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32-44 Target Revolver

Boulder350

Boulder350

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Here is a 32-44 target revolver I own. It was my first large frame revolver purchase and didn't know very much about them at the time. It is refinished and has matching serial numbers on the frame, barrel, and the cylinder. There is no number on the latch. The serial number is 3xx. There is a 3 digit number under the left grip indicating it was sent back to the factory for work 1/17 (or maybe 11/7). It has 6 notches filed in the end of the barrel. Maybe it indicates the number of shooting matches won with the gun?

At the time I bought it it was listed as a 38-44. Thought is was a 38 until I took it to the gun smith and he said it was a 32. That was about 1 year after I bought it so there was nothing I could do. Sent away for the historical letter and it came back confirming it is a 32-44 that was sent to G.W. Beard & Son Co on January 21st, 1892.

Since working on my model of 91 project barrel in 32 caliber I started looking at the Model 3 revolver a little closer. Bought a 32-44 round and tried to chamber it in the New Model Number 3 but the entire 32-44 round slid right through the cylinder. Took out the caliper and measured the cylinder. They are all bored straight through to about .380, large enough to chamber a 38 special round. The end of the barrel measures about .318 which is correct for the 32-44 round.

Any thoughts on why the cylinder was bored out?
 

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Perhaps somebody bored the cylinders in order to sleeve them for the more common 32-Long, then didn't follow-up with installing (shrinking-in) the sleeves?

I've never seen a 32-44 cartridge, but have assumed that the OD would have been around 0.360" rather than 0.380".

Another possible scenario would be that an earlier owner had some special insert-adaptors made (or was going to make) for using 32 S&W (or 32-Long) cartridges similar to those 22-Jet/22-LR inserts. I don't know, just a couple of wild guesses. -S2
 
Too bad it was modified, but one can only guess at the intent of a previous owner. One option would be to sleeve the cylinder. You would also have to replace or re-manufacture the ejector star. At least one would be able to shoot the gun and it would be correct. It would be nice if you could pick up a new cylinder, but chanced of finding one in 32 caliber would be slim.

As for the cartridge, it should have been around .335" diameter and the length of the cylinder. The bullet should have been the same as the 32 Long and 32 S&W, .312" and sunk fully into the case.
 
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Here are a few more pictures. I was incorrect in saying the 32-44 fell straight through the cylinder. You can see the 32-44 round in the cylinder and is shows the round is quite a bit smaller diameter. I thought the 32-44 was the same length as cylinder and the 38-44 too until I bought both rounds. The 32-44 is shown next the the 38-44 target round in two of the pictures. The ejector star has been modified to accept a larger round just like the cylinder has been modified. Also took a pic of the chamber lined up with the barrel. Wonder if the shooter had a special shell machined to fit the cylinder so he could reload them easier? The 32 long round uses a .312 diameter bullet while the 32-44 uses a .318 (about, i'm still learning) diameter bullet.
 

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The 32-44 cartridge is not in Barne's book. I was assuming it used the same case as the 320 RR, but what I can find lists it as just under 1" in length, while the 38-44 was about 1 7/16" long as was the short cylinder NM3s. That last image seems to show drill marks, so no polishing had taken place?? What is the diameter of the charge holes?
 
Boulder350 said:
Here is a 32-44 target revolver I own. It was my first large frame revolver purchase and didn't know very much about them at the time. It is refinished and has matching serial numbers on the frame, barrel, and the cylinder. There is no number on the latch. The serial number is 3xx. There is a 3 digit number under the left grip indicating it was sent back to the factory for work 1/17 (or maybe 11/7). It has 6 notches filed in the end of the barrel. Maybe it indicates the number of shooting matches won with the gun?

At the time I bought it it was listed as a 38-44. Thought is was a 38 until I took it to the gun smith and he said it was a 32. That was about 1 year after I bought it so there was nothing I could do. Sent away for the historical letter and it came back confirming it is a 32-44 that was sent to G.W. Beard & Son Co on January 21st, 1892.

Since working on my model of 91 project barrel in 32 caliber I started looking at the Model 3 revolver a little closer. Bought a 32-44 round and tried to chamber it in the New Model Number 3 but the entire 32-44 round slid right through the cylinder. Took out the caliper and measured the cylinder. They are all bored straight through to about .380, large enough to chamber a 38 special round. The end of the barrel measures about .318 which is correct for the 32-44 round.

Any thoughts on why the cylinder was bored out?
Click to expand...



How does it compare to a 3-20?
 
If there was polishing it was not very good. There are lines going the length of all the chambers and lines going around the circumference of each chamber at different depths. I can't tell if the charge holes are nickel or raw steel.

I can't actually insert the 38 special round in all chambers. One accepts the round easily, some go in with a little force, while others won't accept the round. The charge holes/chambers are about .380".
 
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After reading Gary's and Ralph's post I did more searching on the internet to find out the difference between the 32-44 and 320 RR round. Most sources list the 32-44 cartridge dimensions the same as what Ralph posted. It looks like the 320 RR has the same dimensions as the 32-44, its just longer. It also looks like both cases can be formed from the 32-20 case, with a few adjustments that make is close to the original ones 32-44 and 320 RR.

