The local gun show is in town this week-end and I found this on a table for sale. It's an "I" frame round butt with a flat main spring, SN 5457XX. No it's not rare or even scarce but I haven't seen many for sale and I like them. Anyone care to venture a guess as to it's ship date. Sorry, I am not able to upload photos but I estimate at least 96%, maybe better, visible turn line just barely through the bluing of the cylinder. The .32's and the .22's are some of my favorites

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Sam
S&WHF 333 S&WCA 2198

Does it have a half-round front sight?

The SCSW, 4th Ed., says the 2" began in 1949. I'd guess
yours is early.

I'm sure Hondo44 will be along to get closer.

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

I'm guessing 1930s so Pre-WWII.

.22s and .32s are fun especially for Senior Citizens who like to shoot, enjoy.

To my knowledge, there were no pre-WWII 2” .32 HEs. FWIW, I own 539695, which shipped November, 1949.



I’d love to see a photo; these little guns are mechanical jewels.

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Mark Lathem

I’m another member of the post War, unImproved 32 I frame snub club. Mine is SN 550XXX,and has all the right characteristics of the age. I had it in heavy rotation for my concealed carry regime, but then one day I concealed it so well I couldn’t find it! Fortunately I found it yesterday while looking for something else (I won’t say where!) and it is ensconced right beside me as I type this. Welcome back old friend!
Froggie

I have #589725, which has the half-moon front sight, but has already been "improved" with the coil spring. I guess I'll start looking for a sharp leaf spring snubby .32. Just what I needed, another void to fill.

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

Just today I was showing my beloved snubby off at a gun show, and my newest fans marveled at the DA and SA trigger pull. I told them the leaf spring played a major role in that!

BTW, several years ago a well known unknown amphibian along with the likes of Hondo44 kicked off a campaign to call these “6 screw” guns in deference to the strain screw that disappeared with the advent of coil springs. That way you can identify them at a glance without removing the grips.
Froggie

You need to have a 10 year old figure out why it is such a problem.

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S&WHF #946
S&WCA #3824

I have a post war 32 hand ejector 550854 shipped December 1950. Your should have shipped earlier in 1950.

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SWCA 1932 SWHF 135

This thread needed a picture. Mine is a little later, 596038, shipped in January 1953. It has the coil spring.

32HE 2 Inch (2).jpg

32HE 2 Inch (3).jpg

32HE 2 Inch (5).jpg

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

Someone, probably here on the forum, once said that 32's are addictive. I laughed thinking "Who wanted a 32? Were they even good for rabbits? I had bought a little Colt Pocket Positive in 32 once and it was nothing special.

Then my wife "made" me buy a little I-frame 32 hand ejector, 3rd model, 32 because it was "cute." She was right about that. It is "cute." I've been told it's from about 1920 (S/N in the 333XXX range). Three inch "ish" barrel. It's been refinished and has the wrong grips, but locks up tight and times right. It has a leaf spring, something I knew nothing about really until a while ago.



I've only fired 50 rounds of wadcutters through it but it has started me down the slippery slope of 32 possibilities. Mostly with another manufacturer, but that's a story for a different place I suppose.

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John 3:16 .

Thanks for your reply and yes it has the half round front sight.

Actually, thanks to all who replied, I see that I'm not the only one who has the .32 addiction. My appreciation is for the perfection and workmanship exhibited by these little "I" frame jewels.

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Sam
S&WHF 333 S&WCA 2198

is it one of these?
545726
545736
545737
545747
545755
545772
545778
545794

Best,
RM Vivas

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RM Vivas
SWCA#1482L, SWHF#837

That’s a great find, Sam. I think the .32 revolvers were long neglected for several reasons, chiefly because the caliber was regarded as sub-par. They are addictive, I’m still looking for an upgrade to the recent 2” model 30 I found.
I’m happy with this one.

