I saw a nice 31-1 in 32 S&W today for about 400 looked in good shape and am pretty sure i will see it at the next show. Anybody have one of these and what do you use it for?

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Stan

I had a 3" M30-1 (same revolver, except in round butt mode). Nice, accurate plinker. Little recoil and with decent ammo, adequate for self defense.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

What, you have to have a use for it? HEHE!
I bought an old pre 30 2in, over the summer and have been carrying it in the field in hopes of getting a shot at a grouse or rabbit. I tried to draw bead on a grouse, but he didn't cooperate. It seems to me, the 30 and 31 would have made super kit guns if they had adjustable sights like the model 34. You can reload the 32 S&W Long unlike a .22 and it is pretty cheap to do so. The 32 S&W Long is easy to reload and fun to shoot.

My friend John has had it on his table for a few months now and maybe I might pick it up next time, I think it might make a nice house gun.

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Stan

and a #30-1. The .32 Long is a neat cartridge, as well as an accurate one. I would also like a adjustable sight version of these guns.

I have one, mine is a 3". I think that they are all in .32 SW Long rather than .32 SW, though they will of course chamber and fire the shorter round just fine. The square butt makes finding replacement grips something to send away for, but plenty are still around.

I put finger groove Pachs on mine, makes it handy. Not a lot of noise, makes a nice squirrel gun or something to teach a kid to shoot with. Pretty much no kick to it. Walking around in the woods it'll put rabbits in the stew pot and things like that very well.

Wouldn't be my first choice for a house gun unless you just want something quiet or have issues with recoil. Magtech makes some JHP ammo, but I don't know that I'd trust it to expand. The LRN bullets commonly encountered are just going to drill holes. If you handload, well it's a solid enough gun to stand things in the .32 HR mag class by most accounts.

When I got mine, I asked about them and was told that policewomen used to use them back in the days when there were policemen and policewomen instead of just police officers.

400 is about right, I traded a 2" 12-3 for mine and figured it was even.

Speedloaders meant for the later 432 and what not will work fine with it.

I have a couple of them and my wife loves them both. They are great shooters, little recoil, not too loud, and pretty cheap to shoot. It's really amazing how accurately these short barreled little guns shoot. If you like to just shoot, you'll really like the .32's.
teesur.

Model 31-1



Model 30-1

You have described my dream kit gun.

They did make a .32 Kit Gun, the model 631. It is stainless, and looks identical to a 63, but is chambered for .32 H&R Magnum. Hard to find, though. I once saw one and very stupidly passed it up thinking it was too expensive. The 31s are great shooters, and I completely agree with everything said by RalphK22. Here's my pair of 31-1s in 3":

I have a 30-1 3" barrel. Same reasons as everyone else. Just a great little gun. I loaned it to my sister in law for a CCW course.
Does anyone know where I can find a 30-1, 3" barrel?

I walked into a local gun shop one morning a couple years back,just browsing and saw this really nice S&W jframe sitting under the glass and asked the owner if I could see it. He said it's a .32s&w long,you probably wouldn't like it,(thinking it's to small). I bought it, and the can of s&w long brass, for under $400.00.It's m31-1, and became one of my favorite guns. It goes almost every where with me and is my 11 yr. old grandson's favorite plinker. Now, I will say the sights are what they are,but at 10 yds it shoots to poa. It actualy led to my quest for a m16 but as most members know they are rare and expensive. So, I found a Ruger Single Six 45/8" and shoot .32 longs in it.I will try to post a picture of the little guy later.thanks for listening

This is my .32 Long. I don't believe it has a Model number, however.

Sometimes you only get one chance at an opportunity.
After finding one .32 S&W L, I've picked up another, and have a third on the way. Good luck! TACC1

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I have a 31-1, paid 350$ for it about a year ago, had a few blemishes in the bluing, but is mechanically perfect with correct grips. I fits right in with my Colt Police Positives and Police Positive Specials in 32. I cast bullets and load and shoot several thousand rounds a year thru my 32s. 32 is my favorite caliber for revolvers. I have and shoot 32-20, 32 S&W, 32 S&W Long, 32 Magnum, and 327 Federal Magnum. I also have and use a Walther PP in 32 Auto. Yes 32 is great!!!!!!!!!!

Greetings to all! This is my first post. Found a 99.9% condition 31-1 at the not so local gun shop yesterday. Ser.# ANB55XX, original wooden grips. Looks to be unfired,no box. Would someone be so kind as to tell me the date of manufacture? I have to wait until 12/30 to pick it up. 30 days between handgun purchases here in NJ. Thank you in advance.

