help on ID a .32 revolver.

[slumpy]

This questions probably been shot to death, what does the number of screws in the sideplates mean? Mine has 3, and the one dcwilson posted has 4 ? Also, what was the idea behind making the revolvers with round butt and square?

 

[Green Frog]

Slumpy,

Obviously, the sideplate screws are there to hold the sideplate on. The reduction in number from 4 to 3 came in the mid-1950s IIRC and was strictly a manufacturing change to make the fitting and installation faster and cheaper, but supposedly just as good.

As for the square- vs round butt question, it's a matter of size mostly. On concealable revolvers, the round butt is a little easier to conceal, but for most shooters, the square butt gives a better grip. Neither of these is a hard and fast rule though as there are some easily concealed square butt frames and some round butts with the proper grips are quite comfortable to hold onto even with heavy loads. You pays your money and takes your choice!

Froggie

PS for Muley Gil... there were some K-frame .32 S&W Long revolvers as well, they're just not so common nor affordable!

 

[slumpy]

Yes, I love the way the round butt allows it to side in and out of my rear pocket. If I'm in a hurry. I'll just drop it in my pocket without a second thought.

 

[slumpy]

new 32 pics with grips off.

i took the grips off to take new pictures in case it helps any on info. the other gun i thought was interesting because they have almost same checkerd walnut grips but the big gun is french and from 1876.

 

[handejector]

This gun could have shipped with black hard rubber grips.
Depends mainly on ship date.

 

[slumpy]

Thanks for moving my new pics, I guess I don't have to make a new post everytime I have new pics? I can just add them to my current post? Thanks again and sorry, I'm new to forums.

 

[Muley Gil]

"PS for Muley Gil... there were some K-frame .32 S&W Long revolvers as well, they're just not so common nor affordable!"

Yep. There were some .32 Longs in the .32-20 block, as well as the K-32s and even a few .32 Longs in the post WW II .38 M&P line.

My mind was on the small frame wheel guns.

 

[arizona32]

Hi folks, I am new to the forum so please forgive me if I post incorrectly.

Like many people I am looking for information on a pistol that I own. I took ownership of a S&W 32 LONG CTG in perfect condition from my grandfather over 25 years ago. I received multiple pistols from him, two of which were S&W, so I am thinking about letting this one go. The serial number is 3159XX. I have some pics but cannot figure out how to post them on here. If anyone has a way to find information, or can direct me where to find the information I am looking for, I would be most grateful. Thanks!

 

[Cyrano]

Slumpy: In addition to a nice S&W, you have a very nice French Mle 1873 service revolver in 11mm. it was issued in the white, so don't blue it. The date on it is the date the barrel was made.

 

[slumpy]

Its a all original #'s matching gun, I chose it because it wasn't messed with at all, alot of them are usually converted to shoot 45's I here. I just don't know yet if it was issued for military or civilian use, I read somewhere that the ejector rod somehow can determine that? Thanks.

 

[arizona32]

32 LONG CTG

I have managed to attach two photos of the pistol that I would like to gets some information on, at least I think I have - hope this works.

Pistol is a 32 LONG CTG, serial #3159XX, in pretty much perfect condition. Want to identify year of manufacture and estimated value should I choose to sell or trade.

Once again I apologize for being such a novice at the ways of the forum. I will attempt to clean up/delete my earlier posts once I am home tonight. Thank you.

 

[slumpy]

Can I use .32 long ammo in this revolver? Reading alot on here and some say ammo is hard to find for these, at my store I use here in Missouri I can get plenty .32 long ammo unless I'm missing something, shoots fine I just don't want any problems later down the road. I'm using .32 s&w longs.

 

[slumpy]

Are these .32 hand ejectors easily found or are they rarer to find. Iwould like a few more, and were they ever offered in anything but blued?thanks.

 

[DCWilson]

I have managed to attach two photos of the pistol that I would like to gets some information on, at least I think I have - hope this works.

Pistol is a 32 LONG CTG, serial #3159XX, in pretty much perfect condition. Want to identify year of manufacture and estimated value should I choose to sell or trade.

Once again I apologize for being such a novice at the ways of the forum. I will attempt to clean up/delete my earlier posts once I am home tonight. Thank you.

I lost track of this thread and just found several posts here that I hadn't seen before.

AZ32, your gun is a .32 Regulation Police from about 1920. There is a possibility that it has been refinished because the light seems to roll in a peculiar way off the frame edges under the barrel. That suggests the corners are a little less sharp than found on guns in original condition. If you could post some non-flash photos that reveal additional detail, we might be able to speak further to that question.

If it is refinished, the value is less than if the gun had an almost new condition with original finish. A really nice Regulation Police might be a $400-450 gun, but a refinished gun, no matter how nice it looks, would be valued at about half that.

 

[DCWilson]

Can I use .32 long ammo in this revolver? Reading alot on here and some say ammo is hard to find for these, at my store I use here in Missouri I can get plenty .32 long ammo unless I'm missing something, shoots fine I just don't want any problems later down the road. I'm using .32 s&w longs.

Are these .32 hand ejectors easily found or are they rarer to find. Iwould like a few more, and were they ever offered in anything but blued?thanks.

Slumpy, modern .32 Long ammo is safe to shoot in these older .32 Hand Ejectors. I usually limit myself to .32 match ammo with wadcutter bullets -- lower speed, lower pressure. But you can shoot standard round nose .32 Longs without any problem.

Early .32s are not too hard to find. There are usually a few available at the major online auction services (Gunbroker, GunsAmerica) at any given moment. They can be had in both blue and nickel finishes in almost any era.

Heaven help you if you get interested in prewar .32 Target revolvers. There just weren't very many made, and they cost a bundle when you can find one.

 

[slumpy]

Thanks for thehelp, anybody have any pictures of a prewar .32 target revolvers. Just wondering if they are similiar to mine?

 

[DCWilson]

Here's a catalog page from the mid-1920s.

Before 1917, these guns were just called target models in the .32 Hand Ejector line. After that date, they were called the Regulation Police target.