1905 hand ejector 32-20

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combat32

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I just picked this up from LGS, I know it's a 1905 not sure which variation, I believe it's factory nickel, would like more opinions.
Bore, timing and lockup are excellent, believe it's been in a drawer last 80 or 90 years.
Not sure on the production/ ship date either, any answers are greatly appreciated.PXL_20250525_182410669.MP~2.jpgPXL_20250525_182428226.MP~2.jpgPXL_20250525_182436694.jpgPXL_20250525_182455891.jpgPXL_20250525_182514742.MP~2.jpgPXL_20250525_182529997.MP~2.jpgPXL_20250525_182600866.jpgPXL_20250525_182614342.jpgPXL_20250525_182637129.MP~2.jpg
 
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Also the Right grip panel has the serial number in pencil, can't seem to get a picture of it, and it matches
 
Serial 27664 shipped April 29 1908, so your gun was maybe 1-2 years earlier. Judging from the surface condition, if it was in a drawer for the last 80-90 years, it was probably "rode hard and put away wet" . Collectors classify this gun as a 2905 1st change, which means that it has the new cylinder stop with the 5th frame screw, and the new trigger rebound slide.

Mike Priwer
 
Nice early Model 1905. Two guns on either side of your serial number both shipped in 1906. Interesting gun that have some clues to its history. Right stock is weathered and worn, but the left stock is very nice. Indicates a right handed person carrying the gun in a holster for some time. Second, it has amazing metal and areas where wear and effects of firing many rounds show intact finish. The fouling cup is pristine. So the next thing to state is that it is very likely that the revolver was seldom shot. The holster may well be the culprit in the finish loss and corrosion problems as chemicals used in tanning processes often can remove finish and moisture/humidity is likely to penetrate the leather and stay there resulting in rust. It is what it is and properly cared for will shoot as designed for decades to come.
 
Wood grips appear to be of the correct style for that time period. And it can be correctly identified as a .32 Model of 1905. Often referred to unofficially as the “Winchester” model due to the barrel caliber stamping. Later, caliber stampings were changed to “.32 WCF” and finally .32-20. Different names for the same cartridge. Factory ammunition for it can be difficult to find and expensive today.
 
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At that serial number, it could be anywhere from 1906 to 1908. These regularly shipped out of order, basically throughout the lifespan of this model.

Here are some representative ship dates:
22937 - December 1907
22952 - June 1906
22997 - March 1906
23043 - February 1908
23622 - April 1906
23785 - September 1907

The Circassian walnut stocks are period correct and probably original.
 
If the picture of the ammo is yours, do NOT shoot the Remington Rifle rounds in your revolver. The "Rifle" ammo generates too much pressure for your revolver, and has a high possibility of damaging your revolver.
 
kscharlie said:
If the picture of the ammo is yours, do NOT shoot the Remington Rifle rounds in your revolver. The "Rifle" ammo generates too much pressure for your revolver, and has a high possibility of damaging your revolver.
Click to expand...
The Remington ammo is perfectly safe in that revolver. It is NOT the high velocity ammunition intended for rifle use only back in the old days. That round has not been loaded for at least 60 years. It is found only in the ammunition collector’s realm today.
 
kscharlie said:
If the picture of the ammo is yours, do NOT shoot the Remington Rifle rounds in your revolver. The "Rifle" ammo generates too much pressure for your revolver, and has a high possibility of damaging your revolver.
Click to expand...
No, that ammo is safe in revolvers. Remington calls it Rifle ammo because it was introduced in the Winchester 1873 rifle. The 80 grain jacketed hollow point ammunition, which hasn't been factory loaded since the 1960s, is the load that is only safe in modern (Winchester1892 and Marlin 1894) rifles.
 
combat32 said:
Thanks for the information, my plan is to lightly clean it and enjoy the heck out of it, should be good for another 100 years. I don't reload 32-20 yet but see it in my future.View attachment 761040
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Nice vintage revolver, and a fun caliber! Looks like some TLC is definitely warranted. I'd start with a thorough spray down and soak with some quality CLP, and you might want to remove the right sideplate to access and clean the innards of old oil, grease, and gunk. Then try gentle polishing your nickel revolver with some Flitz Polish or Mother's Mag Wheel Polish and a microfiber cloth. A final application of some Renaissance Wax (or Johnson's Paste Wax) should help protect and make the remaining finish really pop! Enjoy!
 
