man, i rooted out a jewel today! early snubs are by far my favorite smiths. kinda at the last minute, i decided to go to a gunshow that i had never attended before, and the first row in, i spotted a 32 snub with early features, in unbelieveable condition. i instantly paid the asking price, and came happily home! i was assuming late 40s era (4-line address), but the serial number is firmly in the prewar era. it has all the prewar features: "32 s&w long ctg" on the left side of barrel, with no other barrel markings, leaf main spring, all 6 screws (4 sideplate, triggerguard, and strain), serial marked service stocks, all numbers match (barrel,cyl, frame, grips), and no rework markings.

man, it is sweet! i can't believe a gun could survive for the length of time it has, and remain in such nice condition. i honestly doubt if it has been fired. there is a very faint turn-line, a very light scratch near the cyl release latch, and a little light rub on the lower edge of the frame below the cylinder latch. the grips and recoil shield area are pristine. it is spotless under the grips, and the bore/bores are virginal looking! every screw looks untouched.

man, i am excited! i apologize for being silly, but i have looked for one of these for quite a while!



am i correct in assuming that there were absolutely NO prewar snubs with the 4-line address? i realize that the 2 inchers were few and far between, and have a lot of strange combinations of features. i guess some prewar serial numbered frames sat around during the war, then were assembled at later dates.

It's cute. I wonder what it wants to be when it grows up?

The order was given to change to the 4 line address well after WW II, like 1947 or so. Your gun is definitely pre-war in all ways except for when it was assembled.

Very pretty. I'd be excited, too.