32 Hand Eject Differences

[ZacH_GrifF]

Ok so I have what I been told is a 1924 32 Regulation Police revolver. SN is B394XXX What makes it different from the 1903 1905 and 1917 hand eject I frame revolvers besides the grips style? All the different guns from that model has gotten me a little bit confused.

 

[DCWilson]

The .32 Regulation Police was introduced in 1917. Apart from the rebated frame and square butt stocks, it is identical to the round butt .32 Hand Ejector, Third model.

The .32 HE first and second models (1896 and 1903, respectively) cannot be confused with a Regulation Police because they have round butt stocks and non-rebated frames. Target models of these earlier .32s have two-screw extension stocks and adjustable sights. There is also a target variety of the .32 Regulation Police. Though you can mount the two-screw extension stocks on these .32 RP Targets, they were shipped with the one-screw square butt RP stocks.

 

[JP@AK]

I have what I been told is a 1924 32 Regulation Police revolver. SN is B394XXX What makes it different from the 1903 1905 and 1917 hand eject I frame revolvers besides the grips style? All the different guns from that model has gotten me a little bit confused.

First, welcome to the S&W Forum.

Your revolver does not look like a Regulation Police model to me. It looks like a .32 Hand Ejector Third Model that has had the front of the trigger guard removed. I could be mistaken and would only be sure if I could see the backstrap of the gun (behind the grip portion of the revolver). The stocks your gun is wearing are appropriate for a post-1920 revolver and a number of 394xxx for a .32 HE would put it in the early 1920s.

I'm not sure where you got those model designations, but there never were .32 caliber I frame guns that were referred to as Model 1905 or 1917 revolvers. The I frame .32 HE was called the Model of 1903 right up to 1917, when it became the .32 HE Third Model.

The Regulation Police was a different animal. It wasn't just the grip "style" that mattered. It was the design of the frame itself in the grip area. It had a unique stepped backstrap that necessitated a different pattern of stocks. The serial number was moved to the front strap of the grip frame, so it would not be hidden by the extension of the stocks that covered the bottom of the frame. If your serial number is on the bottom of the grip frame (butt of the gun), then it is definitely a .32 HE and not an RP.

I hope this clears some things up for you.

Jack

One more thing. I'm assuming you got the serial number you reported off the flat of the barrel (underside). The B at the beginning is not part of the serial number. It just designated that the gun shipped from the factory with a blued finish. It was stamped on the barrel flat but not on the rear face of the cylinder, nor on the grip frame.

OOPs! I just looked at your photo again and noticed the square butt stocks. This probably is an RP made in the '20s, because the .32 HE did not get a square butt (and the appropriate stocks for it) until after the war. Again, If we could have seen the backstrap, we'd have seen the step and the disappearance of the lower part of the backstrap under the stocks. In any case, the RP and .32 HE shared a serial number sequence, so the date will be the same - early 1920s.

 

[JP@AK]

I see David got his post up while I was rambling on.

I would just add to what both of us told you that RP stocks won't fit any other .32 HE revolver properly, nor will .32 HE stocks fit the RP, because of the different design of the grip frame portion of the RP's frame. (I've called it "stepped" and David referred to it as "rebated." We both mean the same thing.)

Jack

 

[ZacH_GrifF]

It definitely has the stepped frame and thanks for clearing up about the B on the SN. And I got the model designations from when I was looking for a cylinder hand for my gun on gunpartscorp since my gun has lost time. It was saying 1903 and 1905 editions.

 

[glowe]

Ok so I have what I been told is a 1924 32 Regulation Police revolver. SN is B394XXX What makes it different from the 1903 1905 and 1917 hand eject I frame revolvers besides the grips style? All the different guns from that model has gotten me a little bit confused.

Welcome. It looks like you have extension stocks that cover the bottom of the steel butt frame, so it is a Regulation Police. The serial number should be on the front of the butt frame and there should be a patent date stamped on the bottom of the stocks.

It was already explained what the difference is between a standard Model 1903 and yours. Both were I frame revolvers. A Model 1905 was a larger K frame revolver and the Model 1917 was a still larger N frame. The 1905 was made in 32-20, 38 S&W, and 38 Special. THe 1917 was a 45 ACP revolver.

 

[Skeetr57]

It is important to indicate what change model 1903 hand ejector is being discussed. The model 1903, no change, looks just like the later changes and the 3rd Model, but when the side plate is removed, it is apparent that no internal parts with the possible exception of the hammer spring are interchangeable with the 3rd Model. I don't know what the differences in the various changes are and will have to check and see what versions I have to look at.

 

[JP@AK]

There is a very detailed description of each of the internal changes in Neal & Jinks, if you are interested.
Jack

 

[ZacH_GrifF]

Thanks guys. I want to refinish this gun and I'm not worried about messing up the value of this as the sentimental value is much more too me. I was thinking either a traditional blue or completely black in Black T coating from WE Birdsong in Florence, MS. I don't know if y'all have heard of them but they do really good work. If you haven't heard of them hear is their website W.E. BIRDSONG INC- PROTECTIVE COATINGS FOR FIREARMS AND METAL . Do y'all think the Black T would look good on a revolver?