Smith and wesson 32-20 revolver

1coolcat · Dec 26, 2019

So I have a craving for a smith and wesson revolver chambered in 32-20 wcf I've been looking through the internet but it appears colt lead the way with this chambering..
I enjoy the cartridge alot.
It's so fun to shoot at targets, not to loud, easy as can be to cast a bunch of bullets for, and reloading..haha..that's the best as I'm obsessed with small cartridges.
Did anyone ever make a target model in this cartridge..
Thanks for any input..kind of looking for the know it alls to chime in here, to tell you the truth..I hate to call down the thunder..but..I summons the know it all S&W members for your wisdom
Would it be possible to have a cylinder cut for 32k masterpiece..had one of those in 32 h&r..could be a perfect specimen to go under the knife..
Or was there a gun made as most of my info comes from this forum and the smith and Wesson encyclopedia..as those are the only sources I trust..and the NRA's, and smith and wesson them self..
Happy holidays
I look forward to exploring this topic

Jim Watson · Dec 26, 2019

Yes, there are some (prewar) .32-20 Target models.

I think you could rechamber one of those .32 H&R M16 reissues to .32-20. I think you would be backing up, but if you are sold on the WCF, it's only money.

Absalom · Dec 26, 2019

1coolcat said:
So I have a craving for a smith and wesson revolver chambered in 32-20 wcf I've been looking through the internet but it appears colt lead the way with this chambering.....

Colt did indeed chamber a handgun for the .32 WCF much earlier than S&W, the SAA just a few years after Winchester introduced the round for the rifle. They later added DA revolvers like the Army Special and the Police Positive Special.

Smith & Wesson‘s .32-20 M&P, sometimes referred to as the Winchester model, was available with its own serial range alongside the .38 after the model‘s introduction in 1899.

Factory Target models with 6“ and 6.5“ barrels have been documented across the serial range, the highest in the 140-thousands near the end of production around 1930.

I don‘t know the percentage of target versus standard versions produced.

JP@AK · Dec 26, 2019

Yes. S&W did make a target version of the .32-20 Hand Ejector. As Absalom indicated, this variant of the M&P was in production from 1899 until c. 1930, and remained in the catalog until 1940.

Some small percentage of the 144,684 Winchester models produced were configured with an adjustable rear sight and a selection of matching front sights. The one in the photo below, from my collection, has a 5" barrel, adjustable rear sight and Sheard front sight. It left the factory in March, 1904.

jp-ak-albums-k-frame-target-revolvers-picture8331-32-20-he-right.jpg

Barrel markings on this model are noteworthy. From 1899 until c. 1913, the stamp was 32 Winchester CTG. From c. 1914 until 1922, it was 32 W.C.F. CTG. Finally, from mid-year 1922 until the end of production, it was 32-20 CTG.

Drm50 · Dec 26, 2019

I get 32/20 S&Ws fairly often. Always service model with fixed sights. I have been looking for 32/20 targets for several years. Nice ones are really expensive I haven’t seen that many but starting price for any is $2K. The 32s are about as scarce. I’ve had several 38sp from same time period.

Rbo · Dec 26, 2019

I have a model of 1905 4th change in .32-20. I would have to dig it out of the safe to get a picture.

I also have a Colt Police Positive in .32-30. But I really am not a big Colt fan.

Muley Gil · Dec 27, 2019

I have had a number of S&W .32-20s over the years, including a target model. I have also had several Colt revolvers and a couple of Cimarron/Uberti single actions. Add in the rifles and you might say I'm fond of this old black powder cartridge.

StrawHat · Dec 27, 2019

I still have two of these Winchester Models, a 5” and a 6 1/2”. While fun to shoot, they are K frames and haven’t been out lately.

Kevin

bgrafsr · Dec 27, 2019

I have a Model 16 that I have a .32-20 WCF cylinder for, along with a .32 S&W Long cylinder, and the original .32 H&R Magnum cylinder, which I had modified to .327 Federal Magnum.

glowe · Dec 27, 2019

S&W had to stamp their early 32 HEs with 32 WINCHESTER for several years, my guess was it was done while waiting for the patent to expire??

I picked up 1910 5" Target a couple years ago and while researching the model, I came across a few tidbits of information from our illustrious membership. Experts here have estimated that maybe 2% of this model was offered with target sights in the early years from 1905 to 1930. More targets show up in the 1930s than in earlier years. Knowing that 144,000 were made, it is reasonable to think that around 3000 Target guns were made. Now add barrel lengths and the numbers can get very small for the shorter barreled guns. The 5" barrel represented about 30% of production, so that could mean less than 1000 5" Targets were ever produced and less than 500 4" Targets.

