Pre-model 10 in 32-20

kraynky

kraynky

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Well, that's what it's labeled as anyway, and I know very little about them, other than liking them.

I have to apologize for not having pictures, it was a lunch break stop at my LGS & my phone was left on my desk buried in paperwork. It has a 6" barrel and is in an old clam shell type box, with some tools that probably didn't come with it.

It is a shooter grade with some freckles and such that I could see through the glass. Didn't fondle it due to time restraints and they were pretty busy.

I need a 32-20 (or I think I do) to go with a Marlin 1894 in that caliber. Is the $599 asking price about right for the model? I really know very little about these old beauties, but I'm going to dig my SCSW out and carry it to bed shortly.

Hope to get pictures tomorrow, or put it on lay-away. :D Please tell me what you know and what to look for. I know how to inspect a revolver, just don't know if it's a good deal or not.

Thanks!
 
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Well, obviously pictures would be a big help! :)

Six bills seems a bit steep for a shooter grade revolver, even one in that less common caliber. Decent .32-20 Hand Ejectors are not all that hard to find.

As for what to look for, here are a few thoughts.

First, check for an adjustable rear sight. That is a potential game changer on the price.

Second, there are three distinct eras that denote the evolution of this model. 1) from 1899 to c. 1914 the barrel marking is 32 Winchester CTG; 2) from c. 1914 to 1922, the marking is 32 W.C.F. CTG; and 3) from 1922 until the end of production in c. 1929, the barrel is marked 32-20 CTG. So that alone can help you get a sense for the revolver's age.

If the barrel is actually 6", then the gun is no earlier than about 1910. Prior to that year, the long barrel offering was 6 1/2".

As you know, condition counts for a lot. Also, correct stocks can be a factor. Each of the three decades of production on this model had distinct walnut stocks. No medallion at first, then a dished gold medallion, and then no medallion again in the 1920s. (Note: some of the 1920s production guns shipped in the 1930s and some of those may have shipped with 1930s medallion stocks. So, potentially there are four styles of walnut that could be on a .32-20.)

On the round butt examples, black hard rubber is most common, but walnut stocks do exist for the round butt guns in all three decades.

My final comment is that this revolver is in no way a "pre-model 10." For one thing, it is far too old to be called that. For another, the Model 10 was never chambered for the .32 Winchester cartridge.

I hope this rather long-winded answer is helpful. :rolleyes:
 
Good information! I'll be taking a tape measure too! I know it had walnut stocks, and recall thinking the one side I saw looked good, thinking there was a medallion. I'm definitely taking my phone. Does the box hold any value?

I know, need pictures. Dang it. I'm getting to be a forgetful old fart.

Thanks!
 
kraynky said:
Does the box hold any value?
Click to expand...
Yes, if it is the correct box for that gun. How much will depend on the condition.

Be sure to note the serial number on the butt. Shipment of these was sporadic, especially in the 1920s, but the number can still help determine the gun's approximate position in "birth order."

Stocks in the teen years looked like this:
jp-ak-albums-miscellaneous-photos-picture11675-early-medallion-stocks-square.jpg


1910 and earlier looked like this:
jp-ak-albums-miscellaneous-photos-picture11677-pre-1911-square-service-stocks-2-a.jpg


And these are from the 1920s:
jp-ak-albums-miscellaneous-revolvers-picture8451-38-m-p-2-26-right.jpg
 
The S&W revolvers in .32-20 are a joy to shoot. I have one with fixed sights and one with target sights. The fixed sights revolver is virtually mint, and I don't shoot it, but the target revolver is a great shooter.

The companion to mine is a Winchester Model 92. But what you will find is that you really need separate loads for the revolver and the rifle. It's something of a myth that they "shoot the same ammo." Yeah, they will shoot the same ammo, but they have drastically different requirements.

I posted some photos of my combination several years ago here: A Couple of .32-20s at the Range Today

20151222_112453_1000.jpg




You won't regret buying that revolver, and if you walk away it will haunt you. :)

Curl
 
JP@AK said:
. . . Second, there are three distinct eras that denote the evolution of this model. 1) from 1899 to c. 1914 the barrel marking is 32 Winchester CTG; 2) from c. 1914 to 1922, the marking is 32 W.C.F. CTG; and 3) from 1922 until the end of production in c. 1929, the barrel is marked 32-20 CTG . . .
Click to expand...

