.32/20 (.32 S&W Long) Target Hand Ejector UPDATE

[Kinman]

I was over at my favorite FFL's place today and he asked me about this particular piece that came into his hand. I am unfamiliar with these small caliber target revolvers but know a rare bird when I see one. Fortunately he has a Dr. Jinks letter for the revolver dated to 2002 that sheds some light on it. I told him before I would put it on G.B. I would see if it stirs any interest with the S&W crew. He copied the letter and gave it to me, I am posting it for any/to see and any advice any of you guys can give would be greatly appreciated. I have no monetary interest in helping my good friend out, he is selling the piece for the widow of the original purchaser who had a collection. I would give the piece about a 50% value, there were some pits that someone decided to remove with steel wool, pictures are forthcoming for anyone interested. It has an aluminum grip adapter and very nice adjustable sights.



If no one is interested he is going to post it on G.B. I thought it would possibly do better and fall into more appreciative hands posted on our For Sale page, again any help would be appreciated.

It seems my friend decided to go a different route and listed this piece on Gunbroker. My apologies...

 

[Green Frog]

Just enough info stir up internet but not enough to decide actual value. We need a bunch of close up pictures illustrating the good, the bad and the ugly, all of which your post alludes to.
Regardless, a factory letter confirming it as a factory pre War Target model in 32 S&W Long makes it an exciting item, worth pursuing.
Froggie

 

[Kinman]

Both my friend and I want something like this to go to someone that would appreciate it for its rarity. We were doing paperwork on a recent Pre Model 24 I had just acquired when he mentioned this little 32/20. I told him this is not to be confused with 32 WCF but is that oddball target cartridge as far as I knew anything. I am not a collector's collector by any means, I know what I like and this is not my interest and I am not in the business of making money off my purchases or interested in skinning anybody out of their hard earned money. I will let him know about the picture business and if need be am more than willing to put him in touch with anybody with any real interest. I don't want to go out on this limb any further than I already may have and certainly do not want to incur the wrath of the big monkey.

 

[dwh]

I do believe that you may have piqued my interest a little. I have been known to purchase a pre war target for time to time. I would love to see some pictures.

 

[erikpolcrack]

The 32 WCF and the 32-20 are the same cartridge and was/were a very common chambering of the early M&Ps. It was the same cartridge chambered in Winchester rifles and is not an "odd ball target cartridge".

 

[Muley Gil]

This revolver is chambered in .32 S&W Long, but is in the .32-20 serial number range.

Kinman may be thinking about the .32-44 cartridge.

 

[StrawHat]

Yes, the letter mentions the 32 S&W Long. What is stamped on the side of the barrel?

Kevin

 

[JP@AK]

The serial number range is clearly correct for a .32/20 target model chambered for the .32 S&W Long cartridge. I show two others, at serial numbers 43133 and 43134, that are also chambered in .32 Long. Both of those are target models with 4" barrels and they shipped to St. Louis on September 25 and 26, 1910.

I also show another 4" target unit in the 61000 range that shipped on July 12, 1916. Finally, there is one in the 64000 range. It has a 4" barrel and fixed sights. No ship date on that one.

No doubt your friend has an uncommon revolver that should spark some interest among the addicts here on the forum. (Yes, I include myself among the addicts!)

 

[Kinman]

Thanks for the interest. I was mistaken as Gil said, the letter clearly states that this revolver was chambered in 32 S&W Long. When I examined the revolver all the markings on the barrel were the roll marks at the top. My friend is in the process of taking pictures, I have no control over that. I mentioned to him about joining the Forum on his own so that he can exercise a bit more control but also told him that I would do what I could to help him where I could.

 

[mikepriwer]

Count me in as an interested party, so please have pictures sent to me - Mike Priwer [email protected].

The four known guns that JP@AK mentioned above are known to me. I own the two 4" targets, and know where the other two are. All four of these guns are marked the same way, with no caliber marking on the side of the barrel.

There were at least several dozen of these guns made. They were made in very small batches, typically 10 or 12 or more in a batch. The ones I know of came from 3 different batches.

Regards, Mike Priwer

 

[daddio202]

I was hoping to see pictures today. We are waiting with bated breath for pictures. I understand it maybe not a top priority for the friend.

 

[Kinman]

I was hoping to see pictures today. We are waiting with bated breath for pictures. I understand it maybe not a top priority for the friend.

Right...I have not broke the news to him that it isn't quite as valuable as we initially thought it was, I think I will keep that to myself and if I do not hear from him over the weekend I will get in touch with him next week and if necessary take a few interesting pictures on my own. I would just as soon have him take care of the sale as he is an FFL, I don't want to fool with the transfer, etc.