Hi! Please help me identify and discover the year of a revolver I inherited.

[Barbarella]

Hi there! 😊

I inherited this revolver from my great grandfather. He was a cop.

Anyway, I think my revolver is probably a 32 S&W Long Pre Model 30 (32 Hand Ejector) with a 2” barrel and 6 rounds (in blue finish)

Can anyone confirm that?

The serial number is 659125, can someone please tell me its year? Please? 🤞🏻

I’d really appreciate that!

Thanks in advance! 👍🏻😊

[Barbarella]

More pictures:

[DWalt]

Your identification is confirmed. Along with your pictures and SN 659125, you have a pre-Model 30 .32 hand ejector, likely shipped in the mid-1957 period.

[Barbarella]

Thanks so much, DWalt. I had been told by somone that it was exactly like you said: late 1956 or early 1957. It’s nice to have an expert confirm that.

Let me ask you and the rest of the forum something else.

Does S&W keep their records from the time of this revolver?

Because I live in Brasil and we have strict gun laws and I can’t find any document about said revolver. Would it be possible to get a copy or some record of the sale of this gun from S&W?

That would be a lifesaver!

Thanks!!! 👍🏻😊😊😊😊

[DWalt]

Smith & Wesson Collectors Association

The letter is $75 USD. It will tell you the date of your revolver's shipment and to where originally shipped, usually a retailer or a gun distributor. If it was sent to Brasil, the first shipping address may well be to some exporter in the USA, or possibly to an importer in Brasil. Very, very seldom will the recipient be a private individual. Only way to find out is to get the letter and see what it says.

[Barbarella]

Thanks again, DWalt! 😉👏🏻

I had checked this site before but the form only allows for American addresses and they only take cash send by mail!!!!

I actually just emailed them explaining my situation and that I’m from Rio, Brazil and to see what we can work out. I do hope they reply, because there isn’t a telephone number anywhere to
Be found on the site.

I had guessed it’ll not be in my great grandfather’s name. He was a cop here, it wasn’t his primary weapon though. However, I’m pretty sure it was imported by the police force here and he probably bought it from them. It’s worth a try anyway. Wish me luck! 😉😊

[BC38]

Awesome little revolver, and welcome to the forum.

FWIW, unless the revolver is some unusual configuration (this one doesn't appear to be) or it is really rare (I don't think that applies in this case either), the amount of info you are likely to get for expense for the letter won't likely enhance the value as much as it costs.

Unless you have some provenance to indicate that your grandfather bought it new and want to establish where he purchased it, or unless you place some value on learning what retailer it was first shipped to, the $75 for the letter would probably be better spent on ammo.

At least to my way of thinking.

[Barbarella]

Oh, I completely agree! I’d much rather buy ammunition than pay 75 dollars. I’d have a blast at the range.

The problem is I can’t register the gun to my name and buy ammunition for it without a receipt or any document showing The provenance. It would be ideal if it was in the name of my great grandfather, I’m his only living heir, but I know the letter will probably show who imported it. I believe it was the police force, he was a cop. I might be a retailer. I have no idea. But, maybe if it’s a retailer it might still exist and have the old records. If it’s the police I might be out of luck. I went there last week ans they don’t have any records of any weapons from before the 80’s. The older records were destroyed in a flood in the old police archive building. They were helpful, but they couldn’t do anything about it.

However, if it was imported by the police I believe with the letter and sone legal action, since it’s not my fault the records were lost, I might be able to get it registered in my name so I can take to the range and buy ammunition. 😁

[BC38]

Well, if they are requiring you establish that level of provenance, then the letter may be worthwhile. Sorry to hear you have to go through such an ordeal. Best of luck with it.

[Barbarella]

Yeah, it’s a huge pain here when it comes to guns. Sadly.

Thank you so much!!! Hopefully I’ll get it solved. 🤞🏻

[Hondo44]

You #659125 is from early 1957 and the official name is ".32 Hand Ejector". Specifically it's a Model of 1953 new 'I' frame size nicknamed a Pre Model 30 because that's what it became later in 1957 and was eventually stamped as such in the yoke, visible with cyl swung out.

[Texas Star]

Barbarella-

If the S&W letter gives you the name of the dealer here who received the gun, maybe they're still in business and can tell you the Brazilian receiver. Worth a try...

You used a female board name, that of a science fiction movie character. To avoid any possible embarrassment about gender issues, shall we call you Senhorita or Senhora? Just Barb? Or, are you a man who just likes the movie character? Like, if I used Alessandra Ambrosio's name because I admire her? (She's my favorite Brazilian, ha, ha!)