I also recently purchased this one! Paid $400. which I was happy about. Don't forget they don't make em anymore & I did luck into one that was in almost new condition....

In Canada these .32 calibre guns are classed under our gun laws as "prohibited".
The only place to shoot it is at my gun club & NO hunting or self defense at home. We
are not allowed to have any loaded firearms in the home.....

At least I can take it out, shoot it & fondle the heck out of it with an oily rag! LOL.
I also reload for this cartridge, as I do also have some ruger single six guns, & a marlin rifle in .32 H&R mag. I too am a big fan of these fun .32 pistol cartridges & the guns!

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A true american

My best guess according to the info in the S&W 2'nd edition book seems to indicate it was made in 1986-1987

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A true american

Thank you for your response.
I forgot to mention it was $299.00
I will post a picture after I pick it up.

As you can see from the responses, the only people who like the little J-frame 32s are the ones who actually own one and have shot it! I've got a post-war 32 HE snub (that's an I-frame of course) that is my everyday CCW, and I armed my favorite niece with a 3" Model 30-1. Easy to reload and as authoritative as they need to be.

Froggie

The only stupid question is the one you don't ask so here I go: Can I use a Lee Loader for 32-20 to reload 32 S&W Long?

Not stupid at all, but unfortunately the answer is "probably not." Because of the longer case, even though both have about the same neck diameter, the 32 S&W Long cartridge won't reach far enough up into the 32-20 die to be acted upon. To continue the thought though, these dies do neck size only... a feature we also see in the Lyman and Ideal 310 tools. Since they don't extend downward onto the case so far, you might be able to sneak that one through. In the long haul, reloading is best done with properly fitting tools designed to do the specific job at hand.

As a sidelight however, it is possible (usually) to use the same dies for different length of the same cartridge (like 38 Spl and 357 Mag) so in the case of the 32 S&W, you can probably use the same dies for 32 S&W (short or long) 32 H&R Mag, and even 327 Fed Mag. By changing shell holders, they can also be used for the 32 auto as well. All five (unlike the 32-20) use straight sided, cylindrical cases, differing mainly in length only.

I hope this will have been helpful rather than confusing, and it also will serve to answer questions about interchangeability of the cartridges... your 32 S&W Long will also chamber and fire the short and auto versions of this cartridge, and Smith also bored out the chamber a little longer to make it a 32 Mag.

Froggie

informative-yes confusing-no.....thank you for your reply.
One question though-to what are you making reference to when you say........"and Smith also bored out the chamber a little longer to make it a 32 Mag."

I think the 31-1 with a 3"Bbl and square butt in .32 HR Magnum would be an awesome CCW ! Too bad NJ doesn't allow concealed carry.

she is beautiful, i have a jones for one of these little guns.

Bought my first .32 about ten years ago. A Model 16-4 in .32 H&R Magnum. The .32 mag never really impressed me, but with .32 longs that Model 16 is a tack driver!
I've since added two J-frames and an I frame .32 to my safe. Darn things are just plain fun!

Went to pick up my 31-1 yesterday at the not so local gun store. Filled out the paperwork and was told the State Police background check that usually take 5 minutes on the phone will now take up to 5 days! They fax the paperwork over and wait. Very Disappointing:confused This is happening all over NJ.

I feel your pain, Pilgrim! I loaned my 30-1 three inch to my youngest niece for her CCW qual course when she was 20, and when she turned 21, I "lost" it forever! Oh well, I always did love my nieces, and since my grand niece has just turned 6 months, I've got a while to go before the cycle starts again.

Froggie

The Model 631 comes to mind... a J-frame 32 Mag. There were also a couple of others. I think all of the last runs of 32 revolvers S&W made were 32 Mag unless maybe there were a few 327s as well. My biggest gripes are the lack of a factory 616 (stainless K-frame 327 Fed Mag) and the fact that the custom I'm having built to rectify the situation has taken 5 months so far and the barrel isn't even rebored yet.

Froggie

Couldn't find a .32 K frame so like Froggie I had one built by the same person building Froggies. Bbl. was cut to 5" and a Weigaqnd interchangeable front site base added. Keith Brown made the Roper English walnut grips. Hang in there Froggie, I feel you're pain. It is a tack driver also. Mine only shoots .32 long. Larry

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Here is my .32 K-frame. (.32 S&W LONG cartridge) I came across this Taurus model 76 some time back, & it shoots as accurite, is as smooth & has all the same basic features like barrel length, adjustable sights & replaces my dream of having a model 16.

I love my .32 revolvers...

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A true american