Good evening all,
I have what appears to be a S&W 32 hand ejector model of 1903 with a 6 inch barrel. Everything matches the description in Flayderman's except the last patent date is Jul' 03 and it has what appears to be factory target sights. The serial number is 17620. what do I have?
Thank You
John

John. Don't worry about something in Flayderman's not matching what a gun has. Can you post pictures? if your gun is a factory target version of the .32 HE Model of 1903, it's a realy rare bird, worth big bucks, depending on remaining original finish and condition. It's worth getting a factory letter to see what you have, as a buyer will not pay the big bucks w/o a letter to verify the gun as a factory target model. You can test the possibilty of it being a factory target by removing the rear sight base and see if the gun's serial number is stamped underneath the sight base. If it is, chances are 99% it's a factory gun and not a later conversion to a target gun from a service sighted gun. Ed #15

I have a first year production (1903) target sighted one with 4" barrel. My serial is 9607. I haven't lettered it yet, but will get to it eventually. They aren't encountered very often.

__________________
Chris
SWCA #2243 SWHF #292

Thank you both. I don't have the ability to post a picture but I could E-mail pictures to some one if they could post them for me. If this looks original to others except for the after market grips than I would go to the expence of lettering it and finding the propper grips.
Thanks Again
John

I'm going to try and attach 2 pictures. I hope it works.

Attached Images

	HE 32 002.jpg (71.8 KB, 186 views)
	HE 32 001.jpg (118.2 KB, 203 views)

I also have a Model 1903, but it's not the target version. Mine has a 4-1/4" barrel and is nickeled. Serial #18825. This one is unusual in the fact it is fitted with medallion-checkered target grips. These are almost always found on the single-shot pistols. Normally one would expect these type of grips to be on the target versions. I might letter this gun one of these days just to see if the grips were factory original.

ctg4570 is correct. The original Model 1903's are seldom found. This one was a flea market find at $175.

.32 Hand Ejector 2nd Model (Model of 1903)

jsmith

Good Morning All,
If anyone knows where I can buy a set of those I frame target grips I could realy use them. When I bought my 32 target it had a set of Houge grip made for a J frame installed. I can't understand why I haven't gotten my letter back from S&W yet! Afterall I did mail the form the day before yesterday!!! LOL.

Original target grips for these guns are difficult to find by themselves. You need to get your factory letter back to know what type of grips this gun had to begin with. It is possible your gun didn't have target grips to begin with and just regular hard-rubber round-butt frame grips. Black hard-rubber extension grips are easier to find than the medallion-checkered target grips pictured on my gun.

Turnaround on factory letters is usually about a month. Could be longer with the holidays.

jsmith