This wasn't your great grandfather's primary gun? Do you know what was? Which pistols are usual among Brazilian police now? I think you have not just Rio city police, but state and military police there?

We have another member in your city. He posts as Ray in Rio. Maybe he'll see your question and have some new idea about how to register and use the gun. Like you, he's fluent in English. That's a good thing, because I know maybe 10 words in Portuguese, ha! We do, however have a Portuguese member, Kurusu.

Where did you learn your excellent English?

Can Brazilians carry pistols at all, other than at home and to a range?

I read somewhere that hunting is now banned except for a limited amount in a southern state, maybe Rio Grande do Sul?? If I think hard, I believe I can name all five (?) of your states.

Many Americans are pretty ignorant of your country. During the Olympics there, I overheard a woman tell another that she and her husband were watching the Olympics in Brazil. The other woman replied that the games weren't in Brazil; they were in some place called Rio. Yes, that really happened. I was torn between wanting to laugh and just feeling sorry that she knew so little of Brasil/Brazil. US schools seem to teach little geography today.

Welcome to the board, and I hope you get the information that you need.

[Barbarella]

Originally Posted by Hondo44

You #659125 is from early 1957 and the official name is ".32 Hand Ejector". Specifically it's a Model of 1953 new 'I' frame size nicknamed a Pre Model 30 because that's what it became later in 1957 and was eventually stamped as such in the yoke, visible with cyl swung out.

Thanks so much, Jim.

I had some information before I posted here because I consulted the S&W “bible”. That’s how I found out the model and such. The only thing I didn’t really know was the year it shipped.

[OLDSTER]

Nice little ".32 hand Ejector". Welcome to the forum from North Dakota

[Barbarella]

Originally Posted by Texas Star

Barbarella-

If the S&W letter gives you the name of the dealer here who received the gun, maybe they're still in business and can tell you the Brazilian receiver. Worth a try...

You used a female board name, that of a science fiction movie character. To avoid any possible embarrassment about gender issues, shall we call you Senhorita or Senhora? Just Barb? Or, are you a man who just likes the movie character? Like, if I used Alessandra Ambrosio's name because I admire her? (She's my favorite Brazilian, ha, ha!)

This wasn't your great grandfather's primary gun? Do you know what was? Which pistols are usual among Brazilian police now? I think you have not just Rio city police, but state and military police there?

We have another member in your city. He posts as Ray in Rio. Maybe he'll see your question and have some new idea about how to register and use the gun. Like you, he's fluent in English. That's a good thing, because I know maybe 10 words in Portuguese, ha! We do, however have a Portuguese member, Kurusu.

Where did you learn your excellent English?

Can Brazilians carry pistols at all, other than at home and to a range?

I read somewhere that hunting is now banned except for a limited amount in a southern state, maybe Rio Grande do Sul?? If I think hard, I believe I can name all five (?) of your states.

Many Americans are pretty ignorant of your country. During the Olympics there, I overheard a woman tell another that she and her husband were watching the Olympics in Brazil. The other woman replied that the games weren't in Brazil; they were in some place called Rio. Yes, that really happened. I was torn between wanting to laugh and just feeling sorry that she knew so little of Brasil/Brazil. US schools seem to teach little geography today.

Welcome to the board, and I hope you get the information that you need.

Hi Texas Star!!! ������

I’m a woman who loves Science Fiction movies and books. I do love the movie, Jane Fonda kicks ***. My real name is Barbara and Barbarella is an old nick name that my friends still use. I’m 38 and I’m an amateur shooter. I love the sport.

Here in Brazil we, civilians, have only two options to be able to buy a gun. The first is through the Federal Police. You have to take a psychological exam, a shooting test, you can’t have any record nor you can be answering to any criminal suits. Plus a buch of paperwork. After about 3 to 4 months you get registered at the Federal Police system which is called Sinarm. Then you have 30 days to buy ONE gun that has to be from a Brazilian manufactur and it has to be a permitted caliber such as .38, .32, .22, .380. It’s valid for 5 years and renewable. However, it’s only to be used for personal defense at your home. So, once you buy it you can’t take it out of your house in any situation. It’s jail time if you’re caught with it. It can never be near the range or anywhere else. Plus, you can only buy 50 ammunitions per year. It’s ridiculous.

