Gun Show Find 32-20 HE

[45NUTT]

I went to a small local gun show to sell a couple pistols and look what I found. A 32-20 HE in really nice shape other than a dirty bore. Grips look original and it does say 32 Winchester cartridge on the barrel. Not bad for 4 bills

 

[quinn]

Pretty as a speckled pup!

 

[mtgianni]

I would like to be able to sit down with that gun and hear its stories. They could be anything from LEO to sock drawer, but it has some to tell.

 

[JP@AK]

A 32-20 HE
Grips look original

If I'm reading the serial number correctly, it is 91715.
That puts the likely ship date in 1920, so the stocks would be correct. Did you check for a penciled serial number on the inside of the right-hand panel?

it does say 32 Winchester cartridge on the barrel

Are you sure of this? It should be 32 W.C.F. CTG. 32 Winchester CTG went away in about 1913.

Anyway, it is a nice 4" example. Congrats.

 

[Hawg Rider]

Very nice acquisition for 4 Benjamins! As JP@AK states, your 4" .32-20 M&P (Model of 1905 4th Change) was manufactured in the early 1920s, and the stocks are correct. It does show some honest wear, but to me that's a good thing. I picked up my 6" .32-20 a few years ago for about the same $, and it shows about the same use. The barrel is stamped ".32-20 CTG". It's a little younger than yours (118705, ca. 1923), but fun to shoot. Enjoy!

 

[cmansguns]

needs further investigation I think

I am not so sure the OP has a 4th change. From the OP's pictures the barrel caliber stamping is on the LEFT side of the bbl (I can just make out the "G" from CTG and the ding bat). Also from the one pic it appears the OP's gun has the "divot" in top strap (could be photo reflection, but looks like maybe the divot)

My 5", 5 screw 4th change (s/n 105093) shipped October 1921 per Roy Jinks and has dingbat "32 W.C.F. CTG" dingbat on RIGHT side of bbl, and NO divot. Mine has NO "made in USA" anywhere, and small S&W logo on left side of frame. No medallion, checkered, diamond grips appear correct on OP's gun as well as mine, but even with strong light I can't find any remnants of a penciled number.

I found some posts about the "divot" but can't seem to bring them up now. Is the OP's maybe a 3rd change?? Do we know for sure when the changeover was made and if there were some "transitional"?

All in all.....a nice pickup for $400, hopefully you can find some cowboy action loads and have fun shooting....they are a hoot.

 

[45NUTT]

Forgot to add, the original barrel had "32 W.C.F. CTG" but it was replaced back in the day because someone plugged it with a round or two. It has an earlier "32 Winchester CTG" barrel. I do have the original barrel.

I took off the grips, but could not see anything written on the inside.

Since I also won a 24" round rifle 1892 Winchester in 32-20 Sunday I have ordered more ammo!!

 

[glowe]

The finish is not original. I see a flattened stud and a very matted finish. The factory finished their guns in high gloss blue. Not sure about the value here since the gun has mis-matched parts and not original factory finish, but am sure will still be a fun gun to shoot.