I believe i just found a unicorn.... 32 mag snubbie

robdijohn

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Long story short.....Local guy said he has a model 31 snubbie 32 magnum revolver for sale and was thinking my wife would like that for herself to shoot. I call him and ask to look at it and really don't know anything about the .32 at all, I'm into the 686's .... I get there and it's in super nice shape, then I check the model and it says 631 (I didn't care because it was a good deal no matter what model) so I buy it...Come to find out by research I think there was only like 190 produced of these in 1990! Is this correct? I know the pachmayr grips are aftermarket....


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I've seen two with Magna Stocks, s/n's prefix "BEY", and product code 103660.

And two otherwise identical M631-n with Combat Stocks, s/n's prefix "BEZ", and product code 103664.

All four were made in April of 1990.

Pretty cool 6-shot J-frame.

This is a "BEZ" s/n gun
 
I second thought, I don't think the BEZ guns came with Combat Stocks. I was looking at my notes wrong. That was for the 4-inch guns (which were being made at the same time). Not sure what kind of stocks the BEZ guns had. Maybe your Pachmayrs are original. There was something different between the BEY guns and the BEZ guns, or they wouldn't have had different product codes.
 
Congrats on your newest! :)

That is a sweet little .32, I bet even with some hot .32 H&R the recoil will be quite tame.
 
Sweet! I have its older sibling, a blued I-frame 32 SW snubbie (Post-War Hand Ejector.) It's my go-to EDC gun. I predict that you are going to love that one. Just get rid of those @#%*@ Goodyear grips - it deserves better! ;)

Froggie
 
I second thought, I don't think the BEZ guns came with Combat Stocks. I was looking at my notes wrong. That was for the 4-inch guns (which were being made at the same time). Not sure what kind of stocks the BEZ guns had. Maybe your Pachmayrs are original. There was something different between the BEY guns and the BEZ guns, or they wouldn't have had different product codes.

My NIB 631 2" Serial # BEZ Product code 103664 came with wood Combat stocks as did the 4" models.
My NIB 631 2" Serial # BEY Product code 103660 is the Ladysmith variation and came with smooth rosewood stocks.
Steve
 
I've been thinking of having my 3" 31-1 reamed to .32 H&R.
Buffalo Bore has some impressive .32 H&R rounds.
 
I've been thinking of having my 3" 31-1 reamed to .32 H&R.
Buffalo Bore has some impressive .32 H&R rounds.
Not to hijack but I had planned to do the same with my 4" 30-1 but have since found some chambered in 32 mag, so thinking about maybe selling/trading. I would like to try a 327 mag though.
 
A 3" fixed sight would be sweet, something like the old 650 22mag's.
 
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The Mdl 631 looks nice, and I agree the .32 H&R is an interesting and useful round. For those unable to find an older Mdl 631/632, newly produced Mdl 432's are showing up in small numbers on Gun Broker. I bought one, and enjoy shooting it -- although it is pretty snappy.

A Mdl 631/632 (stainless steel) with a 1 7/8 barrel weighs around 22 ounces, and undoubtedly would be gentler to shoot than the current Mdl 432 (alloy frame), which weighs around 13.5 ounces. It would be wonderful if S&W made a batch of 631/632 guns, perhaps with the 2.125" barrel as found on Mdl 640's or the 3" barrel as found on Mdl 60's!
 
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The 631 Lady Smith (top) came with smooth rosewood stocks, the 631 (middle) came with Goncalo Alves combats, and the 632 (bottom) came with Uncle Mike's. The 631 and 631 LS were all stainless steel and weighed 22 oz. The 632 was an airweight with stainless steel barrel & cylinder and alloy frame, and weighed 15.5 oz.
 

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I have a "J" frame Airweight (aluminum) frame. love the revolver. Too bad people don't know how good there are, S&W would probably make more of them.
 
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