I have a .32 LONG CTG

MODEL # 1541

Serial # 187xxx

Any idea of its age? Or range of potential value? I would say it's in good condition, some wear but very usable.

Thanks!

Welcome to the forum. That's actually called a .32 Hand Ejector Model of 1902; collectors further refine that by calling it a "fifth change." It dates to about 1913 or 1914.

"CTG" is an abbreviation for cartridge. If your gun is in good shape, you can shoot modern .32 Long ammunition in it. I usually shoot .32 match ammo with wadcutter bullets because the pressure is lower. It's not like the gun will come apart in your hand if you shoot the wrong ammo, but why stress a revolver that is about a century old? Softer match loads are good enough, and plenty accurate too.

Can you post pics?

__________________
David Wilson

Welcome to the forum!

David gave you the 'whole enchilada'. They are great guns and fun to shoot. We like pictures.

Smiths did not get model #s until 1957 so I believe the #1541 came from the yoke and is a factory assembly #; which is not useful to you.

__________________
Jim
S&WCA #819

Thanks for the help so far - you guys are great.

Here are the pics.

[ATTACH][ATTACH][ATTACH][ATTACH]P5031387.jpg[/ATTACH][/ATTACH][/ATTACH][/ATTACH]

Attached Images

	P5031383.jpg (55.6 KB, 428 views)
	P5031384.jpg (52.6 KB, 350 views)
	P5031385.jpg (57.5 KB, 311 views)
	P5031386.jpg (52.9 KB, 282 views)

Welcome to the forum.

Your gun appears to have an original factory nickel finish that has become somewhat milky over time. There may be an "N" on the back of the cylinder. You can restore some of the luster with Fliltz polish.

It would be a good idea to have a REVOLVER smith check the gun out for wear. If there is excessive side play of the cylinder or a timing issue or excessive front to back play (endshake), it might spit lead through the barrel-cylinder gap.

There is a gunsmithing section on the forum with self-help information.

The S/N is not 1541, it would be located on the bottom of the gun butt of the grip. The # inside the frame window is an assembly # and meaningless once it left the factory. For it's age, it is not in too bad a condition, but have the lockup checked, in the side view pictures it appears to not be locked up correctly.

__________________
H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I have a S&W .32 long ctg hand ejector with a 4 1/4 barrel with a serial number of 4461x. It has 4 screws in the side plate and the last date on the barrel is feb 6 06. It has the S&W on the right side. All numbers are matching and it fires good. Could someone tell me some info about it? Thanks.

It sounds like you have either a Hand Ejector model (rounded grips of wood or hard rubber following the shape of the grip frame) or Regulation Police (squared-off wooden grip that extends below the actual grip frame of steel.) Both are part of the series called the "I-frames" that were designed just before the turn of the last century around this particular caliber.

The serial number puts it somewhere in the '30s, certainly prior to WW II, and late enough that it has the good heat treating in the cylinder. Price/value will depend completely on condition, of course, and pictures will help determine that. As to shooting it, assuming good condition, it will be quite satisfactory with any modern factory loads for 32 S&W as well as 32 S&W Long. Hope this will be of help to you.

Froggie

Raven31 and Froggie, something's not quite in sync here. That's a five-digit serial number, not six, so if it is a .32 Hand Ejector it can't have been shipped later than 1907 or so. That's several years before the Regulation Police was introduced.

Based on the barrel length and caliber stamping, I'd think this has to be a .32 Hand Ejector, Model of 1903, Second Change. I'm a little confused by the last patent date on the barrel because I can't find a record of an I-frame patent date block that ends with that date.

There is one possibility here that is so unlikely that I almost hate to mention it, but could this be .32-20 Military & Police that was special ordered in .32 Long rather than .32 WCF? The .32 M&P Model of 1905, Second Change had a patent date block ending in Feb 06, 1906. They had their own serial number sequence that would have included the serial number mentioned.

Raven 31, can you post photos of your gun?

If not, can you at least answer a couple of questions: How long is the cylinder on your gun? If it is about 1.25 inches, it is an I-frame as Froggie suggested, but of somewhat earlier manufacture. If it is about 1.5", it is a larger K-frame revolver and you have a potentially valuable and rare revolver.

Does the gun have a fixed rear sight channel (groove in frame) or an adjustable rear sight (screws to permit elevation and side to side adjustment)?

ADDENDUM: Raven31, I should have said this first: Welcome to the forum. Sometimes I get so focused on the gun that I lose sight of the basic human courtesies.

__________________
David Wilson

Sorry for the confusion on the numbers, i realized after i posted i had the numbers wrong. The correct one is 4461x. Thank you both for the information.

