EDITED 9/30/09 to replace photos that had bad color balance; a couple of new photos added.

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Picked this one up today -- a .32 Regulation Police Target Model, S/N 379160. Shipping records say the gun left the factory in October, 1923.

Frame, cylinder, and barrel all show the same serial number, though the barrel is hard to read -- looks like a double strike, with the first couple of numbers almost illegible from a double cut. The same serial number is written in pencil on the inside right stock panel.

Stocks are non-medallion square butt, typical for the RP models. They have the 1917 patent date stamp on the bottom. The frame is rebated, and the wood is contoured to match the notched frame.

The frame and cylinder are in 98% condition, in my estimation. Sadly, the barrel is a victim of improper storage and suffers from pitting and finish loss.





Very nice Regulation Police style stocks with patent date:



Cylinder very clean:



Recoil shield almost unmarked:



An angle shot:



Another angle shot:



The front sight is absolutely the thinnest sight I have ever seen on a S&W target model of any era. I miked it at .045 inches, or less than 1/20 of an inch. In profile it looks like a Paine bead sight, but without the bead. The round-bottom rear sight notch is also narrow: .055 inches.





Here's a close-up of the left side; you can see the rear sight height adjustment screw sticking up.




The case hardening on hammer and trigger is quite nice. I was a little surprised to see that there is no Reg US Pat Off stamp on either one. I may have misunderstood which models got that marking, or when it was used. It is found on all my prewar .22/32 I-frames.

No box, just the gun. It has been fired, but not too much. I will shoot it too. The bore is shiny and unmarked; the cylinder chambers need a little work to get out some grime. I will the take the side plate off and take out the major assemblies to clean up nearly 90 years of dust and oil residue. It's a pity about the barrel, but I am happy to have a fairly rare adjustable sight version of a famous I-frame model.

Just for grins, here is how the company advertised this gun in the 1925 catalog.



Two and one-half inch groups at 50 yards -- I don't think they are talking about my skill level.

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David Wilson

Nice R-P David. Some day I hope to luck into a target model, it'd go nicely with my two R-P's, a .38 S&W and a .32, both from about the same time.

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Non illegitimae carborundum

neat .32! Sure is interesting that the little gun may have been used by a police officer at one time. I just picked up my first I frame today and may have a new line of revolvers to collect-love 'em.

Very nice, David. Thanks for posting.

Nice find - I could never understand the logic of those very thin front sights but they were the norms of the time.

Very nice. I have a 1903-no change target (low 4-digit serial) with 4" barrel with the same tiny front sight.

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Chris
SWCA #2243 SWHF #292

A shame about the barrel, but it's still a beauty!

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Misty

David,
Boy, that's a really nice RP...I sure love the look of these guns...I don't have a target but have a couple fixed site guns.

Congrats!!

Bob

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"Onward thru the Fog"

very nice bud, good job.

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Member SWCA, SWHF, CCA, WACA

Very nice find David, impressive .32 cal. revolver. You have acquired a gem in my opinion, congrats. I sent you a PM earlier about you sending it to me, did you get it? Good job on the photos too.

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Sam
S&WHF 333 S&WCA 2198

Sam, I did get your message and thought I had replied to it. But I didn't blind copy myself, so I can't tell if I actually sent it or not. At any rate, I'm not looking for any trades right now, but I'll keep you in mind when the time comes. Thanks, David

PS: Just tried to send another reply to your PM, hope it gets through.

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David Wilson

Hello David
Funny you would Post a Thread about such a rare Example, as Back In June at the annual S&WCA meeting one of the collectors had a 6" example like yours for sale, and a friend of mine purchased it. I would rate his right up there, and if I had not been Buying a Registered Magnum, it would have come home with me. Very, Rare and Very Nice Congratulations... Hammerdown

Bump because I added new photos to the original post.

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David Wilson