32 HE help?s

[C.S.63]

I believe I have a 32HE it is cosmetically rough and could use a a hammer
the revolver was converted to DA only, It also needs a pair of factory grips (had funky pachmyers on it) Is this something I could send to S&W
for a factory recondition? Any help with Identification would be great
ser#574xxx on bottom of grip. I bought it for a shooter
paid 135.00 did I do OK Barrel and cylinder internals are clean.
Thanks
carl

 

[GLC1]

Looks like its pretty rough but it would probably make a good shooter/plinker with minimal work. Do what you like, it's your gun, but I'd probably look for a used hammer or call S&W to see what they can do to restore the action.

A total re-blue and polish might be expensive but I'd consider parkerizing locally or one of the spray-on/bake on coatings from Brownell's to clean it up as part of a re-finish.

They are cool guns though. I have a 32 Safety Hammerless/Lemon Squeezer in 32 S&W and a newer model 31 3" barrel in 32 S&W Long. They are fun to shoot.

Just my 2 cents....

 

[GLC1]

Got my book out, your serial number 574,XXX puts it as a Third Model Hand Ejector, post war, from 1946-1960 for SN's 536685-712953.

 

[Tired Gunsmith]

Looks like you revolver uses the same hammer as a model 36
You can order one as well as grips from S&W factory

 

[DCWilson]

Yes, that's a .32 Hand Ejector of postwar manufacture. It was probably shipped about 1950. I don't think the factory will work on a gun that old because they often don't have the parts that would be needed in case they came across something that needed work.

You might be able to get a replacement hammer from Poppert's Gun Parts (google for the link) or Dave Chicoine at Old West Gunsmith (again, the link will come up on a search).

When you say DA only, do you mean because the hammer spur is gone? Or was something done internally to keep the gun from holding a cocked single-action position?

Even if you refinished and restored it, you wouldn't get your money out of it. You could put $200-300 into it and end up with something that's only worth $25-75 more than you paid in the first place. I'd say you should give it the minimum repairs necessary to make it work, clean it up, put new stocks on it, and enjoy it as a classic shooter.

 

[C.S.63]

Thank you all for the info.
I just got off the phone with S&W and they will not work on it due to its age finish will be a good wipe down and cleaning, I may look into one of the home refinish applications. Oh it is just DA you cannot cock the hammer, I will smooth up the hammer spur what is left and go from there
I had a chance to shoot it before I bought it and it shot great.
I guess light loaded home brews is what it will get fed You sure cannot beat these classics
Thanks again
Carl