By the examples I own and have seen, the transition in caliber stampings on this model in 32 Winchester seem to be all over the board. I have 32 W.C.F.s, one from late 1924 and another from late 1925. With the small numbers sold it was most likely not a fast change. It seems this caliber was never all that popular. From 1920 to 1925, there were 30,000 32-20 sold, while the same time-frame there were 175,000 38 Special 4th Change revolvers sold. Similar numbers from 1925 to 1930, with only 15,000 32-20s sold and 115,000 38s sold.

The OP states clamshell (patent) box and if original, puts the gun at the end of the 1920s or later if it is original pasteboard box.

For the OP, here is what the factory called a clam-shell box.
 

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JP@AK said:
Six bills seems a bit steep for a shooter grade revolver, even one in that less common caliber. Decent .32-20 Hand Ejectors are not all that hard to find.
Click to expand...
I'll disagree slightly. 32/20s with really good bores are not common. The vast majority of their bores will be pitted to some degree. I've been ready to jump all over some really decent looking guns in the past, only to cool off quickly when I looked at the bore! :eek:


As I've said before, I think the abundance of remaining ammo with black powder, corrosive primers, and often cupro-nickel jackets pitted a lot of bores that would look much better today if they had seen only lead bullets and smokeless powder.
If you find a 32/20 with a decent bore, buy it if the price is even close to reasonable.
 
IMO way too high. I think $300 for a solid shooter. Six bills would be a near collector quality piece.

Check the barrel. A large number of 32-20s are observed with bulged barrels.
 
Jack

I'm not sure about this comment of yours:

"If the barrel is actually 6", then the gun is no earlier than about 1910."

The 32-20 and the 38 are identical guns, with the exception of caliber, and both were offered in standard barrel lengths of 4, 5, and 6 1/2 inches, with 6" available on special order. The difference between the two guns was only the chambering.

I have in my collection of .38 1899's several 6" revolvers, in blue and nickel, and fixed sight and target sight configurations.

Nice to see you are still writing!

Regards, Mike Priwer
 
old tanker said:
Is this the one you are looking at?
Click to expand...

I believe so, but the price was different yesterday, or the day before, sometime earlier this week. Time is flying by in this confused world. :rolleyes: Haven't had a chance to get out yet today.

Edit: thanks old tanker! I see where you are now and it must be the same. Did you take this photo some time back? I recall one listed at that number a while back, but at the $799 I didn't give it much of a look at all, just a glance. I was wondering if perhaps they got a new one in, thus reflecting the lower price? Or if they lowered it to move it.

Thanks again!
 
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mikepriwer said:
Jack

I'm not sure about this comment of yours:

"If the barrel is actually 6", then the gun is no earlier than about 1910."

The 32-20 and the 38 are identical guns, with the exception of caliber, and both were offered in standard barrel lengths of 4, 5, and 6 1/2 inches, with 6" available on special order.
Click to expand...
Hi Mike!

That is interesting. I suppose I should have known 6" barrels were available on special order. Just didn't think about it. I know that up to c. 1910 the standard length was 6 1/2" and that's all I was thinking about. Thanks for the correction.

Nice to see you are still writing!
Click to expand...
Thanks. I assume you are referring to writing here on the Forum. I'm retired and haven't published anything professionally for several years. I am working on a couple books though - they tell me that's what "retired" writers do; write the books they didn't have time for when they were working. :D
 
kraynky said:
I believe so, but the price was different yesterday, or the day before, sometime earlier this week. Time is flying by in this confused world. :rolleyes: Haven't had a chance to get out yet today.

Edit: thanks old tanker! I see where you are now and it must be the same. Did you take this photo some time back? I recall one listed at that number a while back, but at the $799 I didn't give it much of a look at all, just a glance. I was wondering if perhaps they got a new one in, thus reflecting the lower price? Or if they lowered it to move it.

Thanks again!
Click to expand...

It's been a while. They called my attention to it some time ago as they know I am fond of .32-20s. I believe the case is period to the gun while the accessories are not. If it's not there when you go look, the lower price pushed me off the fence.
 
Here are some additional details:
Barrel is six inches, marked "SMITH & WESSON" on the left side and "32-20 CTG" on the right.
The S&W trade mark is on the left side and "MADE IN U.S.A." is on the right, just forward of the sideplate.
It has late style non-medallion grips.
The serial number is 112644
 
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