I-Frame .32 S&W Long

[Tom 1951]

I went on my first pawnshop prowl in a couple of years. I wasn't looking to buy, just window shopping. One shop had a flat latch I-frame in pretty good shape for $399. Calibre is .32 Long. I didn't even look hard enough to notice a model number. It did snuggle nicely in the pocket of my Dockers, though.
When I got home, I realized that the revolver was still on my mind, like an attractive single woman one meets when attending a new church for the first time.
I even looked up prices on-line for the cartridge.
A revolver? I haven't shot anything but auto-loaders for ten+ years. A .32? Lordy, what am I thinking?
I'm going to have to go back and get better acquainted.
Incidently, is there a cut-off date for Smith getting rid of the flat latch?

[Wiregrassguy]

Hi Tom! Be careful or you will live out the Bad, Bad LeRoy Brown scenario that Jim Croce sang about. These little revolvers are addictive. Is it the snub version? S&W ended the flat latch in 1966 and went back to the standard thumbpiece.

[HeyJoe]

Hurry up back, they go fast!

[two-bit cowboy]

Originally Posted by Tom 1951

... is there a cut-off date for Smith getting rid of the flat latch?

S&W, “Incorporated,” Dr. Jinks’ purposefully chosen word, a J-frame engineering change on February 11, 1966, to replace the flat style thumbpiece with a new contoured thumbpiece.

[Hondo44]

The I frames (pre 1961 when they became J frames) are very collectible, cheap to shoot, and a ton of fun. If it’s an I frame it should be posted in the 1896-1961 forum.

There’s four evolutionary I frame models from the 1950s. With the flat latch it’s most likely the last model, the Model of 1953 New I frame with or w/o the stamped model number in the yoke: model 30 if round butt or model 31 if square butt. If it is stamped with the model and has a -1, then it’s a J frame.

Get the serial number and we can pin down specifically which it is and its age.

Don’t know the condition but if half way decent condition, that’s a fair price.

[lihpster]

I picked up a Third Model awhile back from Cabela's for >$200. The nickel was in rough shape and it didn't function. Replaced a couple of parts and hit it with Mother's and it's a nice little field gun. I have a Bianchi 5BHL for it. Good for rabbits and snakes.

[Wrangler Rich]

I found a 32 I frame brought it home, and my wife immediately claimed it as hers. It is a great shooter, she is too.

WR

[max503]

That's one of my grail guns. I've had a 32 wadcutter mold for forever. It's been looking for a gun to feed......

[H Richard]

Before you know it you will want a Mod 16-4 and you can shoot 32 SW, 32 Long, 32 H&R Mag, and many have opened tyhe chambers to take 327.

If you find a Mod 30 with a 2" barrel you will have the nicest pocket gun.

[Toyman]

A 32 hand ejector shipped December 1950.

[fredcoyote]

Crazy but just this little guy Friday! A long with a 16-4. Started a year ago with a 432. Shot it and got the 32 fever. Up to 7 after Friday haul, ughhh. Can't wait to shoot the holy Grail 16 though... Better hear angels singing for the price they fetch

Happy shootin'

Fred

[raljr1]

32s are catchy, you'll often hear,
From collectors who like to bend an ear.
Be careful though, you'll quicky learn,
32s are a river of no return.
You'll just buy one it's often said,,
Yet seldom stay true 'cause we're often led,
To a range to shoot these wonderful toys
and learn for ourselves of 32 joy.
So off we go searching for just one more..
And before you know it one has become four

or ten.

Enjoy your 32 . Use it to teach the kids and let them use it to teach theirs. Welcome to the club.

Robert

[Inland7-45]

Originally Posted by Wiregrassguy

Hi Tom! Be careful or you will live out the Bad, Bad LeRoy Brown scenario that Jim Croce sang about. These little revolvers are addictive. Is it the snub version? S&W ended the flat latch in 1966 and went back to the standard thumbpiece.

Buying one makes you want to buy another. I got of to a slow late start , but I am at 3 now. Since I am now totally set up to reload and cast bullets for this round and have around 1,500 pieces of brass finding ammunition is not a problem. At 2.6 grains of 231 per charge a pound of powder goes along way. No reason not to shoot and enjoy these.

[AJ]

I bought a S&W Model 30-1 in .32 S&W long about a month or so ago. Discussed it here on the forum and a forum member graciously loaned me a .32 H&R Mag chamber reamer. It is now a .32 H&R Mag, and shoots very well, great pocket gun!

