3" .32 Hand ejector or unstamped model 30?
- Thread starter 4dguns
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
bwade
Member
It looks like a standard post war 32 hand ejector (pre model 30). Does it have 5 screws on the other side?
The model numbers were assigned by S&W in 1957. Others on this forum have stated that it was 1958 before model stamped firearms were shipped.
cgt4570
Member
The book doesn't mention exactly what day in 1957 that model numbers began for the Model 30. I'm pretty sure it wasn't January 1. Most likely your .32 Hand Ejector was produced prior to that day. Also, since the factory made them up in batches, it could have been made some time before it shipped. I previously owned a 4-screw pre-30 just like it.
The top gun is similar to yours, 3" bbl, shipped December 1957, serial number is 667XXX, so later than yours...and is not model stamped, so a "pre model 30":
Best Regards, Les
Best Regards, Les
Last edited:
You'll find more accurate information on page 144 of the SCSW 4th edition.
You have one awesome example of a "Model of 1953 NEW I frame .32 Hand Ejector" 3 screw that shipped in mid 1954 most likely. The earliest had 4 screws (there weren't any 5 screw Models of 1953).
The 3" barrels gradually replaced the 3 1/4" (and the 4" the 4 1/4") in 1952. So all 1953 models had 3" and 4" barrels.
It's known as a 'Pre model' because it's exactly the same engineering design as the later Model stamped version.
Model # stamping was ordered June 12, 1957 and Model 10s were stamped 1st c. Sept. 1957 because they moved the fastest. Slower selling models took much longer before guns in progress w/o the model # stamp were completed and new frames began entering the production process were finally stamped with their designated model #s.
Last edited:
