M1905 4th Change .32-20

[Old Corp]

Found this one online a couple of weeks ago and the dealer was in my state, so wife and I took a road-trip. Probably overpaid just a little, but have been looking for a good .32-20 for awhile. No shipping and no transfer fees. Just expensive gas.

Already had a Colt Police Positive Special .32-20 5", but wanted a good K frame.

A little patina on the backstrap, a tiny bright spot near the muzzle but the rest is so good I almost suspected it had been re-blued. Nope - close inspection showed no signs of buffing or any sort of refinish.

Inside recoil shield shows no signs of case head contact.
Grips (stocks) are pencil-numbered to the S/N.

Inside was a little petrified grease, but otherwise very dry.
Enjoyed the ritual of detail stripping, a solvent soak, toothbrush scrub of everything, lubing and a final clean. Wiped grips down with Ballistol.

Digging into the SCSW and here shows that it's hard to nail down dates on these. This one's 127xxx, so I'm slinging a guess out there of late '20's to early '30's?
If anyone has a better guesstimate, I'm all ears.

Maybe I'm a little too artsy or sentimental..... - the pocket watch belonged to my GGF, who died in 1926.
The fishing knife belonged to a good college friend who passed away 2 years ago.

 

[DWalt]

The closest SN I have listed is 127612, a .32-20 M&P which shipped in 5/27. But some higher numbers shipped in 1926. That's just the way it is, as S&W did not ship in SN order. The use of the Model of 1905 terminology by S&W ceased in 1914, but it is still used by some in reference to M&Ps made clear until WWII. S&W stopped production of the .32-20 M&P in the late 1920s, at a SN around 144xxx, but they continued shipping them from factory inventory for at least another ten years. Not a particularly popular caliber in comparison to the .38 Special. Lotsa luck finding ammunition for it, and if you do, it's $$$. Even reloadable brass is tough to find today. As you already have a Colt, maybe you also have some ammunition. I have a .32-20 Colt OP and also an early Colt Army Special. Both are nearly too nice to shoot. I have lots of brass for mine.

.38 Special M&P SNs were in a different range from those in .32-20, despite their being identical revolvers except for their caliber. Fortunate that the grip SN is legible. Many of the penciled SNs on the back of the 1920s era grips are invisible or nearly so.

 

[4K2022]

Fortunate that the SN is legible. Many of the penciled SNs on the back of the 1920s era grips are invisible or nearly so.

Yes ++, very fortunate. Great find. Personally I like the wood of this era. The dark grain stripes in the sharp walnut checkered stocks Look awesome on your 32-20 and I believe highlights the workmanship and quality of S&W during the decade. To sentimental? No just grateful, thanks for sharing.

 

[Inland7-45]

Nice gun. Mine was made in 1913. I just missed out on a very nice Colt Police Positive Special made about the same time. I have around 200 pieces of brass and just loaded them using Missouri Bullet Co 115 RNFP and Accurate #5 following data in Lyman Cast Bullet manual.

Hopefully Starline will get back to making 32-20 brass soon.

 

[delta-419]

32-20 A Great Choise

That one was a great find whatever you paid for it. I like your "art work" and background setting. The 32-20 was my first rifle (Win 92) when I was a very young man. I now own 5 S&Ws, 2 Winchesters, and am waiting on delivery of an 1889 Marlin in 32-20. You can say I'm hooked, hope that you reload to enhance your supply of ammo. It's a bit pricy! Enjoy!!!.

 

[JP@AK]

Personally I like the wood of this era. The dark grain stripes in the sharp walnut checkered stocks Look (sic) awesome on your 32-20

Agreed. It is Circassian walnut. Sadly, they stopped using that species sometime between the wars.

Here is a pair on an older .32-20.