[Toyman]

A pre war 32 HE shipped in 1941. The previous owner had Keith Brown craft grips for it.

[Green Frog]

My little I frame Transitional 32 snub is great for concealed carry. So great in fact, I’ve concealed the *@#$#* thing and can’t find it! It’s around here somewhere in its black nylon ankle holster, but I sure can’t lay my hands on it.

Froggie

[Retired W4]

Originally Posted by Green Frog

My little I frame Transitional 32 snub is great for concealed carry. So great in fact, I’ve concealed the *@#$#* thing and can’t find it! It’s around here somewhere in its black nylon ankle holster, but I sure can’t lay my hands on it.

Froggie

I'll let you know if it turns up. Did you check your ankle?

[tjpopkin]

As a competitive bullseye shooter, I used a .22 for rimfire (Model 41) and a Performance Center 945 for centerfires Was I aged and 50 years of shooting started to catch up on men I converted to a pair of Olympic Grade Pardini, one in.22 the other in .32. My scores really soared. I was shooting an average of 284 in a 300 match, with the .22 and 286 with the .32. I replied the joy in shooting .32, so I had to buy a S&W revolver. I found a 1919 .32 regulation police Target at my LGS and the rest was history. After 25 years I had acquired every .32 S&W revolver manufacture from Civil War to date....Yes, including a mint K32, a 16-4 in all barrel lengths, and even a newer mint Model 2 army. I had 76 .32 revolvers and the Smith Semi-auto as well.....
Hard times and retirement required I had to send them to RIA auction, where they did well, but RIA was pairing my guns and I lost many dollars.
I still have a 16-4 that Bowens rechambered in .327 Federal and it lost no accuracy with the lighter loads. I carried a 632-2 .327Federal as a CC revolver...and loved the gun and cartridge...it is stout....
I have ordered a Henry lever gun in .327 Federal but they are not currently making them. Have a Ruger Single 7 in .327, but accuracy is not as good as the 16-4. Still have a few model 30s and 31s (5 or 6) and likely will sell these as well. .32 long is one of the most accurate target rounds ever made (wadcutter) but range is limited to 25 yards....drop at 50yds is nearly a foot..legal round in any NRA centerfire match...and my scores are high.....

[fabricgator]

Howdy folks,
My first post, I joined to learn about my 'gifted' model 31-1 I've yet to get to the range.
A very nice specimen. I sure am glad that I didn't trade it away to a friend I owed a dollar to, just because I couldn't easily pick up a box of cartridges at Bass Pro Shop...

Does anyone have a holster they just love for these?

[fabricgator]

I apologize, here I am the new guy and I just realized I wrote a 'hijacking' thread.
I should have started my own. Cheers!

[Retired W4]

Originally Posted by fabricgator

I apologize, here I am the new guy and I just realized I wrote a 'hijacking' thread.
I should have started my own. Cheers!

You will be forgiven.

[Green Frog]

fabricgator, this is actually a pretty mild hijack, and I’m sure the OP won’t mind since it does at least relate to the flow of the thread. The question of holsters will depend on two thing, the barrel length of the revolver in question and how you want to carry it. If it is a snub, you can just stick it in a front pocket with or without a suede sleeve to protect it (and your pocket) and to reduce “imprinting”. Longer barrels can go in conventional outside the waist band belt holsters, inside the waist band holsters (which I personally find uncomfortable) and shoulder holsters which conceal well under a jacket if desired.
I recently acquired a hybrid designed and built by Buchmeir many years ago. It’s a belt mounted holster that is worn cross draw style but high on the side near the position of a shoulder holster. Net advantage of the I- and J frame revolvers is that they can be placed in a variety of locations due their small size. Holsters can be found accordingly.
Froggie

[Tom 1951]

The revolver was still there as of this morning; I'm holding off, though, for two reasons.
First, my father, ever wise, sometimes smart, once said (that's all it took) that a two week wait is seldom wasted. As Charlie Chan said, "Patience are a lovely virtue."
Second, Oct. 3rd is my birthday. That fact alone justifies a purchase.
If it's "meant to be," she'll be waiting. Friday, Oct. 6th, will tell the tale.
Comments about carry are appreciated.
A 2" S&W is eminently pocketable.
Not to get into a heated discussion on calibre power, here I go anyway.
I currently pocket carry a Sccy CPX-2 in a DeSantis 111. The small 9 is getting harder to shoot well and a small five shot .38 is hardly better for me. I don't expect a .32 LRN to do the job of even an FMJ 9 mikemike, but I think 6 of the .32s are better than 10 .22s. I may be wrong and hope never to find out.

