Identification help

[DMacD]

Hi all, New to the forum. I am helping a family friend go through her deceased husband's gun collection. I would certainly appreciate your help (I have about six other S&W revolver threads coming)

The gun is a hand ejector with fixed sights and a 6 1/4 barrel. There is no model number on the yoke. Serial # is 82xx and the cylinder, barrel, and frame all match. It has four screws on the frame and is a .32 win.

Any guidance on model number, age, and value would be appreciated.

 

[rburg]

Its a K frame 32-20. They occupied their own serial sequence, and are usually called M&Ps. Its an early one, or early enough to not be heat treated so it needs mild ammunition. I really don't know what else to tell you.

 

[Alk8944]

This is a 6 1/2" .32-20 Hand Ejector, Model 1899, 1st Change. It was manufactured late 1900 or early 1901, The stocks have apparently been replaced as they should not have the large medallion at the stock screw. The style is basically correct except for this and being smooth. S&W did not assign model numbers for another 56 years! The front sight has been modified.

Note. The estimated date is assuming the number you posted as the SN is from the butt and not the yoke cut. The SN should appear on the butt, rear dace of cylinder, bottom flat of barrel, and two other locations. They should all match.

Value in this condition, probably about $250. Again assuming the gun is in good mechanical condition, it is basically a shooter. As is it has little collector value.

While it was advertised along with the .38 Hand Ejector, which would become the "Military and Police", internally it was referred to as the "Winchester Model".

 

[DMacD]

Thanks Alk. The serial number is from the butt, barrel, and cylinder. Thr yoke has the assembly number only. There is no medallion on the stock. It's merely a brass nut into which the screw attaches.

 

[glowe]

This is a 6 1/2" .32-20 Hand Ejector, Model 1899, 1st Change. It was manufactured late 1900 or early 1901, The stocks have apparently been replaced as they should not have the large medallion at the stock screw. The style is basically correct except for this and being smooth. S&W did not assign model numbers for another 56 years! The front sight has been modified.

Your picture shows a Model 1902, 32 Winchester, complete with under-barrel lug and mushroom extractor knob. I would guess that there is an X missing and the serial number might be 82,XXX??

 

[DMacD]

Hi glowe, the serial number is only 4 digits long. Is there anything else I can show a picture of that will help further identify?

 

[Muley Gil]

Hi glowe, the serial number is only 4 digits long. Is there anything else I can show a picture of that will help further identify?

No, you have gotten a good ID. This revolver probably shipped from the factory around 1903-1905.

 

[DMacD]

Muley Gil, I am glad to hear that, but please excuse my ignorance here, but I received three different answers. A 32-20 M&P a model of 1905, and a model of 1899. Which one is correct?

 

[murphydog]

MG is offline, so...

It is generically a .32/20 M & P. The 1899 does not have the front ejector rod lockup so yours is not one of those. The serial number points to a 1903-'04 ship date so it can't be a model 1905. Collectors would call it a model 1902 or second model.

 

[glowe]

No, you have gotten a good ID. This revolver probably shipped from the factory around 1903-1905.

You're right. I am writing about a 32-20, but thinking about a 38 Special. The 4 digit serial number puts it at 1902-1903 manufacture year. The techincal name for your revolver is 32/20 Hand Ejector, Second Model 1902. This revolver was only manufactured for 2 years, with 4500 made. Your barrel should have a round front sight and measure 6 1/2".

 

[DMacD]

Awesome info. Thanks guys. Does the $200-300 value range still sound accurate?

 

[JP@AK]

Hello
Alan ("Murphydog") gave you good information. Perhaps this will help as well.
The revolver in the photo posted below is a .32 Winchester with serial number 8037, a number very close to yours. It letters as having shipped from the factory in March, 1904. So yours likely shipped sometime around that same time period.
As for the Model of 1902 designation, there are two factors to consider. First is the absence of a screw in the front of the trigger guard. This was added in 1905. Secondly, the factory always referred to the early K frames with the round butt as the Model of 1902, even after the cylinder stop change in 1905 (which added the fifth screw). So your revolver would be a Model of 1902, even if the serial number was a bit higher.

You should note that the gun in my photo is a rare target model. It is also wearing stocks that are not original. The style with the medallion was not introduced until 1911.

I hope this is helpful to you.

Also, I think $300 is in the ballpark. Since I like to shoot these, I might be tempted if I saw your gun at a gun show, offered for $325, but I doubt I would pay more than that.

 

[DWalt]

It almost certainly shipped in 1904. I show a .32-20 with a SN about 200 lower which did.

.32 Winchester =.32 WCF = .32-20, all are the same cartridge. Early K frames used the .32 Winchester barrel stamping.

I'd agree that +/- $300 is an appropriate value in that condition.