I am not exactly sure what I have here. I have collected Smith & Wessons on and off for decades, but these little .32's kind of confuse me. Anyway, any information you can provide me, including the date of manufacture, would be greatly appreciated.

Here's what I bought earlier today at a gun show here in Louisville, Kentucky. It is a double action, six-shot, five screw, pre-war, Smith & Wesson Hand Ejector chambered in .32 S&W Long. It has a 3-1/4" barrel, nickel plated, and genuine mother of pearl grips. It is a rather small frame gun, much smaller then a standard K-frame. Except for a few scratches, it is really a very nice revolver. The serial number is 337776. I am guessing it's probably a 1920's or 1930's vintage revolver, but that's only a semi-educated guess on my part.

I hope the serial number will help to narrow down the possibilities. It has a small Smith and Wesson logo on the side of the revolver just under the thumb latch. The patent dates are on top of the barrel, and the caliber designation is on the side.

I bought the gun today after seeing it at a previous show a few months ago. It has a lot of character, and the best way I could describe it is something that has been sitting in some dresser drawer at a bordello for about the past 70 or 80 years. I hope you get the picture.

Thanks in advance for ANY INFORMATION you can supply me on this particular Smith and Wesson.

Actually, Pictures would be a very great help. Much easier to ID when we can see. Also please add what and were the markings are please.

Sounds like you have a .32 Hand Ejector Third Model. The serial is on the butt right, not on the tang? Date range for these is 1917-1942, your serial probably falls in the 20's. I bet it looks a lot like my 1903 5th Change.



These guns were built on the I frame, which as you noticed is smaller than the K frame.

It looks EXACTLY like that, except for the mother-of-pearl grips. The serial number is on the butt of the frame, with matching numbers on both the cylinder and underneath the barrel.

One thing, the caliber designation is on the opposite side of the barrel however. Where your's states the caliber, mine states "SMITH & WESSON" The ejector rod is the same "mushroom" style.

Nice piece, love them old Smiths!

Careful, those .32 I frames have been know to be a carrier of the dreaded Smith and Wesson addiction.
Larry

Hmm, not sure about the reversed barrel markings. Someone more knowledgeable than I will have to comment on that.

Wow, I like the bordello angle. And we think the old police guns would be cool if they could talk! Of course, if the girl who owned it was, say, 20 years old when she was hired and bought the gun, she's 91 or 101 now. Still working? That's getting kind of scary (I scare really easy.)

Yes, the older guns are interesting. The problem with the small frame .32s is they made a blue million of them (not just S&W). But the advice we always hear is they're reasonably priced still (in contrast with N frame guns which are not.)

The OP here did it right, he bought one in, hopefully, great condition.

Even .32s have been hit hard by the ammo inflation problems. Its an easy round to reload, and I'd suggest the OP take it up if he hasn't already. It can bring the price of shooting down to 22 caliber levels.

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Dick Burg

The .32 I bought earlier today cost me $400. The old guy that had it wouldn't take a penny less and I looked at it all day long thinking he would lower his price. He didn't, so I gave in and bought it after three hours.

Any firm date regarding the serial number? 337776

I now believe it to be a Smith & Wesson, Model 1903 Hand Ejector, caliber .32 S&W Long.

There was also another interesting S&W at that show today. A post-war 38-44 with a 4" barrel that had some aftermarket engraving on it in the form of some numbers and letters on the left side of the frame just below the cylinder which the seller said indicated it was originally shipped to Boeing Aircraft. It was in 95% + condition and the asking price was $650.

BAC Stamped 38/44 Heavy Duty

Yep. The one he was selling looked just like that one. Stamped in the same location, same style of markings.

513,841 shipped 10/29 if that's any help......

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446