Check out this 3" .32 caliber (.32 S & W Long) I frame revolver....

[canoeguy]

About a year or so ago I had a chance to get a .32 caliber "I" frame revolver at a pawn shop, I passed on it as it was pretty worn. Not too long ago another found it's way into the same pawn shop, since it was priced reasonably ($300) I put it on layaway. Picked it up today.....

From what I can tell, and I may be wrong, it is a Post WW2 "I" frame revolver, no model markings, flat latch, serial number 635XXX. Diamond grips number to the revolver. 3" barrel, no screw in the trigger guard. Caliber .32 S&W Long. Some wear at the muzzle and some light freckling, but it locks up good and appears to have been shot very little. Like all pawn shop purchases, it was filthy dirty (no one pawns a clean gun), but it cleaned up nicely.

Anyone have an idea when it was made? If it is an "I" frame revolver, will if fit in a J frame holster?

The big reason I bought it is to experiment with .32 S&W Long hand loading. I have purchased four boxes of factory ammo to see how the revolver shoots, if it proves worthy I'll get some reloading dies and a bullet mold to make some cheap cast lead rounds.

 

[Muley Gil]

That's a .32 Regulation Police aka a pre Model 31. Probably around 1950. Is it a 3" or a 3 1/4" barrel?

 

[canoeguy]

Measured from the forcing cone to the muzzle is 3"....

 

[Hondo44]

You got a winner and a great deal!

You have a ".32 Regulation Police Model of 1953 New I frame" and an early one with a 4 screw side plate.

Based on other serial #s near yours with verified shipping dates, I'd put it's shipping date at May, June, or July 1956.

Yes a J frame holster will work perfectly.

 

[Erich]

It's prettier than my improved I-frame 3.25" - man, I like shooting this little thing!

 

[H Richard]

32's just grow on you. Easy to shoot, very accurate, and capable if shot placement is good. You will find out you can't stop with just one.

 

[Green Frog]

I have a slightly earlier old type I-frame snub with round butt, and a couple of pre-War square butt examples with longer (6") barrels. All are a pleasure to shoot. The 32 is the perfect round for reloaders... brass lasts just about forever and you use so little powder and lead, it goes a long way too. The only "fixed cost" is primers.

Regards,
Froggie

 

[mrchuck]

Mine is a 4"bbl made in 1925. I posted about it a year ago.
This is one I will keep.

 

[mnrivrat]

I'm sure you will enjoy your gun. I have 7 or 8 S&W .32L guns. Mostly 1903's, but a great shooting 1896 is in the bunch. A joy to shoot .

 

[Green Frog]

As you are hearing from a variety of quarters, the small frame (I- or J-frame) 32s are fun to shoot and have good intrinsic value. Yours is late enough to have all modern steels while early enough to have old fashioned workmanship. Even if you do decide to reload for it and shoot it a lot, you probably won't be able to wear it out regardless of how much you shoot it. I really would encourage you to consider reloading as you can both get the best performance out of your 32 and shoot it more in a more economical way. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do mine.

Regards,
Froggie

 

[DocB]

Oh good, picture time again, so I can post a picture of the one I got last Thursday. . .again. It's a transitional I frame with the only change being the coil spring instead of the leaf spring (made in 1952). I would have been all over that gun for what you paid for it! No such thing as having too many Smith 32's. I am always on the lookout for more.

 

[Erich]

Hoooooo boy, DocB: that's a beauty!

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Congrats canoeguy! That's a dandy.

The closest reference I have is my 2", 4-screw 637539, which shipped June 1, 1956.

 

[Jebus35745]

Nice handy field gun, enjoy it. Been using 2 grains of 231 behind a couple different bullet weights for a soft shooting round. Larry

 

[mrchuck]

Academy Sports has a box of 50 32 Longs for 8 dollars a box.

 

[canoeguy]

I shot the .32 Long revolver the other day with some Remington "Wheelgun Performance" ammo and it seems to shoot good. Sights are well regulated, they do seem a little small compared to modern revolvers. I was able to keep all hits on a 3 1/2" target at 10 yards, shooting standing, two hand hold. Trigger is nice and smooth, double action and single action. I like it!

Of course the answer to getting good at shooting this revolver is to shoot it a lot, and I will have to hand load to be able to do that. A set of dies, a bullet mold and everything else I will need to add .32 S&W Long to my reloading set up will cost less than $100, about the cost of four boxes of factory ammo.

And, I will need a holster....