Diff between .32 HE 3rd Model and Regulation Police .32?

[Teddydog]

I pulled out my .32 Regulation Police today to give it a look over. Bought it a few years ago...nickel, 4 1/4" barrel. At least I THOUGHT it was a Regulation Police.

Reading my SCSW 2nd Ed, the different between the .32 Hand Ejector 3rd Model and the Regulation Police is primarily the the RP is square butt, right? Also the barrel might be marked "*32 LONG CTG*" where the basic HE doesn't have the bracketing "*"s? (Wasn't 100% clear on that from the text).

So what I have is a round butt gun, I think. But it has the shoulder in the backstrap and is fitted with longer square butt stocks. Does this mean it IS an RP and the shoulder and squared, long stocks is what makes this not just an HE 3rd? I'm a little confused.

Thanks.

Rob

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Yes, Rob. Both the .32 and .38 RP have a rebated grip frame to mate with special extended square butt grips that were patented in 1917. That's what makes them different than the .32 HE.

 

[delcrossv]

Guy nailed it. it's the rebated backstrap that makes a RP. The 1917 patent covered modifying a RB gun to fit a square butt-esque grip.

Edit: Better get on that rust, OP.

 

[Green Frog]

Also, the serial number on a RP is also in an odd place... the front of the grip frame rather than the bottom like all other S&W revolvers should have them. The wooden grips that went into the aforementioned recess also cover the bottom of the grip frame, so in a matter of practicality, they moved the numbers to a place they could be seen without removing the grips.

Froggie

 

[Teddydog]

Ah...that makes total sense. So a .32 HE 3rd Model would have a standard round butt and the SN would be on the bottom of said butt.

Clear to me now and I was correct originally calling this an RP. Have a .38 RP on the way, too. Need a Terrier and a .32 HE now, too.

Rob

 

[Green Frog]

Ah...that makes total sense. So a .32 HE 3rd Model would have a standard round butt and the SN would be on the bottom of said butt.

Clear to me now and I was correct originally calling this an RP. Have a .38 RP on the way, too. Need a Terrier and a .32 HE now, too.

Rob

Don't forget the target versions, and of course the 22s. You're just getting started!

Froggie

 

[Hondo44]

The caliber marking "bracketing" with iron cross-like marks called Dingbats come and go on all S&W models but do not distinguish model differences.

All RPs are the same mechanical design as the .32 HE 3rd Model because it was the current design in 1917 when the RPs were introduced, both the .32 and .38. From then on, any changes to the RP were the same as the HE.

The exception was the introduction of the .38 Terrier w/regular rd butt grip frame and grips and nominal 2" barrel in 1935 (the 2" .32 HE in 1949). With the Models of 1953 New Model I frames the rebated rd butt grip frame was done away with, and the last shipped were the small batch of 196 .32 I frame target models in 1957.

 

[murphydog]

Another oddity; the .32 RP barrel is not stamped "Regulation Police", and the .38 is. Another random S & W decision.

 

[delcrossv]

This thread needs more pictures.

 

[My Colt]

I have a .32 Regulation Police (Square Butt) 32 S&W Long I like yours.
Just not as nice. What would you value yours at ? Also, age ?
My ser. # is just over 307,000 i'm just guessing mid 30's
My ser.# is on the front of the BS. Age & Value ?? it is missing a good amount of Nickle.

 

[Green Frog]

32 RP revolvers with poor nickel don't bring much. If the bore is good and your action is reasonably tight, it can be enjoyed as a casual shooter. Careful though, you may enjoy it enough to want another, prettier example, then a target model, and a "Heavy Frame Target" in 22, and then, and then…
Froggie

 

[22hipower]

This thread needs more pictures.

Agreed, more pictures needed.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

https://flic.kr/p/2qzmzZY https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

 

[raljr1]

Ok. I will add a recent acquisition. 38 RP..

