32 Regulation Police, approximate DOB & grip sources

[desi2358]

At the last OGCA show I picked up a pretty little Regulation Police 32. Serial number 4936**, excellent condition, matching numbers and looks to be factory nickel. Unfortunately, it is missing the factory grips. Has a set of Franzites on it.

Have read through several older posts on these revolvers, not sure of the correct time frame for this. 1930's maybe? Would appreciate any info and any possible leads on factory grips. already checked Numrich, Jack First and fleabay with no luck.

Don't have a working camera or I would try and post some pics, lovely gun. Really needs the correct grips

 

[Muley Gil]

At the last OGCA show I picked up a pretty little Regulation Police 32. Serial number 4936**, excellent condition, matching numbers and looks to be factory nickel. Unfortunately, it is missing the factory grips. Has a set of Franzites on it.

Have read through several older posts on these revolvers, not sure of the correct time frame for this. 1930's maybe? Would appreciate any info and any possible leads on factory grips. already checked Numrich, Jack First and fleabay with no luck.

Don't have a working camera or I would try and post some pics, lovely gun. Really needs the correct grips

I have a S&W .32 Long HE 3 ¼” nickel, SN 512621, that shipped in April 1938. All of the .32 I frames were serial numbered in the same series.

 

[raljr1]

I have #435762 that shipped in February 1926, I also have 379305 that shipped in October of 1923.

 

[raljr1]

Decent factory grips will be pricey. They would look like these. I once paid over $150 for a good set.

 

[CptCurl]

I have two more data points to offer.

I have a .32 RP, #490490 that shipped in November 1928.

I also have a .32 RP, #509712 that shipped in April 1931. This revolver is featured in a thread all its own here: S&W .32 Regulation Police #509712 - 4.25" Barrel

You might take note that the later revolver has silver medallion stocks. The earlier revolver's stocks do not have medallions. I think the medallions made there advent in 1929.

These serial numbers bracket your RP, but remember, S&W didn't always ship in numerical order.

Curly

P.S. - Another feature to note in dating your revolver is the ejector rod treatment. Does yours have the "mushroom" ejector rod end, or does it have the "barrel" (LERK) ejector rod end? I think that change came in early 1927.

 

[murphydog]

Correct stocks for it (as you probably know) are the ones that fit the "rebated" backstrap, with the wood covering the section below the ledge.

Unless you find the exact shipping date (with a letter of authenticity) you may just want to look for a correct era stock set and not worry about the details. Alternatively, as I recall a modern set of factory J frame Target stocks will fit it if you are wanting to shoot it. A Wanted to Buy ad here may turn them up.

 

[desi2358]

Thanks everyone for the comments and information. Gives me a general idea of when mine was made though I know a letter would be needed to determine when shipped. Mine has the mushroom ejector head so going by some of the posters I would guess at a mid to late 20's production date (though when it shipped? Have to decide if I want to spend the money for a letter).

I guess I will keep my eyes open at the shows for a set of grips, either with or without medallions since it seems to fall in the dividing line between the two. I have shot it, the Franzites work okay for shooting but they have a small gap at the top and a couple minor cracks. I suspect the plastic has shrunk a bit over time and may have gotten a bit brittle resulting in the cracks.

Again, thanks so much to everyone for their comments and info. Really appreciate the way people on this forum try to help out!

 

[JP@AK]

Mine has the mushroom ejector head so going by some of the posters I would guess at a mid to late 20's production date

The shape of the knob was ordered changed in the spring of 1927. A few with the old knob shipped after that, but the barrel shaped knob pretty much took over after 1927 on all models except the .32-20, on which the mushroom shaped knob lasted a little bit longer.

 

[CptCurl]

For the mushroom ejector rod you certainly want stocks without medallions.

Curly