S&W .32 Long CTG

[SiGfever]

My father got this pistol when he was very young. The Serial Number is 5959**. I would like to find out the age and anything else about the pistol.
Thanks.

[Muley Gil]

This is a .32 Regulation Police. It probably dates to the late 1940s.

Since you have changed the SN on us , I'll also go with the 1920s.

It happens. Often, the SN is stamped so deep on the frame, it is hard to read.

[Dpris]

And .32 Long CTG is only the caliber.
Not a model designation.
Denis

[DWalt]

Shipment dating for 5959xx is difficult. Some I have listed having nearby SNs shipped in the early 1950s. For example, 5897xx shipped in 7/52. Only a letter will tell you more precisely. As yours has the one line "MADE IN USA" frame stamp (beginning in mid-1922) and the earlier style hammer, and also has grips of the 1920s style and the mushroom-style extractor knob which was replaced by the barrel style in the late 1920s, my guess is that yours is from the mid- to late 1920s. Are you certain the SN you provided is correct (stamped on the front grip frame)? I'd expect a SN in the mid 3xxxxx to very low 5xxxxx range for the 1920s

[SiGfever]

Originally Posted by DWalt

Shipment dating for 5959xx is difficult. Some I have listed having nearby SNs shipped in the early 1950s. For example, 5897xx shipped in 7/52. Only a letter will tell you more precisely. As yours has the one line "MADE IN USA" frame stamp (beginning in mid-1922) and the earlier style hammer, and also has grips of the 1920s style and the mushroom-style extractor knob which was replaced by the barrel style in the late 1920s, my guess is that yours is from the mid- to late 1920s. Are you certain the SN you provided is correct? I'd expect a SN in the mid 3xxxxx to very low 5xxxxx range for the 1920s

After looking at it closer under magnification it appears to be a "3" not a "5". The 1920's makes sense as my dad was born in 1917 and at sixteen had a Colt SAA .45LC 7.5" "Rubber Blue", new in box. My grandfather owned a hardware store in upstate NY in a little town on Lake George. My father got a Marlin M#37 pump .22 when he was six, so he would have gotten this before he was sixteen. What is the model number of this pistol?

[gordonrick]

Yours was made before S&W started numbering models. The model name is ".32 Regulation Police"

[SiGfever]

Originally Posted by gordonrick

Yours was made before S&W started numbering models. The model name is ".32 Regulation Police"

Thank you all!

[Hondo44]

Originally Posted by SiGfever

Thank you all!

It became the Model 33 in 1957.
CORRECTION: I MEANT TO SAY MODEL 31.

THX TO two-bit cowboy for rattling my cage and waking me up!