32 LONG CTG

[jwebb5209]

I am new to the forum and could use some help.

I just inherited a Smith & Wesson 32 Long CTG. the serial number on bottom of the barrel is 203307. The number at the cylinder frame is 5471. The S&W trademark symbol is on the right side. The handle/grip is a solid smooth wood with a single screw through the butt.

Dates on top of barrwel are patented 3/27/94; 8/4/96; 12/22/96; 10/8/01; 12/17/01; 2/8/08 and 9/14/09.

Any information on age, history, value of this would be grately appreciated.

 

[Hondo44]

Welcome to the forum.
The 32 Long Ctg (cartridge) is what it shoots, not the gun. The gun you inherited is a ".32 hand ejector model of 1903-5th change". Made about 1914-15.

 

[Green Frog]

What Hondo44 said. The odd number on the "cylinder frame" is an assembly number which will also be found on the side of the grip frame (normally hidden by the grips) and on the inside of the side plate. The real serial number is the one visible on the bottom (or sometimes front) of the grip frame which if the gun is all original should appear on the bottom of the barrel, the rear face of the cylinder and about 3 other places that are harder to get to. For some reason, a lot of these early Hand Ejectors seem to be getting inherited or emerging from closets and sock drawers recently. A quick search of the archives should bring out a bunch of them, which will give you a wealth of information about the history and value of your gun, shooting it, etc. Enjoy your stay here at the S&W Forum and welcome.

Froggie

PS The smooth wooden grips are unusual in that model, and I'm in some confusion about the "single screw through the butt." Do you mean the wood is worn smooth, as in checkering may have been there but is worn away, or is there no sign it was ever checkered? Does the single screw go through the wood from side to side of the butt, or does it actually come up from the bottom of the butt into a one-piece grip?