32 caliber S & W age and value?

[GeorgetownLee]

I have a S & W 32 caliber,3.5" barrel, top break, no visible hammer, 5 shot, adjustable rear sight ? (has a small screw but not sure it's adjustable), and 5 screws (plus 1 on inside of handle). Serial #95550. I would like to learn as much as I can about this gun; age, value, etc.. The gun appears to be original and not having been shot much. Previous owner (deceased) was a very good friend who owned it for 40+ years and never shot it.

 

[shouldazagged]

Welcome to the forum.

In order to answer your questions the experts here (I'm not one) will have questions for you about condition, markings, etc., and would really like to have more up-close pictures. The serial number will help nail down the age.'

Looks like a nice little "lemon-squeezer" hammerless.

How is the bore? Does it appear sound mechanically? What are the caliber markings>

 

[Hondo44]

Welcome to the forum.

You have a DA "break open" Safety Hammerless - 2nd Model and it's a beauty.

Looks like all original finish in pretty darn nice condition, and the Mother Of Pearl stocks are genuine. Having the gold plated medallions means they are factory, generally accepted as beginning in 1893. If original to your gun they may still show the serial # penciled on the back of the right grip. Only a factory letter can confirm for sure.

I don't see anything that indicates an adjustable sight and I don't know that these models were ever offered with target/adjustable sights.

It's actually in the wrong forum category. The experts for your gun are in the antiques category where you should post it. Click on the red triangle in the upper right hand corner of your post and ask the moderator to move it for you.

 

[glowe]

Welcome. The First Model was a push button latch, so this example is a later production. From the serial number, it would be a 32 Safety Hammerless, Second Model, shipped in 1901. I love those medallion pearls, but the percent finish is hard to determine with the reflection on the surface of the gun. A pristine example of these revolvers can be found for $300, so that might give you an idea of value.

Photo below shows the various models of 32 Safeties. The upper left is a 1st Model (showing the different style barrel latch, the one below it is a 2n Model and the two examples on the right are 3rd Models, while the bottom is a 2" Bicycle Gun.

 

[Hondo44]

Thx Gary,

I apparently misread that serial #.

 

[H Richard]

As Gary said, it is a 2nd model .32 Safety Hammerless. S&W made about 78,500 of the 2nd models, so they aren't rare. Introduced in 1888 (1st Model) and produced until 1937 (3rd Model) with nearly a quarter of a million produced, so they are pretty plentiful and a fair amount in nice condition as many were "sock drawer guns", bought for home defense and never shot.

Irregardless, in that nice a condition, with those pearl stocks I think it might bring in the mid $400 range in the right auction. It appears to be a real keeper.

 

[glowe]

I see lots of 32 Safeties where the asking price is $400 or more, but they just don't sell. Here is a nice 1st Model on GB that sold for under $300, plus it has antique status. Also, the last three 32 Safeties I bought at auction all went at of below $300. Those in the earlier picture were the 2nd Model and the two 3rd Models.

Smith Wesson S&W 32 Safety Hammerless Nickel ANTIQ : Antique Guns at GunBroker.com

The factory pearls should give the sale of that revolver a boost, but I also am always surprised at how low these and similar models go that have factory pearl stocks. For some reason, I just never see the premium due a gun with factory pearls, but if you find a buyer who really wants a 32 Safety that has factory pearls, you might get that $400. If that revolver had standard stocks, it would most likely sell for under $300. If you were to sell a nice set of factory pearls, you should get $200, but put them together and you would never see anywhere near $500.

 

[GeorgetownLee]

Thank you all for the information.

 

[GeorgetownLee]

Thank you all for the information and commends.