I'm not sure if this belongs here or in the 1896 - 1961 forum. Please move if it does and accept my apologies for misplacing

This is one of the toys I found this past weekend, but I have no clue what make it is. There isn't a model # on it. The only flaws I can see are a little bit of freckling on the right side plate and some holster wear at the barrel (some unforseen too I'm sure).

Everything is tight, and it feels nice. The guy I bought it from stated emphatically it was a pre model 40 (I think we all know better) but he might have meant pre 30. Can I request the help of the pro's once more to find out what "pre" model this is and her age please? Thanks as always

No model number just 40908 inside the crane/yoke, the #1 above that, and the letter U.

It's an I-frame .32 H-E and the serial number you see on the butt of the revolver is the correct one.

Yea, I knew it was a 32 hand ejector but I don't know the age or much more. I think it is pre 1961 but I am unsure. Maybe it is a pre model 30 or 31? Just guessing here

I believe that you have a .32 Hand Ejector, Pre-Model 30, Modified I frame. I have one with a serial number of 637836 that was shipped May, 1956. Yours would have been after mine, but probably before 1960. I am sure someone will come along with more info. Here is a pic of mine.

That is one sweet 32 Hand Ejector and in Nickel no less !!

You might call it a "pre-Model 30," but really it should be called a .32 Hand-Ejector. That is what it is.

SCSW3 is no help in pinning down a year for your gun, since it falls into the range the authors list as '46 - '60. One could guess at '60, but... Doesn't matter though. If you really want to know, the only way to be sure is to get a letter.

Of course there is some confusion with model marked guns. Sometimes you see a round-butt gun marked 31, and/or the other way around. If you just call the RB non-model marked guns Hand-Ejectors and the SB guns Regulation Police, you can avoid some of the confusion.

...again many thanks to you kinds folks for helping out this ole country boy I think the whole SB & RB thing is confusing but it is what it is I guess.

I am still in awe of JCS&W's Nickel 32 hand ejector [TRULY GORGEOUS]. Has that been re-finished or is that the original Nickel job? That is a true work of art.

I have many more acquisitions and I like to post photos, but I don't want an Admin or Moderator to get upset with me for posting too much or too many pics

I went to another gun show tonight and found a 640 Centennial with engraving (not completely covered though) and display case as well as two other S&W's I had to have. I think I have caught a disease or the equivalent of the S&W bird flu

There is another gun show that I can go to tomorrow but I think I have an addiction. What is the cure?

I can only speak for myself, but I think there is only one and it is called death.

It is a 32 Hand Ejector post war, and often referred to as a Pre-30. I can tell you that S/N 600097 shipped Jan 1953, and S/N 589782 shipped Ji;y 1952. They are addicting, (there is no known cure), and also great little shooters.

The 2" from 7/52


The 3 1/4" from 1/53

__________________
H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Oh GREAT!!! Yet another type of neat small caliber S&Ws that I had never really considered before.........THANKS!!!

Can I assume this is the same 32 S&W round that the old/antique topbreaks used??

No, the antique top-breaks used the 32 S&W, these Hand Ejectors use a 32 S&W Long. Considerably more powerful round, and not entirely out of the question as a self defense round.

__________________
H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

These early post-war .32s are a collecting niche all there own. There are a lot of different variations as they attempted to use up leftover parts, even post-war guns built on leftover pre-war frames. At the time, they never thought of them as being collectable 60 years later, they were just using up parts. They were offered with 3 1/4", 4 1/4" and 6" barrels as well as 2" for the first time. By the time model numbers came about, the 6" was dropped and the barrels were standardized at 2", 3", and 4". Here's mine, it is a 3 1/4" barrel serial number 573xxx, pinned down as from 1952 thanks to much information from my fellow forum members. It is an improved I-frame with the coil mainspring, but it's also a five screw gun, a variation that is not supposed to exist according to SCSW. SCSW says the trigger guard screw was supposed to be eliminated when they switched to the coil mainspring.

JCS&W, Are those MOP grips factory? They are exactly what's on my pre-33 I frame.

4-1/4, 4 & 3 inch. The 3" is a 30 no dash.

Attached Images

I frame.jpg (118.5 KB, 51 views)

This is exactly why I keep coming back here. The users are extremely knowledgeable and friendly. With the added bonus of seeing something, (at least new to me), learning about new guns, and potentially giving one a new home is great. Love the pics of all these guns

My only 32 H-E is S/N 594xxx, and is a 5-screw. I fell in love with the snub I-frame guns the first time I held it.

"I have many more acquisitions and I like to post photos, but I don't want an Admin or Moderator to get upset with me for posting too much or too many pics."
You're new here, but you'll soon find that good-quality pics are
always appreciated.
You'll also find that your new affliction/addiction can only be
alleviated by the acquisition of MORE S&W's.
Personally, even with Some S&W's, I've got an itch that has to
be scratched at regular intervals. The scratching is something GOOD.
TACC1