20's 30's 32 S&W Long Reg. Police

[larryofcc]

Just bought # 505426 and didn't realize the numbers are different than the 38 S&W model. Also has the 3 1/4" bbl. My 3 other Reg. Police are 38 S&W's with 4" bbls. Are the 32's scarcer? How about the short bbls.? Any idea when it was made? Roy is booked up. Thanks, Big Larry

 

[SG-688]

I happen to be helping edit an article on the 1903 .32 variations including the Regulation Police.

The authors' research indicates the .32 Regulation Police was not marked Regulation Police but was listed in catalogs as the RP. If yours is marked Regulation Police, they'd be tickled to see it.

They cite Neal & Jinks for the highest serial number recorded for a [pre-war] .32 Regulation Police being 536,685.

They are using a photo of a 1940 RP with the shorter barrel - 530xxx.

 

[larryofcc]

I happen to be helping edit an article on the 1903 .32 variations including the Regulation Police.

The authors' research indicates the .32 Regulation Police was not marked Regulation Police but was listed in catalogs as the RP. If yours is marked Regulation Police, they'd be tickled to see it.

They cite Neal & Jinks for the highest serial number recorded for a .32 Regulation Police being 536,685.

They are using a photo of a 1940 RP with the shorter barrel - 530xxx.

No, not marked Reg. Police. Logo on left of bbl., caliber on right
side. Has the stocks with no stock circles. Penciled serial number. My 30's .38 S&W has the circles and stamped serial number. Thanks, Big Larry

 

[Muley Gil]

I have seen many .32 RPs and very few .38 RPs.

I would say the short barrels are more common and the six inch barrels the least common.

 

[larryofcc]

I have seen many .32 RPs and very few .38 RPs.

I would say the short barrels are more common and the six inch barrels the least common.

I have seen mostly 38's. I have three 38's and one 32. The 3 38's are 4". Don't recall any 6"ers.
One of the 4"ers is Police marked from where I was born. Another is ser.#108 and appears to be kept in a sock drawer. It is unfired. Another was just too nice to pass up. My S&W collection is just hodge podge. I usually buy what I see and like and can afford. Big Larry

 

[Hondo44]

Congrats on finding your .32 RP.

The.32 RPS are not scarce. But you won't find any 2" .32s before WWII. They weren't introduced until after the war. If your stocks are original to the gun with MATCHING penciled serial number, the gun is from the 1920s. Pre 1923 if it doesn't have MADE IN USA on the right side of the frame.

Serial numbers on the stocks changed from penciled to stamped serial numbers at the end of the 1920s.

 

[Hondo44]

I happen to be helping edit an article on the 1903 .32 variations including the Regulation Police.

The authors' research indicates the .32 Regulation Police was not marked Regulation Police but was listed in catalogs as the RP. If yours is marked Regulation Police, they'd be tickled to see it.

They cite Neal & Jinks for the highest serial number recorded for a .32 Regulation Police being 536,685.

They are using a photo of a 1940 RP with the shorter barrel - 530xxx.

That's correct, no .32 RPS were marked REGULATION POLICE. And the.38 RPs lost the RP barrel marking around the end of the 1950s.

Highest "PRE WAR" .32 RP serial number; Neal and Jink book covered guns up thru 1945. So of course the .32 RP serial numbers went far higher after the war.

The shortest barrel at that time for the .32 would be the 3 1/4". The .38 RP would be 2" (having been introduced in 1935).

 

[rjm6120]

In case anyone on the forum is keeping a database, I have a nickel 3-1/4" .32 S&W long, s/n 3530**. Had to replace the hideous rubbers with some Jay Scott's, and also had to replace the hammer (with a blued one) because the nickeled hammer had some modification, that I can't recall, but it jacked up the action. Rescued it for $200 at a pawn shop very close to my workplace.

 

[larryofcc]

Congrats on finding you .32 RP.

