1905 HE 32 WCF 3rd Variation?

[Wallyzworld]

Just joined to see if I can get some help identifying this.
Recently purchased a very well used 32 WCF Hand Ejector that has me confused. This 4" revolver has almost no finish left, but bore and chambers are bright, has diamond medallion grips that I don't believe are correct. Serial number 655xx is present on bottom of barrel, back of cylinder and bottom of butt. However this is where I'm confused, the butt has a line filed down the middle, front to back with the serial number stamped twice above and below this line. There is no star or diamond markings indicating repair. Looking here through the forums, I guess this dates from 1915, at about the time of the 3rd to 4th variation changes.
I own many S&W revolvers, this now being my oldest, and look forward to shooting it as I already load 32-20.
I'll try to add photos later.

Here are some photos now, notice the serial number on bottom of grip???? Also grips do not match so one may be correct and the other a later style.

Last patent date is Sep 09

 

[4K2022]

Welcome to S&W Heaven ,, Wally

1905 HE 32 WCF 3rd Variation? Yes ,, you seem to have it correct. But I think the Stocks are correct ,, you have an Old one and we can’t wait to see it.

 

[JP@AK]

Based on the serial number, it probably was shipped in about 1917. What is the last patent date on the barrel? If it is December 29, 1914, then it is a 4th Change.

Correct stocks would have a recessed gold medallion in the stock circle.

Pictures would be helpful.

 

[cmansguns]

3rd change..before heat treating cylinder..big deal or no?

Below is mine s/n 105093 shipped October 1921 per Roy. SCSW 4th shows s/n 65701 to 144684 as being 4th change which mine clearly is.

So the Op's at s/n 655xx would be the last of the 3rd change by serial number. SCSW also shows that heat treating of the cylinder didn't start until serial no. 81287. Is the heat treating or lack thereof a big deal if shooting modern "cowboy action" factory loads? I don't reload like the OP and others on this Forum but I do use HSM Cowboy Action factory ammo which is 115 gr LFN in new Starline Brass and it seems to function fine in my old 32-20.

Look forward to seeing pictures of OP's gun....always super fun seeing these old guns come back to life with new caretakers.

 

[Muley Gil]

I wouldn't worry about the heat treating or lack thereof, especially with cowboy level loads. There's more metal in a .32-20 cylinder, compared to a .38 special.

That said, I would avoid high velocity "rifle only" loads.

 

[Retired W4]

Wally, see if you can get some pictures of the old war horse posted. As you can see, many of those old 32-20's saw a lot of use over the many decades. Finding one in high condition can be a challange. Finding one in good shooting condition can be pretty easy.

S&W with a Savage 23C (32-20) companion.

 

[Kinman]

My wife's "kitchen" gun, another member helped me on those old vintage stags.



This a picture of its normal residence with its original stocks

 

[glowe]

Welcome to the Forum. Not sure why no one commented on the butt serial number? That was not factory work and not sure what happened to your revolver. The groove filed on the butt would have eliminated the factory serial number, but why someone would re-stamp it twice is beyond me.

The stocks are not original to the gun, being from the late 1950s. Originals had gold medallion round top stocks like below.

 

[JP@AK]

Not sure why no one commented on the butt serial number?

Mainly because the pictures were not included in the original post.

The stocks are not original to the gun, being from the late 1950s.

Correct. As I mentioned above (Post #3), the original stocks had the recessed gold medallions.

The picture of the barrel shows the 1909 patent date, not December 1914. Hence, this is a late 3d change.

Wallyzworld
Check the underside of the barrel and the rear face of the cylinder to see if those serial numbers match the two (?!) stamped on the butt.

 

[glowe]

Thanks for the clarification. He stated that those serial numbers match in his original post.

 

[JP@AK]

He stated that those serial numbers match in his original post.

Now I have to thank you for the clarification, Gary!

I should have gone back and read the first post. Sorry.

 

[Wallyzworld]

Thanks everybody

Here's another late acquisition. 1948 38spl 5", that at some point went to Micro Sight in Belmont Ca for sights and trigger work.
Working up some wadcutter loads to see the accuracy potential.