[AJ]

Originally Posted by Tom 1951

The revolver was still there as of this morning; I'm holding off, though, for two reasons.
First, my father, ever wise, sometimes smart, once said (that's all it took) that a two week wait is seldom wasted. As Charlie Chan said, "Patience are a lovely virtue."
Second, Oct. 3rd is my birthday. That fact alone justifies a purchase.
If it's "meant to be," she'll be waiting. Friday, Oct. 6th, will tell the tale.
Comments about carry are appreciated.
A 2" S&W is eminently pocketable.
Not to get into a heated discussion on calibre power, here I go anyway.
I currently pocket carry a Sccy CPX-2 in a DeSantis 111. The small 9 is getting harder to shoot well and a small five shot .38 is hardly better for me. I don't expect a .32 LRN to do the job of even an FMJ 9 mikemike, but I think 6 of the .32s are better than 10 .22s. I may be wrong and hope never to find out.

Like your thinking.............However, willing to bet you can wave goodbye to it. Have seen to many times where things should have been bought when seen. As if you wait and come back to it, the item is usually gone.

[HeyJoe]

Originally Posted by AJ

Like your thinking.............However, willing to bet you can wave goodbye to it. Have seen to many times where things should have been bought when seen. As if you wait and come back to it, the item is usually gone.

especially an I frame 32

[Green Frog]

Originally Posted by AJ

Like your thinking.............However, willing to bet you can wave goodbye to it. Have seen to many times where things should have been bought when seen. As if you wait and come back to it, the item is usually gone.

^^^What he said^^^

[Tom 1951]

I went back to the shop this morning and the .32 was still here. Through a comedy of errors, I wasn't able to take it home. It's going to be a couple of more weeks before I can get it, if I do. The bloom is considerably off the rose. It's not the gun; it's more the attitude of the shop people. I don't see it being sold any time soon. (The clerk who waited on me this morning had no idea that there was a .32 revolver in the store.) The store itself has a reputation for lacking in customer service.

I've come to the conclusion that although I want a new carry piece and would prefer a "classic" over the newest and greatest tacticool wonder that has everyone raving, I can continue to carry my small 9mm. I also need a new bedside gun and that may be found before I settle on a carry gun.

I'm still trying to find out more about the revolver. The store clerks haven't been much help. It's a short cylinder, round butt I-frame with a flat latch. There's no model number marked inside the crane nor on the barrel; the serial number's in the 81,000 range with no letters, dashes, suffixes, or prefixes.

[Hondo44]

Well serial # 81,XXX and a flat latch does not compute. That # would be from a .32 Hand Ejector Model of 1903-2nd Change from about 1909.

If you got that # from inside the yoke (where the serial # can only be found after 1957), it's the assembly #. The serial # is always on the butt of the grip frame, and before 1957, on bottom of barrel, rear face of the cylinder and a couple other places.

Or are you sure it wasn't a 6 digit #; 81X,XXX? But that would be about a 1970 gun and 4 years after the flat latch was discontinued. To have a flat latch, the # would have to be in the 5XX,XXX serial range.

A flat latch wouldn't be on a .32 until the early 1950s thru 1966.

Let us know if you can get more information.

[Green Frog]

It’s the predecessor to the Model 30. It has the advantage of having a small frame, making it more concealable than many others. My favorite variant is the “Old” rather than the “Improved” or “New” models because I prefer the leaf mainspring like all of their larger siblings have. But that’s just me and in fact I’m warming up to the stainless J frames that are all coil spring guns.
If you do get it, don’t give up on that tiny grip… it takes some getting used to, but it even works for the Chiefs Specials, so it will be fine with the 32 if you give it a chance!
Froggie

[Lucnic]

Originally Posted by fabricgator

Howdy folks,
My first post, I joined to learn about my 'gifted' model 31-1 I've yet to get to the range.
A very nice specimen. I sure am glad that I didn't trade it away to a friend I owed a dollar to, just because I couldn't easily pick up a box of cartridges at Bass Pro Shop...

Does anyone have a holster they just love for these?

Go to eBay and look for a Strong 31–1 or 31-2 depending on barrel length. Also Vintagegunleathertoday.com. I’ve had good luck with both sites.

[Model19man]

Hmmm. That serial number does not compute. Here's mine while you figure it out.

[Muley Gil]

S&W .32 Long HE, 3 ¼” nickel, # 512621, shipped in April 1938.