The second option is through the Army. You go through the same initial process as with the Federal Police. No records, no pending cases, psychological exam, a shooting test and bunches of paperwork. After 3 to 4 months you get registered at the Army at the Sigma system in one or all three categories: shooter (sport), collector and hunter. It’s called CR and you’re then a CAC. It’s valid for 3 years and renewable. The advantages here are a bunch. My CR says I’m a sports shooter and collector. In the first year you’re are always level 1. As a level 1 I have the right to buy up to 4 guns as a shooter: 2 permitted calibers and 2 restricted (such as .40, .45, 9mm, etc) or 4 permitted. As a collector I can buy and have how many guns I want but they can’t leave the house, be used in any case and no ammunition allowed. If they’re going to be displayed they can’t work. And as a hunter you can buy another 4 guns and ammunition like in the shooter instance. Plus, all the guns that are registered to you as a shooter you can take it to the range to use and back home. Or to a competition and back. No detours. You have a limit of 4000 ammunitions per year that you can buy at once or bit by bit. However, you need to get the paperwork and authorization from the Army before anyone will sell it to you. Same with the guns. A lot of paperwork and time, usually about 6 months to have the gun you already paid in your hands legally. You can also go up to level 2 with 8 practices at the range and participating in 2 competitions on a state level and than you can have 8 guns. But you can only buy 4 per year. And finally level 3: 8 practices at the range, 2 state competitions and 2 nacional or international competitons and than you can have up to 16 guns. As a hunter I’m not so sure how it works because the range I belong to doesn’t have a hunting license registed with the Army. Oh yeah, you need to belong to a gun range to get the CR also. But, I just got a membership at another range I love that has a hunting license, so I can now ask to change my CR to add hunter as well. Which I’ll be doing.

Now, about actual hunting here I have no idea how it works. I know people who hunt who live in more rural areas, but I’m not sure where or how that works legally speaking.

About this beautiful 32 not being my great grandfather’s primary gun, I know that because here when you retire from the Police you have to give back your service weapon. However, this 32 model was popular and used by the Police at that time, that’s why I believe he bought it from them as a second weapon (he was shot a couple of times) or he might have bought it when he was retiring for self defense. I don’t know. Sadly. It might even have been a gift. He was a very respected cop who saved many lives and received many awards and gold medals for lives saved. I have a whole folder of newspaper clippings that feature his doings. He was an awesome guy. I do miss him.

Concerning our police forces, we have a bunch: Municipal Police, Civil Police (gotta love the name, lol, which works in a State level and where my great grandfather worked), Federal Police and Military Police.

Finally, about my English. Well, I’m a huge nerd so movies helped. Also, I took English classes outside of school (chose French there) since I was 9 years old. I also studied a semester during college at SDSU, but my English was already pretty good. I aced my TOEFL before going. I just love the language. All the movies, TV Shows and books I love are in English. I have a kindle with an american account so that I can buy and read my nerdy books in their original language to my heart’s content.

I’m used to Americans not knowing much about Brazil, unfortunately. I do believe your schools lack better geography classes. From what I know they focus mainly on American geography. Hopefully that’s changed.

My personal pet peeve is when people assume Brazilians speak Spanish. We speak Portuguese! They sound similar but are very different. I don’t speak Spanish at all. English and some French yes, Spanish not at all.

Thanks for the warm welcome!

������������✌��

[Barbarella]

Originally Posted by OLDSTER

Nice little ".32 hand Ejector". Welcome to the forum from North Dakota

Thank you, John. And hi from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil! 🇧🇷 👋🏻😊

[Barbarella]

Originally Posted by Texas Star

Barbarella-

If the S&W letter gives you the name of the dealer here who received the gun, maybe they're still in business and can tell you the Brazilian receiver. Worth a try...

You used a female board name, that of a science fiction movie character. To avoid any possible embarrassment about gender issues, shall we call you Senhorita or Senhora? Just Barb? Or, are you a man who just likes the movie character? Like, if I used Alessandra Ambrosio's name because I admire her? (She's my favorite Brazilian, ha, ha!)

This wasn't your great grandfather's primary gun? Do you know what was? Which pistols are usual among Brazilian police now? I think you have not just Rio city police, but state and military police there?

We have another member in your city. He posts as Ray in Rio. Maybe he'll see your question and have some new idea about how to register and use the gun. Like you, he's fluent in English. That's a good thing, because I know maybe 10 words in Portuguese, ha! We do, however have a Portuguese member, Kurusu.

