32 Hand Ejector early 60's

Torabuff · #1 10-30-2011, 09:48 PM

Hello all, new to this forum. I have inherited a 32 I Know little about it other than it was purchased new by my father in the early 60's. I have searched extensively on this forum and have found out it was a common gun but most posted were much earlier the s/n is 581740 and has a 3.25 in barrel. just curious of its estimated value and what it shoots other than .32 s&w long.
I doubt this gun has had more than a box or two of rounds through it in its life.
Thanks all for your help and I hope the pics come through

JayCeeNC · #2 10-30-2011, 10:02 PM

Very nice gun, and welcome to the Forum.
I'm not current on the prices for those little guns, but if that's the original red box, with matching serial number on the bottom, then the value is enhanced. Older guns with original boxes are always just a bit more valuable as a "package" rather than just an old gun.

DCWilson · #3 10-30-2011, 10:14 PM

You have what is known as a transitional .32 Hand Ejector. These were built on the prewar I-frames between 1950 and 1953. In 1953 a different frame and slightly different configuration was introduced for this and similar models, and they were referred to as the Model of 1953.

Variation came to these revolvers in several steps. Yours is built on the "improved" I-frame, which utilized a coil spring rather than a flat leaf spring to drive the hammer. With that serial number, it is probably one of the first to use that spring mechanism.

That's a very nice revolver. I can see someone shelling out $600-700 for it easily, and some eager I-frame collectors might go higher.

You are pretty much limited to .32 S&W Long for that revolver, though some people shoot .32 auto in theirs. That's a semi-rimmed cartridge, so it won't drop into the chamber and can still be ejected with the plunger mechanism.

Muley Gil · #4 10-30-2011, 10:17 PM

You can also shoot .32 S&W cartridges, which are shorter than the .32 S&W Long.

Green Frog · #5 10-30-2011, 11:06 PM

Thanks for posting that. It has to be the lowest serial number I have seen for an improved I-frame. I was working a thread earlier this weekend to try and get just this very kind of info. I recently owned a somewhat later example with the same basic features except for the so-called "flat latch" on mine. I "wholesaled" it to a friend of a friend, so the price I got was a lot lower than I would expect you to get for that one... I would expect a minimum of $500-600 for yours, and probably more if you find two or more people wanting to bid on it.

An interesting point is that these little Smiths seem to be taking off in price in just the last few months, so this might be a time to "know when to hold 'em" as the price goes up on desirable, high grade examples like yours. Congratulations on a nice inheritance.

Green Frog

ar15ed · #6 10-30-2011, 11:43 PM

sweet! that is a jewel. welcome to the forum, and great entrance!

lebomm · #7 10-31-2011, 01:51 AM

Correct cartridges for your gun will be .32 S&W, .32 S&W Long, .32 Colt New Police, and will probably also handle .32 Short Colt and .32 Long Colt. As stated above, .32 ACP will probably chamber & fire, but reliability will be less than 100%. hth

Larry

Hondo44 · #8 10-31-2011, 03:57 AM

Everyone so far has covered your little jewel of a revolver perfectly. One thing to add though. If you measure all of the barrel, it goes all the way to the cylinder, you'll find that you have a 4". Even though the box says 3 1/4". Is the serial # in grease pencil on the outside bottom of the box?

If the serial # matches, S&W no doubt shipped it in the box marked other than 4"; not uncommon.

Torabuff · #9 10-31-2011, 10:04 AM

Thanks so much for the great info, I know my father got the gun from the dealer in this box, not sure if its a factory box but I think it is due to the fact all the safety info is printed inside the cap, I never thought to check the bottom for a s/n. I was told it was purchased new in 62 or 63 and was given to an older cousin in the late 60's when we were toddlers to eliminate any guns in the house growing up. It was given to my 13 yo son a couple of weeks ago by my cousin who said its the same as he got it except the oil paper inside which perished due to age. Thank you all again.

H Richard · #10 10-31-2011, 02:45 PM

Very nice gun. Your S/N is slightly lower than mine, 60009X, which was shipped from the factory in Jan. 1953. It is also referred to as a Pre 30. .32 S&W Long is not difficult to find, and can be ordered from lots of internet sources as well as many gun shops handling it. It is a very mild recoiling handgun, and surprisingly accurate. Much fun to shoot.

Torabuff · #11 11-01-2011, 09:56 AM

Got home and checked the bottom of the box for a s/n and there was one
there hard to read on the end, it was a 660112 which wasn't my gun, so at some point from the factory or dealer it was switched. What is the correct way to measure the barrel? mine is 3.25 from the end to the face of the gun and 4" over all from one end to the other.
thanks

Hondo44 · #12 11-01-2011, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torabuff

Got home and checked the bottom of the box for a s/n and there was one
there hard to read on the end, it was a 660112 which wasn't my gun, so at some point from the factory or dealer it was switched. What is the correct way to measure the barrel? mine is 3.25 from the end to the face of the gun and 4" over all from one end to the other.
thanks

It's a 4" gun, see post #8.