S&W pre 30 question?

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Came across what I think is a pre model 30, in .32 SW long, round butt diamond grips "5 screws" (I think that is a term collectors use) with a 3" barrel that is minty. I have been trying to find out more about it pertaining to the age and value. I would rate it 98% overall and the grips are numbered to the gun, well one had SN# on it, the other did not.
the SN# is 540190 any ideas on when it was made and a round about value?
Is this a "regulation police" gun or just a civilian model, If not mistaken I thought the regulation police guns had square butt designs.
I am kind of a novice to the S&W collectors world here so dont beat me up too badly.....just trying to learn
 
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According to the SCSW, that number puts it in the 1946 - 1960 bracket (536685-712953). It is a pre model 30. Model 31's have a square butt or a Regulation Police has a round butt with square butt stocks. Somebody else will come along to give you a value.
 
Box or papers?
Only one stock is numbered, that's normal.
The RP had a round butt frame with special square butt stocks as I recall.
Based on what I've seen in the local market of late I'll guess very broadly around $750. I've noticed a lot of regional price variation with things generally going up as you move north and west.
 
My 550854 32 HE was shipped December 1950, but S&W did not always ship in order of serial number. So second half of 1950 is my best guess.
The US was gun hungry after WW 2 but whow knows how popular 32 S&W revolvers were in 1950.
 
there is no box or paperwork...but I have been looking for more information on thi revolver and the grips on this revolver have me stumped....... I have looked on the internet for one like this one and the grips are different. Being a 5 screw, these grips do not come up all the way to the top of the frame, these are rounded off low and you can see the screw (does that make sense) they are the diamond type and as said previously the grips are numbered to the gun.
 
Does it have a ramp front sight such as this one? A 30-1


Or, does it have a round front sight like this one?


The Round front sight dates to 1953 and is a 5 screw, and the ramp front sight one 1971. Model #'s were not assigned to S&W's until about 1957, so any prior to that are identified as 32 Hand ejector. Hopefully Hondo44 will be along soon to finish this up, as he wrote the book on 32's.

They are great fun, mild and accurate to shoot.
 
Do you grips look like these ?
0UXsAVR.jpg
 
H Richard said:
Does it have a ramp front sight such as this one? A 30-1


Or, does it have a round front sight like this one?


The Round front sight dates to 1953 and is a 5 screw, and the ramp front sight one 1971. Model #'s were not assigned to S&W's until about 1957, so any prior to that are identified as 32 Hand ejector. Hopefully Hondo44 will be along soon to finish this up, as he wrote the book on 32's.

They are great fun, mild and accurate to shoot.
Click to expand...



The pistol looks just like the one on the bottom with the round front sight, the grips are like the one on the snub-nose.
 
Your #540190 could have shipped anytime in the first half of 1950. And is classified by collectors as a ".32 Hand Ejector Post War Transitional I Frame Model", the first version re-introduced after WWII using some pre war parts. The grips are known as rd top "Service Stocks" and pre date the Magna style. In the photo of the snubbie above, the pair off the gun are pre war with sharp cornered checkering borders and flat silver medallions. The pair on the gun are post war with round corners and curved nickel plated medallions. Either can be found and are correct on your model.

It actually has a 3 1/4" barrel.

It's also a 6 screw like the snubbie shown, counting the mainspring tension screw at the bottom of the front grip strap, (note that the I frames have a different screw count than K and N frames and under went extensive evolutionary changes from after WWII thru the 1950s).

The Regulation Police model is the same gun and both are civilian models, the name is just marketing and differs only in that the grips are factory sq butt conversion grips used on the rd butt grip frame which is originally slightly factory modified with a rebated cut on the back strap. With introduction of the Model of 1953 New I Frame, the sq butt RP models have regular sq butt grips and grip frames like all other I and J frames.

In the condition you describe, it's worth in the ball park range of $700 to $800 depending on geographical market location.

Congrats, that's a unique model and hard to find in that condition.
 
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I sincerely appreciate the feedback on this revolver, as said the only wear I see is a slight drag ring on the cylinder which is common and a tiny surface rust spot about half the size of a BB on the inside of the frame under the cylinder. When I went to the shop today I cleaned that up with some 0000 steel wool and some oil and it cleared up just fine. I couldnt resist but I did take it out to our range and shot six rounds through it from the rest on SA at about 8 yards or so and I grouped all six shots in the size of a silver dollar, I was pretty impressed. Its going home with me, for 350.00 Im not passing on this one but I dont think I will shoot this one very much, I dont have any S&W .32's in the bunch this is the first, I like .38's but this one is too nice to let go, but then again, I can always use it for a trader if I see a .38 model I yet do not have I really want.
 
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