Finally got around to shootin
it today. Great little shooter. Neat caliber.
This one dates to 1907 so not too bad
of shape considering age.
[

I wouldn't call that a beater. Looks like a nice shooter to me. I've never shot a 32-20. How's it compare to the 38 Special?

Finish looks a little worn, but I wouldn't call it a beater. Congrats!

Congratulations on your find. That's not so bad. But it's beat enough that you wont mind shooting and cleaning it lots. I have two "beater" 32-20s and I enjoy shooting and reloading for them as much as any of my other revolvers. Here one like yours, a littler later, a little shorter in the barrel, but a bit more worn:



And a five inch nickel model from the twenties that was butt ugly when I bought it. Someone had tried a cheesy replating job on it at some time.



The more I use it, the more that hideous plating wears off. It actually is looking better now than when I bought it.


John

I'm sure you know those stocks are later than the gun (if it does date from 1907) but they look very nice!
Great little sidearm. I'm very fond of the .32-20 "Winchester Model" even though I only have one at present. Eventually, I hope to stumble on a couple more from different eras.
Here's a picture of mine, a rare Model of 1902 Target that letters to March of 1904. (Note: it also wears stocks that were produced a decade or so after the gun.)


And you are right - they are fun to shoot.

__________________
Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Looks like a "solid shooter grade" rather than a "beater" to me. My 32-20 M&P is a little later than yours and has a much more "patina-ed" surface! There is just something about shooting the smallest of the real rifle/carbine rounds in a handgun that is too much fun! I've not shot mine as often as some of my other guns, but it's always been fun to take to the range, and it is always a solid accurate shooter. Hope you will enjoy yours as much and more!

Froggie

Very nice revolver.

That's a LOT nicer than mine. Hardly a beater!

I'd much prefer mine to look like yours than the way it does, in my opinion nickle plated revolvers look terrible when they deteriorate with pitting and scaling and thats what I have. I am fortunate that it has a very nice barrel and the timing and lock-up are excellent. Its shoots very well, kinda tough to compare it to a 38 special since its a much lighter bullet. The main difference I have found is that like the .30 carbine in a pistol it is quite loud. Mine looks as if a small town "county mountie" owned it and used it as a hammer to put up wanted posters, the butt end of the stocks are covered with circular marks like tacks. I like the caliber, it is fun to shoot in pistols or rifle. I had the 1892 Winchester in 32-20 and thought it would be cool to have a matching pistol, got a decent deal on the Smith and thats how I got started. Unfortunately you can load the devil out of the Winchester but can't or shouldn't load the pistols to the same level. My Winchester likes those little 100gr. Hornady HP-XTP's and like the .30 Carbine it likes H-110. That round is too hot for the pistol or at least that what I've been told. I picked up some cast bullets from Cast Performance 113gr. FPGC that work real well in both the Winchester and S&W, but they are loaded down considerably to closely match the factory loads, nice accurate load.