32-1 ???

[117]

Hey guys... just wondering if y'all can help me out with this revolver we found as we was going through my late Grandfather's safe . I have no intentions of selling it but will keep it in the family forever. It's a mint condition 32-1 5 shot S&W special. I'm not familiar with it and was wondering the year it was made ? Rarity? Value? And overall thoughts and history on this little jewel. Serial number on the grip is R29731 . Thanks for any information that y'all care to share

 

[herschelgconyers]

1969. R001-----R30000

Sent from my ME301T using Tapatalk

 

[Muley Gil]

Hey guys... just wondering if y'all can help me out with this revolver we found as we was going through my late Grandfather's safe . I have no intentions of selling it but will keep it in the family forever. It's a mint condition 32-1 5 shot S&W special. I'm not familiar with it and was wondering the year it was made ? Rarity? Value? And overall thoughts and history on this little jewel. Serial number on the grip is R29731 . Thanks for any information that y'all care to share

It is not a M32-1. That would be a .38 S&W chambered Terrier. The R prefix was assigned to the M60, which is a stainless steel Chief's Special chambered in .38 special, and the M651, which is a stainless steel Kit Gun chambered in .22 Magnum. There should be a model stamped on the frame behind the yoke, visible when you swing out the cylinder.

 

[117]

It does say mod.32-1 stamped on the frame behind the yoke . The barrel says 38 S&W CTG

 

[crankyoldlady]

My Terrier (32-1) from 1969 also bears an "R" prefix.

 

[CZU]

See page 2 of the letter in the post below, it talks about the r prefix, 1968 GCA and the model 60's.

Regulation Police and Letter

 

[Muley Gil]

"...5 shot S&W special."

Around here, that would mean the revolver is chambered in .38 special.

I reckon the SCSW is wrong about the R prefix.

 

[Hondo44]

Hey guys... just wondering if y'all can help me out with this revolver we found as we was going through my late Grandfather's safe . I have no intentions of selling it but will keep it in the family forever. It's a mint condition 32-1 5 shot S&W special. I'm not familiar with it and was wondering the year it was made ? Rarity? Value? And overall thoughts and history on this little jewel. Serial number on the grip is R29731 . Thanks for any information that y'all care to share

Sometimes we know the Model # can be mis-stamped, but the R in the serial # confirms yours is correctly stamped. If you look closely on the barrel it's marked 38 S&W CTG (cartridge) and you'll find a 38 S&W Special is a different cartridge which will not fit all the way in the chambers.

 

[Hondo44]

Yes, editions 1 thru 3 of the SCSW are in error. The 4th edition is corrected to include the Models 32 and 33 in the R section of the serial # tables.

 

[117]

Thank you for all y'alls help guys .. I really appreciate it . My grandfather had many Smith and Wesson's as do I and he left my brother and I all of his guns to add to our collections . We will never sell them . He passed several years ago and we found some interesting guns to say the least . We forgot about this little safe and we opened it on Easter and what a nice surprise!

 

[Dave IL]

Here is a 32-1 for reference if it helps any, 1964, and no r on the serial number. Starts with a 1.

 

[Hondo44]

Here is a 32-1 for reference if it helps any, 1964, and no r on the serial number. Starts with a 1.

That's a beauty Dave!

It would not have the R because it was made prior the Gun Control Act of 1968 which is when the letter was required in the serial #.

 

[Dave IL]

That's a beauty Dave!

It would not have the R because it was made prior the Gun Control Act of 1968 which is when the letter was required in the serial #.

And that is actually quite interesting. I read some of the above info, but did the "R" mean anythIn, I may have missed it. And I don't believe this gun has actually been fired.

 

[max503]

I hate adding new calibers to my collection but I wish somebody would will a 32 to me.

 

[Dave IL]

Here is a reference photo just because.. well i had a photo.. 32-1, 36, 437-2 you can see how much larger the .38 spl cylinder is on the 36 compared to the .38 s&w in the 32-1

 

[Hondo44]

And that is actually quite interesting. I read some of the above info, but did the "R" mean anythIn, I may have missed it. And I don't believe this gun has actually been fired.

No, the R was just an arbitrary letter to a J frame in 38 S&W Cartridge. Because the serial alone could be duplicated in other model serial # ranges.