Heirloom

[Colt4515]

I have a family heirloom, I'd like to find more info about. It is an old S&W nickle-plated 4" revolver in .32 W.C.F CTG. It has 5 screws, a strain screw, fixed sights (rounded front, rear a narrow cut in the frame), square butt and walnut grips with an S&W medallion. It appears to be a Hand Ejector Model 1905, 4th change.

It needs a good cleaning and it is a little "rough". There seems to be a number on the back side of the ejector, so far unreadable. What is it?

I successfully detail stripped a Ruger Mark II .22 and reassembled it, and won't do THAT again. Is a detail strip and clean a DIY task, or should I take it to a gunsmith?

 

[glowe]

Welcome to the Forum. We can give you more details if you supply the serial number found on the butt of the revolver?

There are cleaning options short of full disassembly. soaking it in transmission fluid cut with acetone will do a great job of cleaning out the mechanism. A couple of weeks of soaking and taking it out occasionally to blow out the crud, then more soaking will ultimately result in a good cleaning. Blowing out the ATF thoroughly and applying a good quality synthetic oil is a good idea.

 

[Absalom]

I have a family heirloom, I'd like to find more info about. It is an old S&W nickle-plated 4" revolver in .32 W.C.F CTG. It has 5 screws, a strain screw, fixed sights (rounded front, rear a narrow cut in the frame), square butt and walnut grips with an S&W medallion. It appears to be a Hand Ejector Model 1905, 4th change.

It needs a good cleaning and it is a little "rough". There seems to be a number on the back side of the ejector, so far unreadable. What is it?....

If you want us to read a number, you’ll need to show it to us

But seriously, that should be the same serial number as on the butt.

You gun should look like the one attached, and with the caliber stamped as you described, would be from between late 1913 and 1922. We’d need the actual number to get closer.

 

[Colt4515]

SN is 972xx. Here's a pic. Can you date it closer?

It has several great stories. A great, or 2, uncle was a county judge and used it for defense. It has 2 notches in the grip Mom says he "earned" himself.

 

[Speedo2]

I believe that the SN should also be stamped on the flat part of the barrel over the ejector rod. It may also have "N" or "B" there which would indicate its original finish; either Nickle of Blue. -S2

 

[NovaJoe]

The number on the back of the ejector should be the same as the serial number. Back then the SN was placed in several places, but the official one is on the butt.

 

[Colt4515]

No numbers over the ejector rod. Where else might it be?

 

[digi-shots]

Welcome to the forum!

As others have mentioned, the serial number should be here...

1. on the butt of the grip frame
2. on the barrel flat (under the barrel where the ejector rod sits)
3. under the BACK of the ejector star (on the backside - you'll have to push on the rod and with good lighting, you'll see the numbers)
4. on the rear of the cylinder face
5. on the swing out arm that holds the cylinder. This can be seen by looking through one of the cylinder charge holes - a flashlight helps.
6. on the inside of the right grip (either in pencil or stamped)

I think that's it...

 

[Colt4515]

Wow! Y'all are great! I can read 972xx in the back of the crane. I half expected it to be a parts gun.

 

[glowe]

That gun would have shipped within a year +/- of 1921. I assume you know that ammunition is still available for this model. You will find it called 32-20 today. The barrels of this model would have been stamped 32 W.C.F. CTG from 1914 until 1922. If you have family to pass that S&W down to, I would certainly not part it out.

 

[Absalom]

No numbers over the ejector rod. Where else might it be?

If you haven’t found this one yet, swing out the cylinder and turn the gun upside down. Unless it had a replacement barrel, the serial WILL be on the underside of the barrel.

 

[Colt4515]

Yeah, Yeah, replacement barrel, that's the ticket! This gun has had a rough life.

 

[Colt4515]

That gun would have shipped within a year +/- of 1921. I assume you know that ammunition is still available for this model. You will find it called 32-20 today. The barrels of this model would have been stamped 32 W.C.F. CTG from 1914 until 1922. If you have family to pass that S&W down to, I would certainly not part it out.

1921, THANKS! That would fit into the stories pretty well. I do have some .32-20 ammo I shot in it and not much left. I elected not to reload for it because of the miniscule powder charges. Are the Cowboy Action loads listed these days safe in the old guns? I need to buy more and the stuff I have doesn't appear to be made anymore.

 

[Jim Watson]

Cowboy loads are very mild for the weekend tenderfoot. Go.

We are frequently warned not to shoot the .32-20 (.38-40, .44-40) High Velocity, High Speed, High Power ammo meant for the Winchester 92 in revolvers. They haven't made any in some decades, so I don't think it is a serious risk unless you look for ammo at the old hardware stores. I did know a guy who did that, though. Always had a table at the gun show with all manner of discontinued ammo.

 

[Plain Old Dave]

I like the 4th Change 32-20s, ESPECIALLY the later guns with hardened cylinders and the square notch sights. My EDC is a 32-20....

Sent from my SM-J700T using Tapatalk

 

[JP@AK]

Colt4515

As Gary pointed out, the 32 W.C.F. CTG marking ended in 1922, about mid-year as I recall. So your example clearly pre-dates that. Even though the barrel seems to have been replaced, the serial number indicates it would still have that caliber designation. From 1922 on, it would say 32-20 CTG.

On my list, I show #90303 shipping in July, 1920. I show #99052 shipping in April, 1921, but #96786 also shipped in April, 1921. Shipment did not take place in serial order, so short of getting a letter, the ship date for yours will remain unknown.

Having said that, an approximation of sometime in 1921 would not be a bad bet.

 

[Gordyf808]

1921, THANKS! That would fit into the stories pretty well. I do have some .32-20 ammo I shot in it and not much left. I elected not to reload for it because of the miniscule powder charges. Are the Cowboy Action loads listed these days safe in the old guns? I need to buy more and the stuff I have doesn't appear to be made anymore.

If you reload, Trail Boss works great and fills the case well.
It is kinda poofy.
Lots of load info available.
I use it routinely.
32-20 is one of my favorites

 

[Colt4515]

I'll look into Trail Boss. It wasn't available when I looked at reloading for it. It's been put up for at least 10 years. A TV show about the sale of Bonnie Parker's old revolver prompted me to get it out.

More data; the right grip panel has illegible numbers in it, though the last one may match the last digit of the SN. The left panel has a name written on it in pencil with a heavy hand (a deep impression) and likely Corbin, KY, though it is misspelled. Maybe the original owner?

Fascinating! This is a thread of someone's life from nearly 100 years ago! Soooo cool.

 

[JSR III]

Gunshows, especially the small ones held at gun clubs or VFW halls are the best for finding stashes of old ammo. Many times an old timer who is no longer shooting will bring in boxes of old ammo and many times at very reasonable prices.

At one show a couple of years ago I bought a guys whole supply of primers for like $10 a box. At the time dealers were asking $50 or more.

 

[Colt4515]

Well, it's in pieces, soaking. Behind the side plate the 90+ year old grease/oil had mostly turned to sludge. There is no visible wear on anything. It was smooth but stiff. Now, the cylinder spins at a blur for several seconds. and the cylinder latch open and returns freely.

Gonna be like a new 'un!