I recently bought a 5 shot 38 S&W I frame 762xx. It has MOP grips, a ramp type front sight, what you all refer to as a flat latch. Nearest I can determine it's late 50's.I paid $300 for it. Bluing is at least 98%. Any addional info you experts can provide woud be most appreciated.
I frame purchase info
- Thread starter daveee
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Welcome to the forum. If your gun has a two-inch barrel, it is called a .38/32 Terrier. Eventually, when model numbers were assigned to the different guns in the company's product line, this gun became known as the Model 32, a designation that has nothing to do with its caliber. Those manufactured between the configuration's introduction in 1953 and the appearance of the model designation are known as Pre-32s.
If it has a four inch barrel, it is called a .38 Regulation Police or, for analogous reasons, a Pre-33.
The odd designation .38/32 just means ".38 caliber revolver built on a .32 caliber frame."
The .38 Regulation Police was introduced in 1917 and remained in production until the onset of WWII. The Terrier was introduced about 1935 as a more compact version of the small-frame five-shot .38 revolver. After the war both models were reintroduced and manufactured with a series of minor evolutionary changes until the much revised Model of 1953 was introduced in -- no surprise here -- 1953. Eventually both models were retired because the market for small .38s was take over by the Chiefs Special (or Model 36) in .38 Special. That gun had a slightly longer cylinder than the Terrier or RP, and eventually the frame got slightly larger too.
The Terrier has a smaller grip than the RP so that it can be more easily concealed in a pocket.
Feel free to post pics of your gun. Whether it is a Terrier or RP, lotes of folks here like those small-frame .38s.
If it has a four inch barrel, it is called a .38 Regulation Police or, for analogous reasons, a Pre-33.
The odd designation .38/32 just means ".38 caliber revolver built on a .32 caliber frame."
The .38 Regulation Police was introduced in 1917 and remained in production until the onset of WWII. The Terrier was introduced about 1935 as a more compact version of the small-frame five-shot .38 revolver. After the war both models were reintroduced and manufactured with a series of minor evolutionary changes until the much revised Model of 1953 was introduced in -- no surprise here -- 1953. Eventually both models were retired because the market for small .38s was take over by the Chiefs Special (or Model 36) in .38 Special. That gun had a slightly longer cylinder than the Terrier or RP, and eventually the frame got slightly larger too.
The Terrier has a smaller grip than the RP so that it can be more easily concealed in a pocket.
Feel free to post pics of your gun. Whether it is a Terrier or RP, lotes of folks here like those small-frame .38s.
Green Frog
Member
Welome from me as well. To build on what David said, most of the post-War S&W products were changing fast during their reintroduction, and this is especially true of the small frame guns. A serial number (with the last couple of digits replaced with Xs, if you wish) makes nailing down the approximate shipping date possible. If there is a letter in front of or included in the SN, include this as it's important, even if separated from the numerals by several spaces.
The big question other than those asked by David is whether it is the earlier, leaf spring gun, as evidenced by a strain screw at the bottom of the front surface of the grip frame, or the later coil spring gun which lacks this screw. If it is really a late '50s gun, it will probably be a coil spring gun and may even have a model number stamped inside the crane to be seen when the cylinder is open. Pictures and a serial number will tell us more!
Froggie
The big question other than those asked by David is whether it is the earlier, leaf spring gun, as evidenced by a strain screw at the bottom of the front surface of the grip frame, or the later coil spring gun which lacks this screw. If it is really a late '50s gun, it will probably be a coil spring gun and may even have a model number stamped inside the crane to be seen when the cylinder is open. Pictures and a serial number will tell us more!
Froggie
Guess I forgot a few things. It has a 4 inch barrel, coil mainspring and the serial number is on the butt, cyl. face and underside of barrel. Also, it is a square butt and the grips look like they might just fit on a J frame Model 34 I have. The space for the cylinder looks to be about 1/8 inch shorter than the J frame Mod. 34. There is no letter prefix anywhere. just 762xx. Thank you both for the information. Also, These things are just cute.I can understand your attraction to them. Maybe I'll go looking for a 32 Caliber as a companion.
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