Here is the 5" 32 Winchester. It still shoots great!

Hawg Rider · Dec 27, 2019

.32-20 1905 4th Change

I picked up this S&W 1905 4th Change .32-20 (ca. 1924) earlier this year off of GB. Price was reasonable considering some wear on the bluing and stocks, and that a previous owner installed a copper bead on the front sight. Mechanically it's a Swiss watch. There are quite a few Colt and S&W .32-20 revolvers on the auction sites for reasonable prices, although condition varies greatly. I don't think that there's a lot of interest in these guns because they fire an obsolete cartridge, although some manufacturers are producing very good rounds for Cowboy Action shooting.

oddshooter · Dec 27, 2019

I just acquired a 1915 Colt Army Special in 32-20 at the SAR show in Phoenix. It is in very nice condition and shoots small groups. $699

My first gun in 1960 was a first gen Colt SAA in 32-20. Great first gun with mild recoil to learn with and tons of history.

A friend, Toroflow, sold me his Buckeye convertible last year and got me started shooting much hotter 32-20 loads. 135gr at 1330fps.
I've color coded using powder coat on HOT rounds to keep separate from all the other .32's.

Keep looking. They are out there.

Prescut

bruce5781 · Dec 27, 2019

I have a few 32-20 Target Models. Here is a 6" and a 5". If I was ambitious, I could probably find another couple around here. I think I may have a 4" somewhere.

Regards,
Bruce

akoda · Dec 27, 2019

here is my brothers 32-20 police positive

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Muley Gil · Dec 27, 2019

While I LOVE S&W .32-20s, the one I shoot the best is a 5" Colt Official Police from the late '30s. I believe the thicker front sight has a lot to do with that. I still have a 4" Colt Police Positive Special as well. A Cimarron Model P Jr (7/8 sized SSA) with two cylinders, .32-20 and .32 H&R Magnum live here as well.

I am building a 6" .32 using a re-bored M53 barrel and a .32 H&R Magnum M16-4 cylinder that I re-chambered to .327 Federal Magnum. I also have a pre war .32-20 cylinder that will be fitted to the revolver. It is one of my "round tuit" projects that I need to finish.

Warren Sear · Dec 27, 2019

I am privileged to own this Colt Police Positive Special in "32-20 WCF", manufactured in 1911. I have only shot my own cast bullet handloads in it. A very enjoyable gun to shoot.

lestert357 · Dec 27, 2019

1coolcat said:
Did anyone ever make a target model in this cartridge..

Besides the S&W target models identified above, Colt also made both the Single Action Army Standard Frame Target Model (The Flattop) and the Bisley Target Model in many calibers including the 32-20. If you want one of these fine target revolvers be prepared to part with a LOT of cash.

Photo Credits: Rock Island Auction

Art Doc · Dec 27, 2019

Not a Target Model but a good shooter I got off Gunbroker a couple years ago for $250. Always check a 32-20 for a bulged barrel. For some reason I see a lot of them with bulged barrels.

Green Frog · Dec 28, 2019

Late to the party (so what’s new?) but here’s my $.02 worth. IIRC, the OP mentions starting with a Model 16-4 and adding a 32-20 cylinder. This is far and away the easiest and most economical strategy. If you already have a Model 16 in a configuration you like, you just need to purchase a Model 17 cylinder (preferably one with the old style, round extractor body) and have it rechambered and timed up to the otherwise unaltered 16. VOILA, you’re done!

In fact, I’ve got a Model 617 stainless cylinder waiting to do just this on my “Project 616” if I live long enough.

A huge advantage of this strategy would be that all of the parts are fairly commonly available AND would be of modern steels, hence of known strength.

. I’m thinking I need to drag that cylinder out and let my 616 take another trip to LaGrange, OH to visit with Andy Horvath.

Froggie

daddio202 · Dec 28, 2019

I came across a beautiful 1905 m&p in 32/20 back in 2018 on an auction site. I bought it and had never until I got it experieced shooting a 32/20. I absolutely loved it too but my gun unlike so many in that caliber is like new. Its not a target version and has a 5 inch barrel but is so fun to shoot I just had to go out and find a shooter grade gun so I could enjoy shooting many of my own handloaded 32/20. Unfortunately it is difficult to find 6 inch barreled versions and/or target models so I ended up with a 4 inch barrel shooter from the late teens. Now I can shoot away and not degrade my perfect example so it's a toss up in finding a 32/20 that is nice but not so nice you can still enjoy it. The 2 gun method is a way to get the best of both worlds! Good luck in finding 2 good examples to enjoy.

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