Regards,

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turnerriver

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SWCA 1932 SWHF 135

Just for fun, here are “Mutt & Jeff”. The RP Target dates to about the mid-‘20s I believe (SN 357XXX) and its “little brother @ 505XXX may be 1949 or ‘50. I had the RPT at a gun show to sell, but it made it home… I may be having second thoughts now.
Froggie

Attached Images

IMG_2374.jpg (55.9 KB, 33 views)

No Sir but it sure feels like I'm going to regret it isn't, the complete SN is 545763. I will be obliged to hear that it shipped to one of our presidents or any celebrity from the late 40's or early 50's, I appreciate yours and all the others interest as well.

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Sam
S&WHF 333 S&WCA 2198

Very nice all. Now I must have one!

Is exactly like the one I've been trying to describe including the Stocks (grips), very happy camper here.

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Sam
S&WHF 333 S&WCA 2198

Appreciate the kind words John, wish I could get luckier and find the box and accessories with one sometime, I suppose what I was told as well as witnessed is that when a gun was bought the box was discarded here in N.C.
You must be entirely correct about the apparent disrespect gun buyers had for the .32 caliber revolvers, I'm so glad someone straightened me out before I missed out on some of the fun.

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Sam
S&WHF 333 S&WCA 2198

Emergency plea to Hondo44: if I’m reading the numbers and list correctly my 32 HE with SN 505XXX should be late pre War, but the 2” barrel should place it at 1949 or later. This according to two different sections of the book in the 4th edition. The SN page in the back of the book puts it pre War (SN <536684) but on
page 143 where introduction of features is described I read;
*1949: Introduce 2” barrel
Something doesn’t match up, but I can’t figure out what!
The Curious Frog

Mea culpa! I can only blame my dyslexia... the snubby has a SN in the 550XXX range, so yes we’re back to a 1949-50 date for my old friend. BTW, if anybody can narrow it down more, my own DOB fell in 1949. The “mystery” is resolved, but if I can get the date a little closer, it would be most helpful. TIA for any help.
Froggie

THe question I am wondering, when can we expect a "classic" model revolver to be introduced? Say 5" k frame

I hate it when I misplace a gun. For years I thought I'd left a model 38 in a Florida hotel. I didn't know but my wife had loaned it to her father. It turned up 20 years later after he passed away. My son was fussing about one of his he couldn't find. I found it in the back of my safe five years later under some of my stuff.

My criminal justice college professor was a Colonel U.S. Army CID. He carried a .32 his whole career and felt safe with it. He was on one of the last flights out of Viet Nam, recently passed away at 92 and is bured at Arlington. I got one from the son of a circuit judge. It was in 38 S&W. The judge kept it after a trial where a lawyer's wife killed him with it because she got tired of his side squeeze. I got it from the judge's son. I let a friend have it, he passed away and his son won't sell it back to me. One of my weak moments. I've got several other revolvers that shoot 38 S&W, and one in .32. Just yesterday I found a bunch of 38 S&W and .32 ammo cheap at an estate sale.

I’ll check on it tomorrow morning.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Is your RP target original finish?

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

I can try to confuse things for you. Here is a Regulation Police that shipped in 1923.It has a two inch barrel. How do you like that??


Ok, it went back to the Mother Ship in 1951 to get outfitted. Shoots pretty good at 7 yards.

20210513_150926.jpg

38 RP Snub (1).jpg

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

AFAIK, it’s all original. It has a few little places in the blue that were damaged (before I got it) from improper storage, but overall it’s very nice still. The grips are as close to pristine as I’ve ever seen on one. The only thing I dislike about it is the narrow front sight blade. These 74 year old peepers just have a terrible time picking it up.
Froggie
PS To all, please note my correction. The SN for little Jeff is 550XXX. It’s definitely post War. I’m hoping it will prove to be 1949 vintage like its owner!

Apropos to my last; The Book says the 2” barrels on 32 I frames were introduced in 1949. Does anyone have a listing for where those serial numbers began? In other words, what is the lowest known SN for a 2” snub on an I frame 32?
TIA ~ Froggie

Ignore this post! As stated below, I misremembered the SN.
Green Frog

Hey MTGianni, since you stopped by, I’ll ask whether you ever sold that 31357 bullet mould you were advertising. That was a hidden treasure!
Froggie

Sorry, I don't have good news for you:

519781 is the earliest 2" .32 I have in my database and it shipped March 19, 1949.
Frailer’s number 539695 above is the highest number .32 of all barrel lengths that I have in my database that shipped in 1949 and it shipped in November 1949.