Where did you learn your excellent English?

Can Brazilians carry pistols at all, other than at home and to a range?

I read somewhere that hunting is now banned except for a limited amount in a southern state, maybe Rio Grande do Sul?? If I think hard, I believe I can name all five (?) of your states.

Many Americans are pretty ignorant of your country. During the Olympics there, I overheard a woman tell another that she and her husband were watching the Olympics in Brazil. The other woman replied that the games weren't in Brazil; they were in some place called Rio. Yes, that really happened. I was torn between wanting to laugh and just feeling sorry that she knew so little of Brasil/Brazil. US schools seem to teach little geography today.

Welcome to the board, and I hope you get the information that you need.

Oh sorry. I forgot to answer a couple of things.

I’m not sure which guns all the different police forces use. I know that the PM - The Military Police usually carries a Taurus Pistol .40. Taurus is a Brazilian manufacturer that I’m not very fond of. Although I was at the Military Police range the other day and one of them kindly let me borrow his to shoot with it and I thought it was pretty good, but I haven’t shot any other .40 to compare.

And just to finish the whole Brazilians and guns thing:

There is only one instance you can carry a gun with you all the time. You have to get a carry permit. The problem is the only person who can authorize carry permits is the Superintendent Chief of the Federal Police. So, you have to be registered at the Federal Police system, Sinarm, and that one gun you got for home protection will than be given the carry permit. I’m getting registered at Sinarm too because of this. However the policy here is not grant carry permits. Even if you have all the documents needed and it’s a **** load. Because you have to justify your need to carry a gun. You have to have amazing reasons. You have to have police reports, death threats, work with something that you always carry a lot of cash with you or any dangerous job, etc. But, even with all that’s required fullfilled he won’t grant you a carry permit and you can’t appeal his decision. It’s pathetic how politics can dictate something like this. I was told yesterday that of 10.000 people who apply for the permit, only one will be granted and it’s usually someone who has inside connections. It’s rigged. And this one is only granted because by law he is required to authorize a minimum of one carry permit per year.

I’m hopeful because we have President Elections in October and the guy most likely to win is very pro gun, so he’ll be changing the policies and the laws. Hopefully! ����

[vonn]

Interesting post on gun ownership in Brazil. Thanks Barbara (not a Fonda fan!).

[Barbarella]

Originally Posted by vonn

Interesting post on gun ownership in Brazil. Thanks Barbara (not a Fonda fan!).

Hi vonn! Thanks. Barbara is fine! I confess I’m not a fan of Jane Fonda in real life, but I do love her as Barbarella and in some other films.

Thanks for the welcome! 😊

[Barbarella]

Oh, and might I add that guns here are very expensive, even from Brazilian manufacturers. You can import or buy imported ones already here. However they’re extremely expensive. I’m a Glock girl. I got a Glock G25 .380 and it cost me around 2000 dollars. And it’s still pending the documents from the Army. It’ll probably be in my hands only in September. Plus, every little burocratic thing you have to do at the Army is expensive and it takes forever. Ammunition here is so expensive it makes me want to cry. It’s the most expensive sport that I know of. I’m going broke. But I can’t stop myself. I’m actually going to the range today. Third day in a row. And I’m paying a private instructor to teach me how to compete in the ipsc category. The money just flies... ����

[JSR III]

Welcome to the forum.

So sorry to hear about the difficulties that you have regarding firearm ownership in your country. Even as difficult as it has become here in the states, it is still way better than most of the countries that we hear about.

Just to clarify a little about history letters. Smith and Wesson, the company, no longer does the history letters and hence why there really is no phone number to call. Roy Jinks was the S&W Historian for something like 40 years as well as Service Manager and several other titles over the years. Roy is also the founder of the Smith and Wesson Collectors Association and personally owns many of the older S&W records that were purchased by him when the Wesson family heirs no longer had any interest in continuing to pay storage fees since the family had sold control of the company to Bangor Punta in the 60's.

Roy Jinks and his assistant Don Mundell now do the history letters under the Smith and Wesson Historical Foundation.

You might also wish to consider joining the S&W Collectors Association. It is $60 per year for US citizens and is probably a tad more for folks not living in the US. It is definitely money well spent and there is a separate section on the forum for members that gives one direct access to Roy Jinks for questions. The membership may also look good on your resume and be of some help with the political process there in Brasil.

