I have a 38 S&W marked Regulation Police # 4270, and a 32 S&W that looks exactly the same # 287580. The 32 is not marked Regulation Police. Is the 32 still considered a Regulation Police? I think the 38 was made 1917, the 32 probably much later.
32 & 38 Regulation Police
- Thread starter ccnv
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It may seem a bit odd, but only the .38 RP was marked on the barrel as a Regulation Police. The .32 RP was not.
Eddie Southgate
Member
Regardless of what they call the .32 version , I would consider myself very lucky if I had a nice one . Congratulations .
ccnv, post pictures of your RP's. I see .38 RP's with serials around yours shipping in late 1917 or early 1918. If both guns have gold medallion grips, the .32 likely shipped in 1919. Does it have a trademark stamp? S&W began heat treating the cylinders in 1920.
unspellable
Member
How does a S&W factory refinish affect the value of these?
S&W suspended stamping the trademark for WWI and didn't resume until 1920.
Any refinish tends to lower the value. IIRC, at one time, the Standard Catalog of S&W stated a factory refinished gun's condition should not be valued over Very Good. I haven't looked lately to see if that guidance is in the 5th Edition. It's subjective and I think the rarer the gun, the less a factory refinish affects value. That being said, the RP's aren't particularly rare and are not a high $$ gun to begin with.
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Yes, the 38 Regulation Police revolvers were made in a separate serial number range than the 32 versions.
oldcop71
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I picked up a .32 S&W RP a few years ago at a local pawn shop. This was before dealers began catching on to the rising popularity of .32 revolvers, and I got it for $350. Its condition was almost as-new, despite being over 100 years old. When I got home, I checked my SCSW4th for a value, and it was listed at $1000. The 5th edition has it around $1200. Great deals like that are getting harder and harder to find.
paddlingman
Member
388947, 32 Regulation Police. Nickel. 4-1/4" bbl. 1924 date, I believe.
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larryofcc
Member
larryofcc
Member
I have been shooting mine. Fun guns, very small, but pleasant to shoot with the extended grip and 4 1/4" barrel. They have the cuteness factor.
When did they stop putting the recessed gold medallion in the grip? Neither of mine say made in USA
When did they stop putting the recessed gold medallion in the grip? Neither of mine say made in USA
About 1920.
The 32 Regulation Police was not roll marked as such on the barrel because the 32 Hand Ejector, (round butt) was produced concurrently and S&W did not want to have two differently marked 32 Caliber barrels in inventory.
I personally won’t devalue a factory refinished gun. However beware. Just because the gun is stamped with factory refinish codes and the date, verify by examining it that it hasn’t been non-factory refinished after it was factory refinished.
unspellable
Member
Refinish date is Jan 1960. I think it had an easy life, it would rate 98% if you ignored the refinish point. It's a quality refinish, lettering sharp, no gouges , scratches etc. Looks original. I think I'll keep it, it's pretty if nothing else.