glowe said:
Nice early Model 1905. Two guns on either side of your serial number both shipped in 1906. Interesting gun that have some clues to its history. Right stock is weathered and worn, but the left stock is very nice. Indicates a right handed person carrying the gun in a holster for some time. Second, it has amazing metal and areas where wear and effects of firing many rounds show intact finish. The fouling cup is pristine. So the next thing to state is that it is very likely that the revolver was seldom shot. The holster may well be the culprit in the finish loss and corrosion problems as chemicals used in tanning processes often can remove finish and moisture/humidity is likely to penetrate the leather and stay there resulting in rust. It is what it is and properly cared for will shoot as designed for decades to come.
Click to expand...
WOW, that is amazing information, very impressed. :) Thanks. I own a like in 3 1/2 barrel shipped in 1924 and blued, near mint.
 
combat32 said:
I just picked this up from LGS, I know it's a 1905 not sure which variation, I believe it's factory nickel, would like more opinions.
Bore, timing and lockup are excellent, believe it's been in a drawer last 80 or 90 years.
Not sure on the production/ ship date either, any answers are greatly appreciated.View attachment 760931View attachment 760932View attachment 760934View attachment 760935View attachment 760936View attachment 760938View attachment 760939View attachment 760940View attachment 760942
Click to expand...
 
The nearest serial nos. in my database with confirmed ship dates are:
23044: 1/25/07
23620, 23621: 3/14/06
23622 (third gun in three gun order to Kansas City): 4/20/06
This really shows the not-in-s/n-order shipping S&W is noted for.
 
Let's get this cleared up once and for all.
32 Winchester.... 32W.C.F..... 32-20... IS A RIFLE CARTRIDGE. (Period)
It is a "pistol like" rifle cartridge.
Just like 38-40 and 44-40.. they are all RIFLE CARTRIDGES chambered in pistols.
They all came first in rifles. They have larger and thicker rims than pistol cartridges to help ejecting from a lever action. 45 Colt=small rim.....etc. 45 Colt was never chambered in a rifle.
Probably why Remington calls it a RIFLE CARTRIDGE.
Both of those loads.. Remington 100grainer and the Black Hillls 115grainer are anemic loads.
1902 and 1905.jpg
 
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The .32-20 high velocity rifle cartridge was not intended for use in Winchester 1873 rifles or handguns but rather only for rifles having a considerably stronger action such as the Winchester 1892 and several others. What is not so widely known is that there were similar high velocity cartridges, both .38-40 and .44-40, which were also made for use only in rifles having strong actions. For some reason, the .38-40 and .44-40 HV cartridges never gained the popularity of the .32-20 HV, had short lives, and are very seldom encountered. There is usually no difficulty in distinguishing a .32-20 HV cartridge because of its headstamp and also because it uses a jacketed hollow point bullet, not Lead. As earlier mentioned, the .32-20 HV round took its final breath as a factory load back in the early 1960s, so it is improbable you will ever run across a box of them unless you are a cartridge collector. Any new .32-20 factory loads you find today will not be HV.
 
Interestingly I just purchased some High Velocity .32-20 ammo from my local Gun Shot. The Peters brand featured a hollow Point jacketed bullet the case was marked .32-20 HV. The Winchesters were older with the brown primer. A hollow Pointed jacketed bullet. The case was marked .32W.H.V. M-92. Neither of these loads were to be used in a Winchester Model 1873, or a revolver.
 
Bo Rich said:
Interestingly I just purchased some High Velocity .32-20 ammo from my local Gun Shot. The Peters brand featured a hollow Point jacketed bullet the case was marked .32-20 HV. The Winchesters were older with the brown primer. A hollow Pointed jacketed bullet. The case was marked .32W.H.V. M-92. Neither of these loads were to be used in a Winchester Model 1873, or a revolver.
Click to expand...

Please post pictures of these rounds and the boxes!
 
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