32 S&W short revolver

[Aboutmy32short]

I have an old but remake SW revolver, has a latest date on it as 82’, serial number 11747 7. Anyone know anything about this gun? Don’t really care what it’s worth just want to know what i have. Does S&W or someone else have a program where i can send it and determine if it’s safe to shoot?
Thank you,

Matt B

[email protected]

 

[Green Frog]

Welcome to the S&W Forum, Matt. You will get better answers to your question under the S&W Antiques listings as your revolver was made sometime in the last third of the 1800s, (sometime after 1882 and the late 1890s) much earlier than this specific forum.
Your revolver is categorized as a break top model, and any competent gunsmith should be able to determine its safety to shoot. Remember, it takes 32 S&W ammunition (sometimes referred to as “32 S&W short”) rather than the much more common 32 S&W Long.
Regards,
Green Frog

 

[jcelect]

32 short????????????????

Those holes in the cylinder look bigger than 32 cal! I believe you gun is actually chambered for the 38 S&W (not 38 S&W Special)! I'm not familiar with the top breaks but in the I and J frames a 5 shot cylinder is a 38 S&W or 38 S&W Spl! These two calibers are NOT interchangeable as the 38 S&W is .361" in dia. and the 38 S&W Spl is .357" in dia.
jcelect

 

[murphydog]

Presuming the photo of the cylinder is not from a different gun, this is definitely a .32 Double Action. The front of the cylinder on these stops well short of the front of the trigger guard, and on the .38s they are close to even.

 

[glowe]

Welcome. Your revolver is known as a 32 Double Action, 4th Model that likely shipped in 1888 from the factory. If you are familiar with revolvers and their function, some tests can be done at home. The biggest things to look for with your revolver is first, that it is tight, no cylinder play, top latch locks solidly, no hammer push-off from full cock, and sound cylinder lockup when hammer is at full cock. Proper function and solid revolvers usually will ensure that nothing dangerous would happen when shooting. The 32 S&W is a very anemic round, low pressure and low speed, so looking at your revolver it seems a good candidate to do a little shooting at the range.