Is the 32-44 chamber/cylinder bored straight through or does it have a step in it? Can't check mine since its been altered.

Mark
 
I am confident that Ralph has this caliber in his collection and can comment on the chambers. He shared information with me, so I could reload the 38-44 Target.

The 320 was a straight walled case with a .317" bullet, around .320"-.322" case, and a .350 rim. Don't know if one can go from .338 base diameter of a 32 Winchester down to .32"?? I would think that it would be easier to reform a 32 H&R Mag case that is straight wall and .333". As for whether there is any step in the cylinder, I would only guess that a 32-44 would have the step to accommodate the increased brass case diameter and the front of the cylinder should be the diameter of the bullet in order for the bullet not to lose back pressure through the cylinder??
 
In reviewing this thread, you are extremely fortunate you had not dropped in a .38 Special cartridge (even a downloaded to a gallery charge) into the cylinder and fired it.

The confusion of the .38-44 New model 3 blackpowder round and the 1930s, .38-44 Heavy Duty, caused the demise of a least a few of the .38-44 New Model 3s and that is bad enough, however, to drop a .38 round with a .32 barrel ... that would have had a tragic result.

I'm curious to know if you have determined who refinished this revolvers. The finish appears to be professional from the extent of what I can see in the photos, so, it doesn't reason someone with this skill could make such a blunder.

Are you absolutely SURE, the serial numbers on the face of the cylinder, the rear recess of the barrel (visible with the clasp raised) all match exactly ?
 
Gary is correct: "As for whether there is any step in the cylinder, I would only guess that a 32-44 would have the step to accommodate the increased brass case diameter and the front of the cylinder should be the diameter of the bullet...".
 
Here are some pictures of the serial numbers. They look original to me. The numbers are clear and the rust pits are still there under the new nickel finish so the numbers were never removed and re-stamped.

Based on everyone's comments I'm starting to think this revolver was in the process of being converted to another cartridge, but the project was never finished.

The revolver did go back to the S&W factory for work in 1917. Maybe it was refinished then.

Thanks
Mark
 

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I once owned a New Model #3 target serial # 33X that was refinished and converted to 38 special. The barrel was bored and sleeved to 38 special and the cylinder bored with a step to 38 special caliber. The numbers all matched and the latch was the early non-adjustable target type which someone appears to have replaced on your gun. I think you are correct that this is a conversion process that was not completed.

I believe the one I owned was originally a 32-44 target New Model #3.

Alanfir
 
alanfir said:
I once owned a New Model #3 target serial # 33X that was refinished and converted to 38 special. The barrel was bored and sleeved to 38 special and the cylinder bored with a step to 38 special caliber. The numbers all matched and the latch was the early non-adjustable target type which someone appears to have replaced on your gun. I think you are correct that this is a conversion process that was not completed.

I believe the one I owned was originally a 32-44 target New Model #3.

Alanfir
Click to expand...

i have one bored and sleeved to .22LR when it started life as either at 32-44 or .38-44 as best I can determine.
 
Boulder350 said:
Here are some pictures of the serial numbers. They look original to me. The numbers are clear and the rust pits are still there under the new nickel finish so the numbers were never removed and re-stamped.

Based on everyone's comments I'm starting to think this revolver was in the process of being converted to another cartridge, but the project was never finished.

The revolver did go back to the S&W factory for work in 1917. Maybe it was refinished then.

Thanks
Mark
Click to expand...

Yes, they all match. The most logical conclusion here is likely it was refinished for cosmetic purposes only, never intending it to be fired but rather "blocked and mounted".
 
mmaher94087 said:
Gary is correct: "As for whether there is any step in the cylinder, I would only guess that a 32-44 would have the step to accommodate the increased brass case diameter and the front of the cylinder should be the diameter of the bullet...".
Click to expand...

Now you guys are going to make me go dig out a few .32-44s for comparison when today is one of those days when certain parts of my body haven't started to move fluidly yet. :)
 
Yes----there's a step in the 32-44 chambers.

I'm not really sure why there ever was a 32-44. That's mostly because I don't know diddly about the history surrounding it---and the 38-44 is A LOT more interesting---given the technological benefit it brought to the table.

Ralph Tremaine
 
It appears there is not much information out there about this caliber. One source stated that ".32-44 S&W ammunition was originally made in 1877 (should be 1887) by UMC and was only chambered in the S&W New Model Number 3 revolver." I could only find one image of an original box and it is for sale, but if you have to ask the price, you cannot afford it!

Another source states that the 32-44 Target, introduced in 1887, was specifically designed for target shooting in the Smith & Wesson New Model No.3 Target Revolver, alongside the .38-44. The .32-44 was associated with the well-known target shot F.E. Bennett, the .38-44 version with the Chevalier Ira Paine. The revolvers using the .32-44 cartridge had cylinders bored precisely to match the .321 inch diameter bullet, ensuring the bullet was fully supported and was not deformed as it passed from case to barrel. Both cartridges were capable of groups of c 1.5 inches at 50 yards, performance that has not been bettered since.

If the bullet is .320" or over, it might not work to use 32 H&R Mag cases and 32-20 might be the only way to go, but how one would reform any brass to fit the standard chamber of a 32-44 Target would be the challenge. I am sure that reloading dies are tough to find.
 

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