32HE - please help

[trauma1]

It is late, and I am tired of looking. $250 a good deal for a 32HE in 80% or so condition with original stocks? At least I think they are original. They cover the entire bottom of the grip frame. Look like diamond magnas and almost melt into the frame from being handled. Has 4 screws on side plate.
3 1/2" barrel or so. 6 digit serial number, I think - it was like 13 hours ago I looked at it. Kind of want it, but not if overpaying. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Hondo44]

Doesn't give us much to go on. But $250 is a good price for any I frame in 80% condition. Notice the ejector rods in pics below:

Look like this post war?

Or this pre war?

 

[trauma1]

ejector rod looks different on end. has the little ball.nub, whatever you call it. grips look prett much the same.

 

[DCWilson]

I am one of those who thinks that any functional and semi-well-preserved S&W revolver is worth at least $250 as a shooter. If the one you are looking at has good internals and a smooth action, you won't be burned at that price.

Sounds to me as though you are considering a .32 Regulation Police. Based on the ejector rod knob comment, I think the gun was probably assembled and shipped in the 1930s. The postwar guns in general have no ejector rod knob, as in the first photo above -- but remember that postwar production involved using up prewar parts, so this is not a hard and fast rule. The earlier revolvers (1920s and before) had the larger double-diameter mushroom knob you see on the other photo.

The Regulation Police model, introduced in 1917, had a stepped backstrap that accommodated a specially designed set of wooden stocks. These larger RP stocks were more comfortable for shooters with mid-size to large hands.

 

[Green Frog]

Let me join my friends H44 & DCW in saying that you have a good thing there. My first I-frame was a 6" Regulation Police in 32 S&W Long. Even with its mangy nickel plating, it is still a dependable shooter and fun to boot. Somebody will come in with a better dating estimate, but I'm going to agree with David and go with sometime in the '30s, and let it go at that! If you had more detail on the grips (and they were original to the gun) you may get a better estimate, along with the serial number, of course! Welcome to the I-frame madness.

Regards,
Froggie

 

[trauma1]

Sorry, couldn't see the pic on the bottom at work - weird computer system. Anyways, looks pretty much just like the bottom pic. Thanks for all the info.

 

[Hondo44]

Then you are looking at a pre war Regulation Police made during or after 1917 when they were introduced but before c.1929 when the ejector knob was changed. Can't go wrong at that price, let us know if you get it.