Got a letter on my Model of 1902 Hand Ejector 32 Win Target!

[Drifter Mike]

Picked up this a little while back and finally got around to requesting a letter. As can be seen, it left the East coast, went west to SF CA and then made it's way back to the So East coast ( Florida )! Not sure it is worth a deeper dive into it but it was a interesting find!

 

[Spurdann]

Cool gun, have you shot it yet?

 

[Drifter Mike]

Cool gun, have you shot it yet?

Yes I have, shoots like a charm and at 15 yds ( indoor range ) I could cover a cylinder full with a half dollar!

 

[JP@AK]

Very nice. It was already in my database, but now I can include the ship date. Thanks!

Looking at your pictures, the barrel looks suspiciously like a 6 1/2" barrel, which was still available at that time. Have you actually measured it from the front of the cylinder to the muzzle? Just curious.

 

[Drifter Mike]

Very nice. It was already in my database, but now I can include the ship date. Thanks!

Looking at your pictures, the barrel looks suspiciously like a 6 1/2" barrel, which was still available at that time. Have you actually measured it from the front of the cylinder to the muzzle? Just curious.

It does in fact measure 6 1/2 inches!

 

[JP@AK]

It figures. There were a bunch of the .32-20 target models with the 6.5" barrel made in the 6300 to 6400 range.

 

[greenwellg]

Is the 6.5 inch barrel rare on early 38 K frames?

 

[JP@AK]

Is the 6.5 inch barrel rare on early 38 K frames?

No. I don't believe so. On the .32-20, they were quite common. The least common barrel length on the .32-20 target models was the 5". Fortunately, I happen to own one (shown below). This one shipped to Philip Beakert on March 15, 1904.

 

[JP@AK]

I also have a .38 target model with the 6 1/2" barrel. It shipped to Portland, Oregon, on April 6, 1908. Notice the 5" .32-20 target next to it in this picture.

 

[glowe]

Nice gun, but I believe it might have been been refinished. The mushroom ejector rod knob was case colored on this model and wondering if it is the pictures or if the knob is blue? Also, the edges of the frame are rounded where the factory guns have squared and sharp corners ( compare with gun below). That gun reminded me of a 1899 32 Winchester Military model that I have which shipped just 3 months earlier than yours, but was not a 1902. It has a serial number that is 900 below yours, but 250 numbers above what the end of production for the 1899 was supposed to be, #5557. I would get that letter corrected.

 

[Drifter Mike]

Nice gun, but I believe it might have been been refinished. The mushroom ejector rod knob was case colored on this model and wondering if it is the pictures or if the knob is blue? That gun reminded me of a 1899 32 Winchester Military model that I have which shipped just 3 months earlier than yours, but was not a 1902. It has a serial number that is 900 below yours, but 250 numbers above what the end of production for the 1899 was supposed to be, #5557. I would get that letter corrected.
View attachment 772896View attachment 772897

Here is the original post from when I got it: 142170520

 

[glowe]

Here is the original post from when I got it: 142170520

Not sure what that number is referencing??

 

[Drifter Mike]

That's the post number, here is the full thread:

D

Post in thread 'Help with I D on my new to me 32/20 HE'

Mar 5, 2025

After thinking on it and with some encouragement from a friend, would getting a letter on this be worth the cost??

• Drifter Mike

 

[glowe]

In the future, it would be best to update an existing thread with new information rather than starting another thread without all the previous information shared.