I will have pictures up soon. It has a 1.5 inch cylinder and fixed sights.

I assume this means you changed the serial number after I wrote my response, right? Good, I am still able to count to 6! Now with the further information (1.5" long cylinder) I'm very excited, as I am sure David is also, if this really is a K-frame 32 S&W. This could be a very exciting thread. I'm looking forward to the pictures.

Froggie

PS The barrel length is measured from the front face of the cylinder to the end of the muzzle. Is the barrel perhaps a bit longer than you posted?

It has fixed sights and a 1.5 inch cylinder.

Attached Images

	0528122013.jpg (56.3 KB, 264 views)
	0528122014.jpg (45.6 KB, 218 views)
	2.jpg (47.8 KB, 227 views)
	downsize.jpg (47.8 KB, 151 views)

I have the same gun in very good condition. The 5 digit s/n is 96xxx wondering if i could get year made and value

It is a little longer than 4.25.

Attached Images

	0528122034.jpg (54.3 KB, 42 views)
	0528122034a.jpg (46.9 KB, 38 views)

Original comments deleted because I was completely wrong in thinking this was an I-frame revolver. See Hondo44's comments below for the proper identification.

__________________
David Wilson

Nicholl12, welcome to the forum. Guns in this .32 Hand Ejector series had a serial number near yours around 1909-1910.

Let me just ask you to confirm that the caliber marking on the side of the gun says .32 LONG CTG rather than .32-20 or .32 WCF.

If you can post a couple of photographs it would help us make sure we are interpreting your description correctly. An I-frame .32 in nice condition (say 95% or better) could be worth from $300-400 depending on the details and the section of the country where it would be sold. Prices vary from state to state.

__________________
David Wilson

IMG_20120528_210830.jpg

IMG_20120528_210912.jpg

Here is a pic of the cylinder. My camera wont pick up the numbers on it. On the left side of the barrel it has a proof mark, 32 winchester CTG then another proof mark. The serial numbers are on the bottom of the handle, back side of the cylinder and on the bottom of the barrel above the ejector rod. All numbers match except on the barrel it has
(B 4461x W). It has the S&W emblem on the top of the grips.

Attached Images

0528122115.jpg (34.3 KB, 45 views)

Here is a better pic of the handle.
I removed the grips and on the right grip it has the number 2854x stamped in it.

Attached Images

downsize.jpg (46.0 KB, 72 views)

I took the gun pictured in your post #13 to be a K frame which is confirmed by your cylinder measurement and 32 Winchester Cartridge (also known as 32-20) barrel marking. The marks on either side are typographical decorations rather than proof marks. The W (after the serial # under the barrel) is for Winchester since the 32 -20 is a Winchester catridge. The B is for blue.

__________________
Jim
S&WCA #819

OK, that further information about chambering helps a lot. .32 Long is a different cartridge from .32-20 or .32 WCF (Winchester Center Fire). There was never a .32 WCF I-frame revolver because the cylinder was not long enough to hold the cartridge or meaty enough to contain the larger base section of that round. There were from time to time K-frame revolvers in .32 Long, and I briefly considered that you might have one of those. But they are uncommon.

I am still puzzled by the seeming lack of a stud end on the left side of the gun that is associated with the trigger rebound slide mechanism. If this is a K-frame, there needs to be a stud either on the left side of the open field below the cylinder release (early design, pre-1906), or to the right side, closer to the top of the left grip panel (later design, post 1906). I suspect my eyes simply cannot make it out in the photos. Can you see any such stud end on the left side of the frame? It will be of smaller diameter than the large hammer stud end that is located directly beneath the cylinder release thumbpiece. Can you see it as you hold the gun?

What is the number stamped on the flat underside of the barrel?

If the barrel number matches the serial number on the butt of the gun, and if there is a trigger return spring stud end near the top of the grip piece on the left side, then I think this has to be identified as a .32-20 Hand Ejector Model of 1905, second change.

__________________
David Wilson

Here is a pic of the left side. I believe it has the stud you are talking about. Thank you everyone for the info.

Attached Images

0528122231.jpg (33.2 KB, 114 views)

OK, I feel like I'm watching a doubles tennis match! It turns out that Raven51 instead of an early I-frame 32 S&W has a K-frame, fairly early, in 32-20/32 WCF.

Nicholl12, on the other hand, does have an old I-frame in 32 S&W. Is that about right? I think I'm going to have to quit making snap judgements on what I think posters are asking about and wait for a lot more detail before I stick my rather sizable foot in my mouth again!

Oh well, isn't if all fun?

Regards,
the (confused) Frog

You are right. I see it clearly in that photo.

__________________
David Wilson

Any idea on what the value might be?