Robert

 

[larryofcc]

Here's one for those of you that follow low numbers. 38 RP. Early enough that there is no patent date on the stocks. Evidently, put away in a sock drawer #108 is drippy mint. Big Larry

 

[Green Frog]

Well, it's starting to snow here in Central VA so I was rereading this thread, and I thought of a question to add. Does anyone have a firm date on any I frames in the early post War I frames? I know the 2" barrel places this one in 1949 or later (per Nahas in SCSW 4) so I'm wondering what the sn range was for 1949. The revolver in question has sn 5502XX, and I'm wondering whether it's a first year snub, which would make it a birthday gun for me.
Anything for me?
Froggie

 

[DCWilson]

Well, it's starting to snow here in Central VA so I was rereading this thread, and I thought of a question to add. Does anyone have a firm date on any I frames in the early post War I frames? I know the 2" barrel places this one in 1949 or later (per Nahas in SCSW 4) so I'm wondering what the sn range was for 1949. The revolver in question has sn 5502XX, and I'm wondering whether it's a first year snub, which would make it a birthday gun for me.
Anything for me?
Froggie

While it is true that postwar I-frame production didn't start up in earnest until late 1949 and 1950, I recall hearing about a couple or three that were shipped in 1947 or even 1946. Those surprised me, but sadly not enough to capture the serial numbers and actual dates. I wonder if Hondo44 might have relevant information on this question.

 

[jcelect]

Well, it's starting to snow here in Central VA so I was rereading this thread, and I thought of a question to add. Does anyone have a firm date on any I frames in the early post War I frames? I know the 2" barrel places this one in 1949 or later (per Nahas in SCSW 4) so I'm wondering what the sn range was for 1949. The revolver in question has sn 5502XX, and I'm wondering whether it's a first year snub, which would make it a birthday gun for me.
Anything for me?
Froggie

I have a few numbers on the post war I frames. You posted, "The revolver in question has sn 5502XX, and I'm wondering whether it's a first year snub, which would make it a birthday gun for me." The serial numbers in use in 1950 were still 5 digits.
55522 Terrier 38 S&W 2" NI Jul-50
55616 Reg Police 4"
55659 Terrier 38 S&W 2" Mar-50
57368 Terrier 38 S&W 2" Nov-50

The earliest 6 digit I have is 262561 RP Dec 61. I do not have any dates on guns in the 5xxxxx range, sorry!
jcelect

 

[Truckman]

The closest RP I have is .32 Long 541485 shipped 4/1950......Ben

 

[Green Frog]

I have a few numbers on the post war I frames. You posted, "The revolver in question has sn 5502XX, and I'm wondering whether it's a first year snub, which would make it a birthday gun for me." The serial numbers in use in 1950 were still 5 digits.
55522 Terrier 38 S&W 2" NI Jul-50
55616 Reg Police 4"
55659 Terrier 38 S&W 2" Mar-50
57368 Terrier 38 S&W 2" Nov-50

The earliest 6 digit I have is 262561 RP Dec 61. I do not have any dates on guns in the 5xxxxx range, sorry!
jcelect

IIRC, the I frame 38 S&Ws got their own SN series, so that's why we're seeing this discrepancy. The HE 32s broke into 6 digits sometime about 1910, if Nahas is to be believed. I wish I had beat you to one of those last two on your list when I was trying to make my "trifecta" of snubs. I had to "settle" for a pre War Terrier.
Froggie

 

[Green Frog]

David, I was going by Nahas statement that the 2" version didn't come out until 1949. He puts resumption of production in 1948, so it's reasonable to assume that 2-3 or more got put together from the pre War parts bins a bit earlier just to warm up.

Truckman, Nahas lists the last SN for a pre War I frame (32 HE) as 536684, and I can't believe it took from 1948(-ish) to 1950 to make 5000 guns. I have to guess yours set on a shelf for a while before shipping. Possible, but not likely. Remember, by 1960 they hit 712953.

Froggie