Help with this old 32 for my sister please

[Daveshady]

Looking for a lil help. My Brother in law passed year ago and my sister doesn't care for guns. Trying to help her establish a value of old 32 revolver. I'm half the country away from her. Have pics and such Think serial number is 100755. Has pearl grips on her guessing not original??

Any help I know this is a great place for knowledge.

 

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,


That looks like a nice revolver but unfortunately, You've posted
in the wrong section. Your revolver is a Hand Ejector and there
is a separate forum for these. You will get more response on
that forum.

One of the Moderator will be by and will move your post to the
appropriate forum.


Cheers!
Webb

 

[murphydog]

Welcome back!

This is a .32 Hand Ejector model of 1903, made sometime in the late 1910s to early 1920s time frame. Pearl stocks, yes, but correctly in (likely) not factory.

Value for a very common gun but in better than average condition, I'd guess $350-400.

 

[Muley Gil]

Looks like a .32-20 to me. There were no true square butt I frame revolvers in this time period. It is possible that it is a .32 Long built on a K frame. The barrel has been cut down.

Daveshady, please post pictures of the caliber markings on the side of the barrel. If the markings are missing, please post pictures of the chambers in the cylinder, taken from the rear.

 

[JP@AK]

I think Gil is correct. Square butt at that serial number can't be a Model of 1903. On the other hand, a 100,000 serial number on a .32-20 would put it right around 1920-21. The absence of both the monogram and the Made in U.S.A. would fit that time frame. And at that time the extractor rod knob would still have that shape.

I suspect it is a .32 W.C.F. (Winchester Model) with a shortened barrel and aftermarket pearl stocks.

 

[Daveshady]

More screen shots from video
The last 3 of the serial seems sloppy?
No caliber on the bbl.

 

[murphydog]

Sorry, a shortened barrel and as noted above a K frame .32/20.

 

[Daveshady]

Sorry, a shortened barrel and as noted above a K frame .32/20.

My curiosity why did they shorten the barrels
Kinda sounds like a common practice? Appreciate the insight and information. If was in hand could be better info Appreciate yall working with what I have.

 

[Hawg Rider]

My curiosity why did they shorten the barrels
Kinda sounds like a common practice? Appreciate the insight and information. If was in hand could be better info Appreciate yall working with what I have.

The barrels were usually shortened to make them more concealable (pocket carry or belly gun), and it was a fairly common practice back in the day. Your sister's revolver definitely had a couple of inches removed from the barrel, recrowned, and the front sight reinstalled. I believe the revolver is a .32-20 HE from early 20's (aka Model of 1905 4th Change). The barrel on hers was marked ".32 W.C.F. CTG". I have one that's just a little later than hers...mine is a 6", s/n 118705 ca. 1923, and the barrel is marked ".32-20 CTG".

 

[Daveshady]

Looks like a .32-20 to me. There were no true square butt I frame revolvers in this time period. It is possible that it is a .32 Long built on a K frame. The barrel has been cut down.

Daveshady, please post pictures of the caliber markings on the side of the barrel. If the markings are missing, please post pictures of the chambers in the cylinder, taken from the rear.

No caliber markings. Took me a lil to get her to open the cylinder. Not sure we're really related lol. She's not a gun girl

 

[glowe]

I think it is a 32 Long revolver. There is no shoulder in the cylinder for the 32 Winchester round. I do see that the top and bottom chamber line up in the frame, so has to be a 6 shot as shown in the recent photos. Converted, or rare factory original K frame 32 Long is my guess. I also believe that the serial number on the cylinder is correct for the gun, but hard to read.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

That looks like .32 Long to me. .32-20 should be tapered , right?


Edit: Gary posted as I was typing.

 

[tlawler]

For reference, mine is 93833 and shipped in October of 1920. Barrel marking is .32 WCF CTG. OP, it looks like the barrel was cut back past the caliber marking, but I agree with others that it is .32-20, or .32 WCF, as it is also known.

 

[glowe]

Compare these two photos, first is a 32 Winchester and second is the OP's.

 

[Grimjaws]

Ammo

One of the photos shows a box of .32 ammo. Do the rounds fit?

 

[Muley Gil]

Compare these two photos, first is a 32 Winchester and second is the OP's.

Yes, it looks like a somewhat rare .32 Long K frame, like I mentioned as a possibility in my first post. These were serial numbered with the .32-20 revolvers, according to Mike Priwer.

What a shame it was cut down and the stocks replaced!

 

[glowe]

It shows a box of 32 Long ammo. The gun is interesting, since the cylinder serial number matches the butt and that number puts this gun in the 1921 ship date range. 32 Long factory from that era are known and it is also known that they were numbered in the 32-20 M&P serial number range. If factory original, it is a rare gun, sadly badly altered by the barrel shortening. Also, I do not believe that the 32 Long K frames had caliber markings??

All I can say about value, if factory original, it would be worth well maybe $2000+, but with non-factory pearls and cut barrel, I would not even be able to guess at what it is worth.

 

[tlawler]

Compare these two photos, first is a 32 Winchester and second is the OP's.

You’re right. Those don’t look like .32-20 chambers.

 

[murphydog]

I can live with being 50% correct!

 

[peyton]

If the barrel was replaced would that increase the value?