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11-30-2011, 04:08 AM
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Model 33-1, .38 S&W, any thoughts or pics?
Anybody have one of these? Seems to be a model I don't run across very often. I've heard the ammo is on the expensive side.
Josh P
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11-30-2011, 05:06 AM
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Yes I do. It's a fun caliber to shoot. Less recoil than 38 Special. The Model 32 is the same thing with a round butt. I get ammo at the local gunshows fairly reasonable. If I shot it more I'd reload it.
I like the Model 30, a round butt .32 caliber (Model 31 is same thing with square butt) even more fun, like big .22s. I do reload that.
Have a chance to buy one?
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Jim
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11-30-2011, 01:01 PM
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Thx, yes I'm considering one that's for sale.
JP
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12-02-2011, 07:46 PM
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Would this be a "Terrier"
I have one and it shoots the 38 Smith and Wesson like the dickens, From the little 2" barrel I can shoot the 5 shots really fast and still be accurate!
Neat guns!
Peter
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12-02-2011, 09:43 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pred
Would this be a "Terrier"
I have one and it shoots the 38 Smith and Wesson like the dickens, From the little 2" barrel I can shoot the 5 shots really fast and still be accurate!
Neat guns!
Peter
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guitar 1580's is a Regulation Police; 3" or 4" barrel with sq butt, became the Model 33.
Yes, your's is a Terrrier with 2" barrel and rd butt, became the Model 32.
I have more of a 'soft spot' for the .32s; same basic gun with slightly smaller cylinder diameter but 6 shots.
Home made Model 30-1 .32 Target model (top), other variations of the .32 in the herd (below):
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Jim
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12-03-2011, 01:41 AM
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I have a Model 33-1, and it is a good shooter. I have a bunch of pistols chambered in 38 S&W, so I reload.
The caliber is a lot of fun to shoot. Low recoil and very accurate. I actually seem to do better shooting my Terrier then I do with any of the other ones I shoot in this caliber.
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12-03-2011, 06:54 AM
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The small .38 S&W five shooters are cute little guns. I bought my blue Model 33-1 Regulation Police new in the box in 1984 for $159.42, which included about a 6-1/2% sales tax. My Model 32-1 Terrier came to me a bit later, in 1997, also NIB.
Of course, the 32-1 and 33-1 are built on the J frame, while the 32 and 33 were built on the earlier, shorter I frame. The switch-over occurred in 1960. Both guns were discontinued in 1974, the last revolvers manufactured by S&W that fired the .38 S&W cartridge.
I have wondered many times, after finding the Model 33-1, why S&W didn't make the same gun, with a 4 inch barrel, in .38 Special. They might have sold a lot of them and made some money, or made only a few of them which would drive us J frame fans batty today.
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12-03-2011, 01:20 PM
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Buff, I have also wondered why S&W didn't make a 4" in 38 Special. I think they could have sold a bunch of those too.
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12-04-2011, 03:18 PM
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I have long been a fan of the small 5 shooters in .38 S&W. The Model 33-1 was introduced in 1917 as the .38 Regulation Police. The earliest models were built on the I-frame. In 1952, the change was made to the improved I-frame, with coil mainspring. In 1957, it became the model 33, and finally the 33-1 when the I-frame was discontinued in 1960 and production was moved to the J-frame. The 2" version, the Terrier is the model 32. As mentioned above, the model 32 and 33 were discontinued in 1974. I have two of these small five shooters. The first one I found was a model 33-1 shipped in 1967, one of the last built. It came with the original box and was wearing a beautiful set of factory target stocks:
My second is the grandfather of the model 33-1, a first year production .38 Regulation Police, serial number 15xx, shipped in June of 1917. This beauty looked virtually unturned and likely spent most of it's life in a drawer:
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12-04-2011, 04:36 PM
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Thx for the info and pics Nframe, those look very sweet. I did order the one I've been looking at for a few weeks, pending inspection / approval. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna like it. Will post pics when I get it. It's early 60's, flat latch & diamonds.
Josh P
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12-04-2011, 08:18 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nutsforsmiths
Buff, I have also wondered why S&W didn't make a 4" in 38 Special. I think they could have sold a bunch of those too.
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It was meant to be a carry/hideout gun and at the time, the factory didn't stray from the 'norms' of the time. But then one might ask why then were the Reg Pol made in 4"? I can only surmise that when they were used by police as official duty sidearms by some departments in the early century, they were carried in holsters on the duty belt.
So, only a couple dozen special ordered 6" Model 36s were made in the early '60s, 357XXX serial range.
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Jim
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12-04-2011, 08:47 PM
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Buff, the only advantage I can see of having a .38 S&W five shooter over having a .38 Spl five shooter is that the S&W is a tad shorter and allows a slightly smaller frame with shorter cylinder. If I were going to buy a J-frame .38, it would be a .38 Special for the greater power and access to a variety of loads and components. I just got a Baby Chief as a CCW piece, and although I am looking for a .38 S&W Terrier to finish out my stable of little guns, I am only interested in one that is an I-frame or a first improvement I-frame... a truly smaller .38 than the Special. Bear in mind that this is my own opinion and free advice and is probably worth almost as much as you paid for it, but you did ask!
Froggie
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12-04-2011, 11:10 PM
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I agree with Frog that the .38 spcl is the round to have and use. Most folks who buy the model 32 and 33 are probably collectors, like us.
I just sold my .32 SW long, and wasn't wanting to "take on" any new ammo, but I'm getting my 33-1 mainly because I love the engraving on it. I'll probably get one box of ammo, shoot it a few times, and put her in the safe.
Does anyone know where to get the best price on the .38 S&W ammo? I dont think ammunitiontogo even has it.
Josh P
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12-04-2011, 11:15 PM
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I don't have any trouble finding it even at our meager little local shows. Google it.
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Jim
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08-14-2017, 12:30 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hondo44
Yes I do. It's a fun caliber to shoot. Less recoil than 38 Special. The Model 32 is the same thing with a round butt. I get ammo at the local gunshows fairly reasonable. If I shot it more I'd reload it.
I like the Model 30, a round butt .32 caliber (Model 31 is same thing with square butt) even more fun, like big .22s. I do reload that.
Have a chance to buy one?
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I did not realize that the Model 33 had a round butt model number. I know the Models 30 and 31, 30 is round and 31 is square, but I had read somewhere that was the only Model(s) that were differentiated by a different model number for the frame shape. I'll have to find that page and tell them. Learn something every day. I am a big fan of J frame square butts. I held a round butt model 36 and it just didn't fit my hand how I liked, so I got a nickel 36, no dash 2" and it is beautiful and fits my hand wonderfully. little harder to conceal than the RB because that little corner pokes out in my shirt, but who cares, I still love it. Now I gotta find me a blued 36, preferably no dash, or - 1 to go with it. Always wanted a pair of guns, one nickel and one blued, just like Shaft in the first movie (although his are Detective Specials). I like the model 31 and 33. They are cool and not something you run into everyday. I like the 31 too because I love that extra round. I love many of the old Smiths and a few Colts from yesteryear. Too bad all good things must come to an end...
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08-14-2017, 06:02 PM
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Well guns don't wear out with care like cars do, except in extreme use cases so the old ones will be around a long time.
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Jim
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