Where I live in Framingham, MA there is a large population of people from Brazil and I too must admit initial confusion with the Spanish and Portuguese language difference. I manage a condo building with many Brazilian residents but also those from Columbia and Ecuador so I run into both languages.

I too studied French in high school but failed miserably in my effort to learn it. Your English is definitely better than my French.

Best of luck in your quest.

[italiansport]

Hi Barbara and Welcome:
I was able to spend a couple of weeks in your Country several years ago. I have an online friend and fellow militaria collector who lives in Rio and it was great meeting up face to face. He picked me up at the hotel one day to go see some sights and tucked between the two front seats was a MP5 sub gun! He explained that he owned a string of gas stations and had to drive near the favelas. He's been caught up in gang crossfire so he carried the MP5 for protection! We never discussed the legality of ownership.
Additionally it should be noted that Brazil is the only South American country that participated in WW II so there are militaria collectibles available there.
We have some good friends who have a large condo on the water in Fortaleza and we spent time there as well. Their domestic help would go to the fishing section each day and buy fresh fish for dinner. It was a great time staying there and being waited on hand and foot.
And BTW You can buy a good bottle of Brazilian brandy for around $2.00! I hope to get back down there some day!
I also own a duplicate of your hand ejector with an earlier serial number - 55439X.
Jim

[ParadiseRoad]

[Doug M.]

Load up the family, the guns, and a couple of Filas, and move to Idaho. Trust me. I plan to do the same as soon as I retire.

[DWalt]

There are many here who would like to use Brazil's gun laws as an example for the USA to follow. That's what they would consider as being "common sense" gun control laws.

[Barbarella]

Hey guys!

Thanks so much for all the welcomes. I LOVED THE POSTER. So very cool. Thanks a lot.

I’m exhausted right now, so I’ll be replying to everyone individually tomorrow. I just got back from the range. I spent the whole day there. I’m beat. But, I really appreciate all the replies and they all deserve their own replies which I’ll do tomorrow.

I just wanted to share this excellent video about Gun Control in the US, which I know it’s the issue at the moment there.

Check it out:

"I AM THE MAJORITY!" Full Gun Rights Speech *MUST WATCH* - YouTube

[Barbarella]

Originally Posted by ParadiseRoad

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! That’s awesome!!! I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!! It’s the coolest thing since sliced bread.

Thanks again! 👍🏻😊😊😊😊👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[shouldazagged]

Welcome, Barbara. Reading what you have to go through to purchase, register and use a gun, I had visions of someone jumping through razor wire hoops on a unicycle. While juggling bowling balls.

Sometimes we in the U.S. fail to appreciate how lucky we are. I live in one of the most gun friendly states. But even those who live in states with more restrictive gun laws have it easy compared to your bureaucratic nightmare.

I hope you'll stay with us and keep us informed about how you fare as you try to register your .32.

[Texas Star]

Well, Brazilian gun laws have sure changed since Sasha Siemel ( a Latvian immigrant) wore S&W .44's as he pursued big jaguars in Mato Grosso jungles with a spear!

Those who haven't read his books like, "Tigrero!" should find them and read.

Barbara-

You like SF films and TV shows. I was a member of the official fan board for, "Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's the Lost World", an Australian-filmed show based on the book. We had many Brazilian fans and some wrote fan fiction on FanFiction.net. But they all wrote in Portuguese, so I haven't read their stories. Just those in English. Some are in French, some in Spanish, and some in Hungarian. We had members from many other countries, but I think all stories posted were in those languages. But fan videos on YouTube have also appeared dubbed in Czech, German, and in Russian, and we had a strong Czech group, who posted on the board in English. Two Czech girls had better English than do many posting here!

That show has been/is shown in Brazil, I presume dubbed in Portuguese. Were you a fan? If so, I'm open to discussing it with you. Fans are very loyal, like fans of the first, Star Trek series.

I'm glad you made the comment about Spanish. I was concerned that someone here would see my earlier post about addressing you as senhorita or senhora, and would try to correct my spelling.

Oh: "The Lost World" series was set in Brazil, although actually filmed in Queensland, Australia. The Challenger Expedition went upriver from Manaus in search of a mysterious plateau where they hoped to find dinosaurs. In one fan fiction story, I pointed out that Rio de Janeiro was then (1920's) the capital of Brazil, Brasilia not being built until the 1950's. A Brazilian reader thanked me for pointing that out and for including Brazilian Indians and animals in my stories.

I hope you like this board. Guns are a mutual interest that brings us all closer. Wine is another interest that has let me learn more about other countries.