A friend brought me this to clean up and help him sell. I am certainly no expert, but it appears to be a very early model - serial number 3404. It has a gold, or "straw" colored trigger, hammer, cylinder flutes and ejector rod. 3-screw side plate?, 4" barrel. I know very little about these early revolvers and appreciate any insight you might have.
Early hand ejector..please help identify
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You have an 1896 .32 Hand Ejector. The gold plating is after-market.
You have an 1896 .32 Hand Ejector. The gold plating is after-market.
Model19man
Member
Neat revolver. The collector's will not be impressed because it has been refinished. I am though, never seen one in person. Rare!
My limited research (article by Ed Buffaloe/Gaston Comeau) indicates that some had triggers and hammers that were heat treated a straw color. This was available as a factory special order request. The 3-screw side plate was also rare. Not sure if the nickle finish is original or not? My friend wants to sell this gun, (and a Ist issue Colt Police Positive .38 that he inherited at the same time). What would be an estimate of value for the S&W? Gunbroker?
DWalt
Member
It is significant mainly because it was the first hand ejector revolver made by S&W. Not often seen today in any condition, I have run across only one 1896 in my whole life, and it was a basket case, which I remember as coming out of Mexico. I have no idea of a realistic price, so I will leave that for others to guess.
Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! It has clearly been plated outside the factory. The gold or gold wash is plated and not from heat treatment. S&W did not heat treat its cylinders until the 1920's.
Welcome to the Forum. All triggers and hammers were case colored at the factory. Some have faded over the years while others were inappropriately plated or blued by an owner. Your revolver was likely shipped in 1898 or 1899, but since all frames were made and stamped before 1899 all First Model 32s are antiques, not requiring an FFL to purchase or sell in almost all states. They are fun to shoot and require 32 Long ammo. These guns came in 3 standard barrel lengths, 3 1/4", 4 1/4", and 6". I once had all three in nickel, but all had distributor pearls. Factory pearls of the era left the factory with gold medallion stocks, and I like the black hard rubber best, so replaced all.
How is the cylinder released?
Pull out the knob to open.
