32 long ctg help

[JETinJAXFL]

My father just handed down a S&W 32 long ctg. It seems to be unique from my research. This revolver has the word Spain stamped vertically just above and forward of the trigger guard. The serial number looks like it starts with either and "I" or a "1" followed by five digits (86530). Does anybody know when and where this was manufactured. Was is manufactures for a specific purpose? Note that is also has a "9" or a "6" on the trigger.







Pictures are attached.

 

[hsguy]

Hello and welcome to the forum. The gun pictured is not a Smith and Wesson but a Spanish copy usually made in the Eibar region of Spain. These guns vary in quality from terrible to decent and do not have a great deal of value, $25-$100. Not sure who made it but close-uo photos of the markings would aid in identification.

 

[JETinJAXFL]

These are as close as I can get with my camera. Right click on the picture on open in a new window and you will get better detail. The handle and a stamp in the frame both have the S&W trademark. So you think this is a Spanish copy?

 

[Jim Watson]

The problem is, that is not a S&W trademark.
With close examination it reads T A C which stands for
Trocaola Aranzabal y Cia which was a gunmaker in Eibar, Spain. Could be why it says "Spain" on the gun.
These were medium-low quality guns made between 1921 and 1936, as they retooled for the commercial market after WW I and before General Franco rearranged the Spanish arms industry.

The barrel has been sawn off, too; and the sight soldered back on.

 

[hsguy]

Thanks for the photos, that is not a SW logo but is TAC which stands for Trocaola, Aranzabal y Cie of Eibar Spain. TAC made quite a few copies of previous designs.

 

[JETinJAXFL]

Sounds like I came to the right place. I had not noticed the sight was soldered until you pointed it out. Sounds like this wouldn't even be a good range gun with the barrel modifications. This, the Iver Johnson 38 SW and American Gun Co. 12 guage have been in the family for three generations now so I will just hang on to it them and pass them down with the stories to my kids.

 

[Jim Watson]

Smart move. It isn't the barrel modification that hurts, it is the soft Basque steel it is made out of. .32 S&W Long is not a hot round but that gun is not very strong.