ID & value questions about a type 1905

[Dcarsonhensley]

Hello, all! I'm looking for a bit of help with a pistol that I inherited from my grandfather. I believe that it's a 1905, but if I'm wrong, then please correct me!



Serial # on the butt appears to be 80455
5 screws
Barrel is stamped 32WCF , chambered for 32-20
5in barrel, fixed sights.
Pics are attached, if more are needed, just let me know!
What kind of value would this carry? I've been curious for a good while...


Thanks in advance,


Dave

 

[glowe]

Welcome to the Forum. You have a 32-20 Hand Ejector, 4th Change. This model ran from 1915 to 1940 in serial number range 65,701 to 144,684. Your revolver likely shipped in 1920 since that is the year the convex round top stocks started. It is also before 1922 because it appears to lack a MADE IN USA frame stamp.

Condition is well worn as evidenced by the brown finish. Likely carried for a long time in a holster on the right side since the right stocks show more wear than the left. It is not uncommon for a holster carried gun to lose most of its blue finish due to the chemicals in the leather. I would say it might sell for $250. They are common with more than a 140,000 made plus poor finish means it is of little interest to a S&W collector. I would venture to say it probably still functions very well if the mechanism in not full of dried grease and debris.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the snowy Wiregrass! Yes, a .32-20 Military & Police Model 1905, 4th Change. It was made in 1920/21. It appears to have been refinished outside the factory. So, would need to see some more pictures to gauge condition better. However, if the action functions properly and the bore is good, probably valued in the $300-350 range.

 

[Dcarsonhensley]

Thank you both!
The finish is actually in quite good repair, but my lackluster phone camera makes it look worn, for some reason...if we assumed that the finish is near perfect, would that be a significant increase in value?

 

[80sgyrene]

As stated above, it looks to have a non factory refinish.
So even in good shape, a lot of the value is lost.

 

[glowe]

I have to ask where you see signs of refinish? I went through the images again and cannot find signs of refinish. Problem may be that I can't even tell whether it is a blued or nickeled gun??

 

[Dcarsonhensley]

I can assure you that it's a nickle finish, even though the pics don't make it clear. I cannot find any dings or scratches on it, and honestly, I don't believe that it's been re-plated at all. My grandfather was the sole owner, and it spent the majority of it's life stored in a small fleece-lined case, in a household closet.
I'll try to get some better pics tomorrow, in real sunlight, which I hope will help.

 

[glowe]

. . . I'll try to get some better pics tomorrow, in real sunlight, which I hope will help.

Turn off your flash so you do not get shiny spots.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

The pins are polished down. The plating is rough and inconsistent with a factory finish.

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

It appears that the hammer and trigger are nickel plated. Smith & Wesson didn't do that. I also see some gold wash. S&W seldom did that also.

When was your grandfather born? He would have had to have been close to 20 in 1920 to buy that revolver new.

 

[JP@AK]

Serial # on the butt appears to be 80455

Barrel is stamped 32WCF

Hi Dave and welcome to the S&W Forum.

I have some doubt about the originality of the stocks. Maybe they are original to the gun because S&W didn't always assemble guns in serial order. But I show a few in the 80000 range that shipped in 1919. 80567 shipped in April 1919; 80816 shipped in January 1919; 81801 shipped in February 1920. Moreover, serial number 81287 was assembled in September 1919. Hence, yours, at 80455, is probably a 1919 unit.

Normally that would mean yours should have been wearing stocks with the recessed gold medallion. You might carefully remove the stocks to see if there is a serial number written on the inside of the right-hand panel. They would have written it with a pencil, so use a bright flashlight shining at an oblique angle. If the number doesn't match the butt number, you know the stocks were added later.

As for the finish, I cannot tell for sure from your pictures, but I tend to agree with Gil that the plating isn't original, mainly because of the hammer and trigger. On the other hand, the side plate gap looks pretty good in picture #3.

In any case, it is a fine old .32-20 HE. The fact that it belonged to your grandfather makes it special!

 

[Hawg Rider]

Welcome to the Forum! That's a nice .32-20 M&P that you inherited from Gramps. Chances are that it was refinished because S&W did not plate the hammer and trigger. However, it's still a 100+ year old revolver that's in great condition, and should make a good shooter. Mine is a little younger than yours (s/n 118705, ca. 1923) and shows quite a bit of wear and use. My barrel is stamped "32-20 CTG" instead of ".32 WCF", which also indicates that yours is slightly older (1919-1920). There were millions of M&P revolvers manufactured by S&W over many decades, so your revolver is not rare or particularly valuable. I would think it would be worth in the neighborhood of $400. But as a family heirloom, it's priceless! Enjoy!

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum! That's a nice .32-20 M&P that you inherited from Gramps. Chances are that it was refinished because S&W did not plate the hammer and trigger. However, it's still a 100+ year old revolver that's in great condition, and should make a good shooter. Mine is a little younger than yours (s/n 118705, ca. 1923) and shows quite a bit of wear and use. My barrel is stamped "32-20 CTG" instead of ".32 WCF", which also indicates that yours is slightly older (1919-1920). There were millions of M&P revolvers manufactured by S&W over many decades, so your revolver is not rare or particularly valuable. I would think it would be worth in the neighborhood of $400. But as a family heirloom, it's priceless! Enjoy!

Yes, there were millions of M&P revolvers built, but most of them were .38s. There were 144K .32-20s built.

I do agree with the monetary value of $400. However, as a family heirloom, it is PRICELESS.