32-20 Question

[coastie70]

I read this forum a lot but this is my first post. A local seller has a 32-20 Model of 1905, 4th change for sale. Nickel finish, serial 778xx. It is in nice shape. I think that means it is an early 20's gun.

I have a 3rd edition of SCS&W and the description in the catalog doesn't quite match up with pistol. Left side of barrel is marked Smith & Wesson. Right side is 32W.C.F. CTG. Patent dates on top of barrel. RIght side plate has large S&W Trademark and four line: Made in USA, MARCAS REGISTRADAS, SMITH &WESSON, SPRINGFIELD, MASS. Mark.
Was S&W using this four line address this early?
I have several 1930's K22' s and they all have the one line Made in USA Mark.
Catalog says S&W trademark is on left side and no other frame markings?
What do you think?

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

If you remove the grips, you should find a date stamped on the left side of the grip frame. If it looks like 8.54, that means it was back at the factory in August 1954. The four line stamp was applied during the repair process. When Roy Jinks was working at S&W, he noticed that and had it stopped.

Can you post pictures? .32-20s are fun shooters. I have owned at least one since 1975.

 

[coastie70]

Thanks for the response. Gun is on VA GUNTRADER with photos. I may contact seller.

 

[Tom K]

I read this forum a lot but this is my first post. A local seller has a 32-20 Model of 1905, 4th change for sale. Nickel finish, serial 778xx. It is in nice shape. I think that means it is an early 20's gun.

I have a 3rd edition of SCS&W and the description in the catalog doesn't quite match up with pistol. Left side of barrel is marked Smith & Wesson. Right side is 32W.C.F. CTG. Patent dates on top of barrel. RIght side plate has large S&W Trademark and four line: Made in USA, MARCAS REGISTRADAS, SMITH &WESSON, SPRINGFIELD, MASS. Mark.
Was S&W using this four line address this early?
I have several 1930's K22' s and they all have the one line Made in USA Mark.
Catalog says S&W trademark is on left side and no other frame markings?
What do you think?

For a while in the '60s and/or '70s, Smith and Wesson would re-mark guns that were sent in for service with the new four-line address. Roy Jinks put a stop to that practice. If you take off the grips and look at the side of the grip frame you may see a marking like 6.68, which would stand for a rework date of June, 1968. There may or may not be a star by the serial on the butt.

Rework would usually be cause for a reduction in price. You mention that the gun is nickel - if the hammer and trigger are also nickel then it was refinished, and NOT by Smith & Wesson. S&W hammer and triggers are normally case hardened.


*I see Muley Gil beat me to the punch.*

 

[Absalom]

The serial 778xx and the large logo on the sideplate actually put the gun in 1917, prior to the wartime disruption of civilian production and no-logo period.

 

[Alk8944]

Welcome to the Forum.

If you remove the grips, you should find a date stamped on the left side of the grip frame. If it looks like 8.54, that means it was back at the factory in August 1954. The four line stamp was applied during the repair process. When Roy Jinks was working at S&W, he noticed that and had it stopped.

Can you post pictures? .32-20s are fun shooters. I have owned at least one since 1975.

In addition to the 4-line address S&W would often roll-mark the large logo on the sideplate on guns that didn't have it. I Took a 2nd Model 5" .44 H.E back to the factory in 1974. When I finally got it Back in 1975 They had applied the large logo so high that it ran off the edge of the sideplate. That and other polishing errors destroyed the gun!

 

[Green Frog]

If the gun is a factory rework from the era in question, the left side of the grip frame should be a rich source of alphanumeric coded info. If you can get access to that info, your knowledge about the gun's past will be significantly enhanced. Glad you finally decided to join in the conversations...regards from the Piedmont!

Froggie

 

[oddshooter]

I'm a fan boy of the 32-20.

I started out shooting with this caliber in 1960 with a Colt first gen SAA. Life occasionally just drops an eagle feather out of the sky and you get lucky. We also had the matching Winchester lever gun in 32-20.

I hope you are a handloader as this caliber can be hard to find and is pretty expensive when you do find it. There's also not the selection I would like to see. I really enjoy reloading the old bottom necked cartridge. Are there even any other bottle necked handgun calibers?

Be very careful that you don't find any Rifle 32-20 cartridges as they can be quite hot.


You need to decide what your wheelgun can handle before getting too far. I have a Ruger Buckeye in 32-20 and 32 H&R mag. It is probably the toughest sixgun ever built for that caliber. I handload for it pretty hot and use red powder-coated bullets to remind me to keep them out of my old HE's.

I hear Dan Wesson made a revolver in 32-20 that must have been hell for stout. I, however, have never even seen a picture of one.

If you don't buy it, please let me know.
I don't think I would have posted where it was. There are .32 junkies on here who can just can't help themselves from jumping the ethics shark when tempted.


Prescut

 

[Muley Gil]

" Are there even any other bottle necked handgun calibers?"


.38-40, .44-40, .22 Jet, .256 Winchester, just off the top of my head. There are a number for semi-auto pistols too.

 

[Bullet Bob]

"There are a number for semi-auto pistols too."

I'm still looking for someone to give me a Browning HP in .30 Luger.