Help me date this please!
- Thread starter Jjannise
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Welcome to the Forum.
What replacement parts do you need?
What replacement parts do you need?
Welcome to the S&W Forum Jjannise.
Your .32-20 Hand Ejector is from about 1921. Nearby serial numbers shipped that year. The box labels at that time called it a .32 Winchester model. Model numbers were not used for another 37 years, but the .32-20 never had model numbers because S&W stopped making them sometime around 1930. They were cataloged until 1940.
The stocks on your revolver are an aftermarket addition.
Your .32-20 Hand Ejector is from about 1921. Nearby serial numbers shipped that year. The box labels at that time called it a .32 Winchester model. Model numbers were not used for another 37 years, but the .32-20 never had model numbers because S&W stopped making them sometime around 1930. They were cataloged until 1940.
The stocks on your revolver are an aftermarket addition.
DWalt
Member
Yours would have been cataloged as a .32-20 Military and Police Model. The main difficulty is that ammunition for it is hard to come by and expensive should you desire to shoot it.
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Model19man
Member
What the guys said is accurate. 32 WCF ammunition is expensive and hard to find. Brass is available from Starline you might want to consider hand loading if you want to shoot the revolver : 32-20 Brass - Small Pistol - Brass Cases
Would you guys know an estimated value of this piece?
Welcome to the Forum! You've inherited a nice .32-20 HE that appears to be in very good condition. Since yours is stamped ".32 WCF", it's just slightly older than my 6" .32-20 (s/n 118705), with the ".32-20 CTG" stamp, from 1923. The wood stocks on mine are the type that would have originally been on your Grandmother's revolver. Both have the LERK (mushroom-shaped Large Ejector Rod Knob). As others have mentioned, .32-20 ammo is somewhat difficult to find, so quite a few Forum members reload. Since I'm not equipped to reload, I keep my eyes open online for .32-20 ammo, and occasionally find some Cowboy Action ammo for sale. Enjoy!
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Would you know where i could find stocks to fit that are closer to original? I would showcase these as they are sentimental but i would like to refinish the weapon if possible.
Also, Midway USA has a few options of this round for sale at 1.00-2.06 a round
DWalt
Member
Grips are fairly distinctive. They have no S&W medallions. They were used by S&W throughout the 1920s. Keep checking on eBay for K-frame grips. Someone here may have a pair for sale. Refinishing is not advisable.
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DWalt is correct. Here's a photo of a .38 M&P from 1926, showing the period correct stocks that you should look for.
I have two pair of those grips. I just brought up one to look at, SN: 60?634. The number is hard to read as they were marked in pencil at that time. Send me a PM if you would like to discus a sale. I believe these would look good on your gun.
Tom
Tom
Welcome to the forum.
Your revolver would be the .32-20 Hand Ejector Model of 1905 4th change to collectors. Built between 1915 and 1940 with a serial range of 65701 to 144684 with around 78,983 manufactured. H. Wesson ordered that all revolvers made be stamped "Made in USA" in May of 1922 and if I am seeing your gun correctly, it does not have this stamping. Obviously guns ready for assembly or in inventory would not have this stamping so most likely would not have shown up until possibly 1923. In my database for another model this does not occur until 10/1923. So I would guesstimate early 20's as date of manufacture.
All in all a cool looking gun but hard to tell real condition without having the gun in hand. The SC of S&W fourth edition, places value at $400 to $700 based on Good, Very Good to Excellent condition. Obviously the non original stocks are a drawback and the older guns are not as popular with the younger generations so the market is limited. The scarcity of ammunition is also a negative to some as not everyone hand loads.
That said, if I saw that gun at a show I would probably be thinking in the range of $500 as a fair price. Different areas of the country can have a bearing as well as the number of examples that are available on the market.
Since this gun has come down through your family there are many of us that consider it priceless. Although almost 80,000 of this model were made, only one came down through your family.
If you want to find stocks more like the originals, I would try a WTB ad here on the forum. Many collectors have shoe boxes full of old stocks and you might locate a set close to your guns serial number.
Hope that helps.
Your revolver would be the .32-20 Hand Ejector Model of 1905 4th change to collectors. Built between 1915 and 1940 with a serial range of 65701 to 144684 with around 78,983 manufactured. H. Wesson ordered that all revolvers made be stamped "Made in USA" in May of 1922 and if I am seeing your gun correctly, it does not have this stamping. Obviously guns ready for assembly or in inventory would not have this stamping so most likely would not have shown up until possibly 1923. In my database for another model this does not occur until 10/1923. So I would guesstimate early 20's as date of manufacture.
All in all a cool looking gun but hard to tell real condition without having the gun in hand. The SC of S&W fourth edition, places value at $400 to $700 based on Good, Very Good to Excellent condition. Obviously the non original stocks are a drawback and the older guns are not as popular with the younger generations so the market is limited. The scarcity of ammunition is also a negative to some as not everyone hand loads.
That said, if I saw that gun at a show I would probably be thinking in the range of $500 as a fair price. Different areas of the country can have a bearing as well as the number of examples that are available on the market.
Since this gun has come down through your family there are many of us that consider it priceless. Although almost 80,000 of this model were made, only one came down through your family.
If you want to find stocks more like the originals, I would try a WTB ad here on the forum. Many collectors have shoe boxes full of old stocks and you might locate a set close to your guns serial number.
Hope that helps.
SGT ROCK 11B
Member
My condolences on your lost.
I would leave it the way it is. That makes more of a family heirloom, JMHO.
The revolver is from 1921 and the grips I am guessing from the 1950s or 1960s. It just need a good cleaning since I am guessing it has not been cleaned or properly lubricated in 30 years or so. You do not need replacement parts; its a revolver.
The Bass Pro Shop has an identical revolver for $400.
