22/32 Possible Restoration

Retired W4, there is one man here in metro Atlanta that you do not want to pay to refinish that gun. If you are unsure who that is message me.
 
I am in the camp of leave the gun alone. A refinish will not make it shoot any better and a refinish will not improve its value as a collectible.

I have 2 guns nearby in my database, 276574 shipped 4/1919 and 276621 shipped 5/1919.

This is right around the time frame where the gun could have shipped with the 2 screw extension target stocks with gold medallions or the regulation police style with gold medallions.
 
If this is to be a shooter, I would look for some J frame Targets, which should fit with minor adjustments. Those original target grips, the same as were on the single shot Targets are just too "skinny" to get a good grip on and groups will suffer.
 
22/32

I'm in Lawrenceville if you ever want to get together to compare 22/32's.

SN 496748 / shipped 1929.
 

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As J.W. Oliver told me, "100% factory refinish is still 0% original finish."

It looks pretty good in the picture, I would lever the blue.
As in leave 'er alone.

I don't want collector's item grips, either.
Has anybody ever glass bedded M35 stocks to an older frame?
 
I do not know what year your 22/32 HFT is, but I have one, #253811, that I bought for less than $400 and it had a set of hard rubber target stocks on it. Knew that they were not correct, so sold them and bought a set of walnut medallion targets. Made a vast improvement. Never thought of restoring the gun as it looks well cared for and well used at the same time.

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Ok, I shot it with some RWS subsonic I happen to have at ~15 yards. Groups were ~6". Those tiny sights were killing me. My buddy wasn't at home so I didn't have a chance to see what it would do with a better set of eyes and steadier hands. The hard rubber grips didn't leave much to hold on to but there was no recoil to speak of. If a beater set of RPs come along that would work just fine. It was a good day, and that means a lot. Thanks all.

Tom

How about a couple of pictures in its current re-assembled condition please? :)

FYI I just did a Search in the forum Classifieds Accessories/Misc for Regulation Police, and a nice set of stocks just sold for $80, and a "good" set sold in April for $35. You might place an ad in the Want To Buy section. (I didn't search for the two-screw target style stocks but it wouldn't hurt to ask in the WTB ad.)
 
Eureka. While looking for a set of stocks for my buddies 29-2 I found these in the box. (one of these days I'm going to get organized. Yea, right.)

They fit over the rebated back strap perfectly. As JSR III eluded to, this one is likely 1919, and as I read it the single screw may be correct for it. Any way, this is about as far as I'm going with it except a little more work on the bore.

Hey TANZER, the other one pictured was in my display case at the last fairgrounds show. May, 1923 (the ship date, not the show date). A really nice example except for "The Scratch" which doesn't look as bad now that I've worked on it some..
 

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In the unlikely event I make it to 104, I would hope I would look even half as good as that revolver does. I would also hope that regardless of whoever my caretakers are at that point, they would not consider sending me out for a refinish. I have earned every wrinkle, scar, blotch, gully and sag on my exterior surface. That revolver has earned its outer surface, too. Now that you have given it a serious clean-up, just keep it clean and healthy, treat it well, and respect it by giving it a range trip every once in a while.

It looks great with the age-appropriate new stocks. I sense that it is a keeper for you now, and will be for anyone else to whom you may entrust it later.

As to accuracy, consider the possibility that it was not properly trained by previous owners. Even though old, a gun is not incapable of acquiring new information. With repeated opportunities to absorb what you require of it, this revolver will learn to place a bullet where you want it to go.

Here endeth the lesson. :D
 
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