping date, but the factory letter will provide an exact shipping date. I have on my list many other nearby I-frame SNs which suggest yours is likely to have shipped in 1930-31. One other small detail not mentioned that the "B" prefix to the serial number which is stamped on the bottom of the barrel simply means that it was shipped with a blued finish.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! I can see the serial number on the front strap of the butt. That indicates for me that it is a regulation police Target.

Guy

 

[H Richard]

Welcome from another .32 fan. You have acquired my "grail" gun, and in an outstanding condition. The previous members postings have identified it as well as can be, but I would encourage you to obtain a Historical letter which will give you the exact dates of it's origination.

 

[LEO918]

Welcome to the Smith & Wesson Forum from Arizona. Great start!

 

[DCWilson]

Very nice revolver! And welcome to the Forum. It is always a pleasure to see new members from outside North America.

 

[StargateSG77]

I am very lucky and happy with this .32 police target

Hi everybody !
Thank you very much for all your answers.
I think I am very lucky to be the new owner of this wonderful gun.
I send with this message 5 new photos of this .32 revolver.
For information, I acquire this revolver from one of my best friend.
His father was the previous owner of this gun and he died 4 months ago. His wife didn't know what to do with.
So she decided to give me the revolver...for free because I am a competitive shooter with all the autorizations to keep a gun at home.
According to her, her husband said that this gun has come from CHILE to France in his case by plane, when he was a teacher in Chile !
I have just used the gun at the range today. I confirm, it is a great gun with nice accuracy.
To HONDO44, I do confirm there is the notch in the back strap, so I can consider it is a .32 Regulation Police Target model.
Now, I think I'm going to follow your recomandation and request a historical letter from Smith & Wesson.
Thanks again a lot for your answers and do not hesitate to contact me if you decide to go to France, I will show you this gun and you could try it at the range.
Best Regards from France
Alain

 

[StargateSG77]

Thank you

Hi,
Thank you very much for all your answer.
I think I am a lucky guy.
The mother of my best friend gave me this revolver for FREE because the initial owner was her husband and he died 4 months ago at the age of more than 90 years old.
Here are some more photos of this beautiful gun.

Best Regards from France
Alain

 

[jebstuart]

PS. As for your "poor american language," your post was better written than some I've seen from folks who live near Paris, Georgia or Paris, Texas... would that my French were anywhere nearly as proficient!

... would that the charming allure of a far off visitor entice one to degrade his own fellow countrymen? Pray not.

 

[raljr1]

Very nice.

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