Regulation Police or .32 HE Third Model?

[Rodan]

I'm looking at a late pre-war .32 HE, which is being presented as a Regulation Police. I'm thinking it would be a nice bookend to my early RP .38. It's a very nice gun, and includes a red 'hinged' box marked "Regulation Police", but there is no legible serial number on the box, so I can't verify if it's the original box to that gun.

My question is that the Standard Catalog describes all RPs as having the rebated backstrap frame, and this gun has a normal round butt frame, like this:

As opposed to the Regulation Police which has the notched backstrap:

I believe this gun to be a .32HE Third Model, and not a Regulation Police...

What do y'all think?

 

[handejector]

You are correct. Buy the gun and put your RP in the box.

 

[Hondo44]

Wow, that's a beauty!

It's true that the .32 RPs do not have the "REGULATION POLICE" barrel marking like the .38 RP, but that's clearly a .32 Hand Ejector as you knew.

Buy it and get a "two fer" the .32 and a box for your .38 RP as Lee posted above.

Does the box label have the same barrel length as your .38 barrel?

 

[Rodan]

Does the box label have the same barrel length as your .38 barrel?

Unfortunately, no. The box is marked for a 3 1/4" barrel and the RP38 is 4".

Label notwithstanding, is the red box correct for the early RPs?

 

[Hondo44]

It depends on how "early" your RP is. Boxes changed continuously over the years. A serial # would be needed unless you already know the shipping date and post it.

 

[handejector]

Unfortunately, no. The box is marked for a 3 1/4" barrel and the RP38 is 4".

Label notwithstanding, is the red box correct for the early RPs?

Depends on what you mean by "red". I have never seen a hinged red box for a 32. The only hinged red box I can think of was used with small Top Breaks.
Is the box perhaps a dark maroon?

 

[Rodan]

Depends on what you mean by "red"....
Is the box perhaps a dark maroon?

Maroon may be more accurate. My wife tells me I'm not good with colors...

It depends on how "early" your RP is.

Very early...

 

[Hondo44]

That could be the right box. In the period of your gun a brown cloth like box of the same style was also used.

By the way, did you happen to check the outside bottom of the box for the serial #? That's where they were written back in the day, in black, white or red grease pencil.

 

[Rodan]

The number on the box was unreadable, at least under the circumstances I was able to look at it.

 

[Hondo44]

Oh OK, I wasn't sure if it was the bottom # or one scribbled on the label. Your RP looks as nice or better than the .32 and like it was just made yesterday! They'd make a beautiful pair.

 

[Rodan]

Your RP looks as nice or better than the .32 and like it was just made yesterday! They'd make a beautiful pair.

Thanks!

My RP is in really nice condition and I was very lucky in acquiring it. It actually sat on the shelf at the LGS for nearly a year before I talked myself into buying it (my first, and only, I frame), knowing virtually nothing about them as I'm much more interested in K and N frames. They would definitely make a nice pair, and thus my interest.

 

[Hondo44]

If you never shot an I frame .32 or 38 you don't know what your missing. Then again maybe it's not a good idea......for one thing you'll want to get one with a little wear on it because you'll want to shoot it a lot. And they're habit forming, pretty soon they'll be cutting into your K and N frame buying budget.

 

[handejector]

Maroon may be more accurate. My wife tells me I'm not good with colors...

No, you are correct. That is a slightly faded RED box. It the one I referred to for Top Breaks, specifically the Safety Hammerless.
I suppose they used some for RPs. All the early RP boxes I've seen were brown, but I've always focused more on Ks and Ns.

 

[handejector]

By the way, did you happen to check the outside bottom of the box for the serial #? That's where they were written back in the day, in black, white or red grease pencil.

Back in this era, the boxes that had plain paper bottoms usually had the number written in pencil (graphite).

 

[Rodan]

No, you are correct. That is a slightly faded RED box. It the one I referred to for Top Breaks, specifically the Safety Hammerless.
I suppose they used some for RPs. All the early RP boxes I've seen were brown, but I've always focused more on Ks and Ns.

Thank you.

Any ideas on the value of the box? The ask on the gun is already at the very high end for a .32 HE, but the box could make the deal worthwhile.

I know boxes for K and N frame pre-war guns are pretty pricey, but I would expect an RP box to be less valuable.

 

[handejector]

Well, I'm not lookin at it, but would say $100-200 for the box.

 

[Rodan]

Thank you!

 

[Rodan]

The auction has ended, so I can post the link. I did not end up bidding, as it had already passed what I was willing to pay for it. Hammered at $1025, which I think is all the money and then some for a .32 HE Third model, even with the RP box.

Opinions on the auction price?

GB - .32 HE Third Model with Regulation Police box

 

[Hondo44]

Well it's a pretty spectacular example. But if the buyer wasn't paying close attention to the label on the box or didn't know the gun isn't an RP, they'll be pretty disappointed when they find out.

It would be a great price if the box was correct. May still be a good price in today's market. And the box could be traded for a correct box, albeit not the original box.