HE Identification help please!

[cgbeachbum]

Good Day all, the old man just dropped off an early HE and asked if i could clean it up, was my grandfathers. He really didn't know anything about it and even told me he went to the hardware store to buy ammo and couldn't find it...(not a gun guy) Anyway I'm no S&W historian so i was wondering if i could enlist some help in narrowing down the date and generation this gun is. The barrel is cut to 3 1/2" and a new front sight was added.... who know by whom. the serial is 503xx. The patent date was mar 27.94 and the last date i can make out after the screw hole on top of barrel is Feb06.06. Any help would be greatfull.

 

[Hondo44]

Welcome to the forum.
That's a very early pre war Hand ejector and looks like a K frame. No Cartridge stamped on the right side of the barrel or cut off with the barrel shortening?

It's a target model with a non-original front sight obviously. But the rear sight may be original since it is the correct style for the vintage of the gun. It seems to have a lot of original finish except the end of the barrel. By screw hole and reading the patent dates on the barrel do you mean by removing a screwed on front sight?

The blue does not look like a refinish from tell tale signs like the domed pins on the left side of the frame.

From that serial # it could be a .38 Speial Military and Police Model of 1902-1st change made between 1903 and 04.

But it could also be a .32-20 Hand Ejector Model of 1905-3rd change made about 1914. If the stocks are original to the gun, serial # on backside of right grip matches the gun, this is more likely what it is because those stocks w/meddalions were only used from c. 1910 to 20.

So it's probably chambered for 32-20 WCF cartridge.

 

[cgbeachbum]

Thanks Hondo,
Pics aren't the greatest. Left side of barrel is stamped 32 winchester ctg. all patent and associated dates are stamped on top of barrel, but with the cut and the "screw hole" that mounts the front sight, its hard to read. the serial # is stamped on bottom frame of grips and the yoke has 3134 stamped. I don't know whats original or not on this gun except for the cut and front sight. I've been researching the forum and found lots of info about parts of the gun, just seems i have a bit of a mix. and the sad fact of my limited knowledge. I'm also curious... cause i love guns.... about shooting it... and the ammo i can safely shoot out of this guy.

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

Your dad's revolver is chambered for the .32-20 cartridge.

 

[cgbeachbum]

Welcome to the Forum.

Your dad's revolver is chambered for the .32-20 cartridge.

Thanks man, My question was a bit general, im concerned more over about the age of gun and if it was heat treated, then what kind of powder i can safely shoot. seems there is a lot of debate on what kinda rounds to shoot on a non heat treated gun, just kinda got lost in the info. Hence trying to learn from you fine fellas! ......new guy....."now you curse"

 

[Muley Gil]

I've been shooting and loading for .32-20s since the mid '70s. You can't go wrong with a 100-115 grain lead bullet over 4.5 grains of Unique. That load will work in any vintage .32-20, heat treated or not.

 

[DCWilson]

You can shoot any .32-20 ammo in your revolver as long as it is not marked "for rifle only" or something like that. If it is marked "for rifle and handgun," that is safe.

As H44 said, your handgun dates to the mid 'teens, which is before what most people consider to be the earliest reliable heat treating. If you find some cowboy action loads in .32-20 (or .32 WCF, the other name for the cartridge), you'll do just fine.

 

[JP@AK]

as long as it is not marked "for rifle only" or something like that.

Yes. And that stuff has been out of production for a very long time. Any new .32-20 ammo in a modern box will be just fine.
Jack

 

[Hondo44]

cgbeachbum;

WCF is Winchester Center Fire.

I believe you gun is all original except for the obvious barrel snubbing.

You can check in 8 locations to verify all the parts serial#s match:
butt of the grip frame,
underside of barrel,
rear face of yoke by looking thru a cyl chamber,
rear face of cyl,
backside of ejector star,
backside or right stock,
underside of rear sight and
on rear sight blade (must be removed from right side).

 

[cgbeachbum]

just to be open, im not looking for $ value, just historic kick *** old gun info before i give back to dad and love the history. then i might work my magic in full time acquirement... lol