The.32 RPS are not scarce. But you won't find any 2" .32s before WWII. They weren't introduced until after the war. If you're stocks are original to the gun with MATCHING penciled serial number, the gun is from the 1920s. Pre 1923 if it doesn't have MADE IN USA on the right side of the frame.

Serial numbers on the stocks changed from penciled to stamped serial numbers at the end of the 1920s.

Non medallion stocks with penciled number of the gun. Has the Made in USA. As stated, my 1930 shipped RP has the medallions and the serial number is stamped into the right stock.
All have the 1917 patented stocks except for #108 which shipped before that date. Big Larry

 

[Hondo44]

In case anyone on the forum is keeping a database, I have a nickel 3-1/4" .32 S&W long, s/n 3530**. Had to replace the hideous rubbers with some Jay Scott's, and also had to replace the hammer (with a blued one) because the nickeled hammer had some modification, that I can't recall, but it jacked up the action. Rescued it for $200 at a pawn shop very close to my workplace.

Thx. Is it a Hand Ejector model (round butt) or Regulation Police model (square butt grips)?

 

[Green Frog]

I've owned 3 pre War 32 RPs. As expected, the RP Target had a 6" barrel, but so did the other two. I went a long time thinking that long barrels were the norm on the RP. The first one I had was probably early post War (I) and had a somewhat leprous nickel finish. The other one and the RPT were blue of course. The one RP 38 I've ever owned was also nickel plated and had 4" barrel. I get it cheaply because the barrel was bulged. BTW, when I was fooling around in this rabbit hole, I had several long correspondences with David Wilson who told me that it was the 38 barrels in 6" he found exceedingly rare.
Froggie

 

[larryofcc]

Thx. Is it a Hand Ejector model (round butt) or Regulation Police model (square butt grips)?

Square butt. Big Larry

 

[4K2022]

Square butt. Big Larry

I just noticed you mentioned 1917 (pat) stocks.
So your .32 SW long with a 3 1/4 inch barrel has the rebated (notched) back strap, like the attachment?
Does it also have the large ejector rod knob (lerk)?

 

[glowe]

The 32 Regulation Police revolver was introduced in 1917 According to Roy's & Bob's book, all 32 RPs had rebated stocks from their introduction in 1917 to WWII. Serial numbers around 500,000-510,000 must have been very slow sellers, with examples shipping from 1928 to 1941. You can look for the differences on yours with mine, in the 311XXX serial number range, that shipped in 1920. You should have a MADE IN USA stamp and maybe a barrel shaped ejector rod knob.

 

[larryofcc]

The 32 Regulation Police revolver was introduced in 1917 According to Roy's & Bob's book, all 32 RPs had rebated stocks from their introduction in 1917 to WWII. Serial numbers around 500,000-510,000 must have been very slow sellers, with examples shipping from 1928 to 1941. You can look for the differences on yours with mine, in the 311XXX serial number range, that shipped in 1920. You should have a MADE IN USA stamp and maybe a barrel shaped ejector rod knob.

Yes, it has the later bbl. shaped rod. I have it pinned down to 1927-1929 using the 4th edition. Plain trigger, and Made in USA.
I don't have it in hand yet. Will be delivered Tuesday. Thanks all. Big Larry

 

[4K2022]

Yes, it has the later bbl. shaped rod. I have it pinned down to 1927-1929 using the 4th edition. Plain trigger, and Made in USA.
I don't have it in hand yet. Will be delivered Tuesday. Thanks all. Big Larry

I have a couple nickel 32s Rd butts,
3 1/4" 437xxx
4 1/4". 458xxx (hammer photo attached)

I stood by and watched a blue 458xxx 6" target sell recently,, nice one too. Since the 32RP serial numbers follow the round butt i frames, looking at the hammer (and trigger) will help.

But I can't remember the year

 

[glowe]

1926: REG.U.S.PAT.OFF. was stamped on Hammer and trigger, K & N frames beginning June. This is not a patent notice on mechanical design, but for the color case hardening process. It was dropped during WW II production. I assume that I frames also saw the change in 1926.