Also your post war service grips with round corner checkering borders, nickel plated curved post war medallions, and post war thumbpiece shape also indicate later than 1949 production and shipping.

Some 1949 shipped .32s do not have the post war sliding bar hammer block safety; they have the 2nd type pre war side plate mounted safety hammer block. Does yours have the sliding bar safety?

If it does not, that could indicate an earlier shipping date than your 550XXX serial # would typically indicate in mid 1950.

Anything is possible during this post war period.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

You have a “.32 Hand Ejector Post War Transitional Model”. It’s a 6 screw since it has the leaf spring. Your serial number 545763 most likely shipped in the 2nd quarter of 1950.

It has the pre war style round top Service grips with the pre war checkering pattern known by the deep carved borders with the sharp corners. Definitely transitional grips because they have the post war nickel plated curved medallions instead of the prewar flat silver (chrome) medallions.

Great catch!

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Your expertise is much appreciated and your willingness to share is nothing unusual but is also Much Appreciated. I have not found an opening in the Shipping Date Requests section yet but do intend to inquire when the opportunity arises. I have not removed the side plate to determine the type of hammer block that is employed but after I have been in side I'll share that information as well as the presence of the original SN on the Right inside Stock, if it's there. Thanks very much for the help & information JIM!

To everyone who has participated & offered additional information with regard to this recently acquired .32 S&W Long Caliber "I" frame revolver, thank you for the information!

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Sam
S&WHF 333 S&WCA 2198

My 32 HE 2"
#539402

A cheap priced $75 'As-Is' special at a GunShow some yrs ago as the
hammer didn't work in DA functioning.
Just a stuck to the rear DA Sear.
Fun to shoot, easy to carry for sure.

You’re very welcome Sam! By the way, you won’t need to remove the side plate to determine which hammer block safety you have: just look in the hammer channel as you slowly cock the hammer, if you see a bar that moves up and down it’s the post war sliding bar hammer block safety. Otherwise you will see a bar moving in and out from the right side at the top of the hammer channel which is the 2nd style pre war hammer block.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Without taking this thread too far astray I’d like to ask a related question. How often to any of you encounter post War transitional Terriers? This is of course just a 38 S&W version of the 32 HE we’ve been discussing. Even with the reduction to five rounds, the I frame Terrier still carried the cachet of the smallest 38 caliber revolver ever made by S&W.

OP, if you wish, I’ll start a new thread, but this seems like a natural branch for this discussion. I await your approval, although I suppose this could be classed as begging forgiveness in lieu of asking permission.

Froggie

Apparently I had a transitional Terrier. A beauty in nickel that was a birth month gun for a fellow member and I allowed him to purchase it from me. Shipped July 1950, serial number is 55522

terrier (12).jpg

terrier (13).jpg

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

Hello Froggie, you have my blessings, the I frame .38 S&W's also reside here.

Edited to add: If Lee is good with it so am I!

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Sam
S&WHF 333 S&WCA 2198

Thank you, Sam. About 10 years ago I was well and truly bitten by the I frame bug with the purchase of the 32 HE snub I’ve discussed here. I had already bought and sold a Baby Chiefs Special early enough to have the half moon front sight and set as a goal to find another Baby and an early post War Terrier. I found a pre War Terrier and a late Baby with serrated ramp. The sights on the Baby make it easier for me to shoot, and finding the post War (transitional) Terrier proved difficult, so that was where my quest stalled. Still, my trio ain’t bad!
Froggie

Attached Images

1EED1369-EE5E-4F1F-ABA7-668DD359EDF1.jpg (151.7 KB, 10 views)

I have received most all the information concerning .32 Hand Ejector such as the ship date: (July 1950) & the SN on the right stock matches the Serial Number. Dr. Roy did not indicate that anything special was associated with this little gem except that it's mine! I haven't requested a letter, yet. If Mr. Vivas does have any additional pertinent information I'll respond with much appreciation, again thanks for all the interest!

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Sam
S&WHF 333 S&WCA 2198