.32 S&W questions.

[Shenandoah Sharpshooter]

I've come across a S&W for sale that the seller is calling a Model 32. He looked at the yoke and there is no model number. The serial number is 677721. It says .32 long on the barrel and has a flat latch. Any info about what model this is and approximate date of manufacture would be greatly appreciated.
There's no box, papers etc. and the grips are not origional. There're Pachmayer. He's calling it 98% because of a slight turn line. He's asking $500. Any opinions about this price would also be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[raljr1]

You don't say what barrel lengths were looking at here, but if there's no model number in the yolk it's not a model 32. It's probably a 32 hand ejector. With rubber grips and no box 500 sounds just a little high to me, unless it's a two inch barrel and is in truly very nice shape. My opinion only.

Robert

 

[Shenandoah Sharpshooter]

The barrel is 4 1/2 inch.

 

[murphydog]

The model 32 was a .38 S & W, so the seller probably thought the bore diameter was the model number? Who knows.

It is most likely a mid-1950s decade (pre-1958) .32 HE if a round butt frame (pre-model 30), or a Regulation Police with a square butt (pre-31). Both would have had a 4" barrel, some earlier ones had 4 1/4" barrels.

Probably not a $500 gun without original stocks, etc.

 

[22hipower]

Seems like there should be a model number in the yoke area. I recently bought 695XXX which is a nickel round butt 32 Long with four inch barrel shipped in early 1961. Model numbers were stamped starting in 1957 so I would think 677721 would have been shipped after 1957. Mine is stamped in the yoke area as a Mod 31 but an S&W letter confirms that it is a mis-stamp and shipped as a Model 30. Anyway, the one you're considering is likely a Model 30 if round butt or a Model 31 (Regulation Police) if a square butt. Great little guns in my opinion. $500 sounds a little high without the original stocks but not much. Good luck.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[rburg]

S&W made a blue million of them. Its not a rare or even scarce gun. Yes, $500 is pretty high, particularly one that doesn't have the box and stuff. I'd think $400 would still be high and maybe in the $300s a fair price. Its your money so do as you'd like. A better approach would be to scan the gun shops to see what is out there.

Maybe I'm wrong because adding in the original box will still not make this gun very desirable or a collectors item. Before the OP buys, I'd suggest he look at ammo availability and prices. Once he decides he's got $500 to spend on a gun, he'd be better advised looking at a 38 Special for the same price and where he can get ammo at reasonable prices.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

For reference I have a lettered, round butt 32 HE 637539 that shipped June 1, 1956. I also have a Model 31 689371 that shipped in August 1958.

Hope this helps,

Bob

 

[H Richard]

$500 is too high, but $375 to $425 for a "98%" 32 Hand Ejector (or maybe a 32 Regulation Police) might be possible. Keep in mind you will have to find correct stocks to make it right and that isn't easy and will possibly cost another $75+.

 

[Shenandoah Sharpshooter]

Thanks for the information everyone. This forum is very, very helpful. I'll pass on this one.

 

[Hondo44]

I agree with comments above.

You are referring to a Model of 1953 New I frame; a pre model 30 (RB) or 31 (SB). A note on finding proper center-diamond stocks for it; the Model of 1953 New I and Model of 1953 New J frames use the same size.


However, in my database, I show #677758 as the earliest Mod 30 stamped 32 Hand Ejector - round butt and #681XXX as the earliest stamped mod 31 Regulation Police - sq butt. Both from late 1958.

Because, although the order for stamping was in June of 1957, there was a lot of un-stamped frame inventory already in process.

There were never any 4 1/2" barrels from the beginning in 1896. Ever since ~1952 the barrels were 2, 3 and 4".

 

[S&WsRsweet]

Ok now remember I am well known around the local gun shops as a guy who will pay too much for a gun he likes and when I walk in he door the guys always smile as they know they only have to be half way fair to make a sale .If I liked the gun enough I honestly wouldn't let say 150 bucks one way or the other decide but I'm not talking about collector grade or investment guns I'm talking about fun go out and shoot and carry guns I weight the enjoyment factor and decide am I going to get X amount of enjoyment out of owning this gun and that's how I decide if the price is " fair" to me.

 

[Shenandoah Sharpshooter]

Thanks for the clarification on the barrel length. I was quoting what the seller had on his internet listing.