Model of 1905 - which change

[ISCS Yoda]

I like the old hammer so much I left it cocked for the photo.

I believe this has a 6" barrel, the way I measure it, anyway, the barrel is marked .32-20 CTG on the right and Smith & Wesson on the left. Made in USA is on the right side of the frame and the S&W logo is on the left. Typical company name, Springfield, and patent dates on the top of the barrel.

The stocks are lovely but the rest of the gun not so much. More like stains than holster wear but ICBW. Definitely holster wear or SOMETHING marring the front of the trigger guard. Smooth trigger, checkered hammer spur, SN 122551 on the bottom of the frame and the first 4 digits on the cylinder face followed two odd markings. All hard to read. Pinned barrel.


The SNs I think I'm reading do not match what is shown on page 151 of the SCSW.

Methinks it's a 4th change but I ain't fer shurr...

And you say.............?

 

[rct269]

Well, I'm not where my books are right this minute, but I'm thinking this sort of information from this period in the SCSW came from the factory records by way of N&J----so it's very likely accurate.

That said, I had two 32-20 targets in my collection---one rather early, another later on. They go like this:

#42094 shipped December 22, 1908, and shows as a second change.

More to the point of inquiry is #114655, which shipped August 21, 1923, and shows as a fourth change.

I don't recall how many changes there may have been in this series (and quite honestly couldn't care less-----unless I was needing affected parts), so I'll hazard a guess yours is also a fourth change.

Ralph Tremaine

Late breaking news: It turns out I don't need my books----only to read ALL of the letter: The pertinent part goes like so: After identifying it as a fourth change, it says, "These revolvers were produced between serial numbers 65701 and 144684 of the .32/20 Hand Ejector series."

So there you have it----free for nothing!

 

[murphydog]

It has a fairly late serial number in the .32-20 M & P series, which fits with the later .32-20 CTG barrel rollmark and the 1920 decade stocks. Since the 4th change began in 1915…it’s a 4th change.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Much obliged, even if Ralphie doesn't really care about such things!!!

 

[rct269]

"Ralphie", huh?

Only one other has ever used that name-----my mother!----telling tales.

The tale starts in the middle of the Mojave desert----I'm like 5 years old, and I'm thirsty. The only available thing to drink is day old cold coffee---and I drank it. My mother's version goes like so: "That's the first and last coffee Little Ralphie ever drank!"

All true!

Ralph Tremaine

 

[murphydog]

Someone put up a meme from “A Christmas Story”. “You’ll shoot out an eye out, kid!” Possibly with a Smith & Wesson.

 

[Hawg Rider]

It has a fairly late serial number in the .32-20 M & P series, which fits with the later .32-20 CTG barrel rollmark and the 1920 decade stocks. Since the 4th change began in 1915…it’s a 4th change.

Yep, definitely a .32-20 M&P (aka Model of 1905 4th Change). Your revolver's s/n 122521 is fairly close to mine (118705, ca. 1923), so yours was probably manufactured in late 1923 or early 1924. You've got a very nice .32-20 that shows some modest, honest wear- but it is 100 years old! Enjoy!

 

[glowe]

1914 patent date indicates the start of the 4th Change. They ran from 65,701 to 144,684. MADE IN USA indicates it was made no earlier than 1922 and the mushroom ejector rod knob indicates made no later than 1927. I have a few target models from that era and the best I have found is below. Great shooter shipped in 1924, serial number 110,915. Ship dates cannot be accurately obtained by just looking at the serial number since these guns were slower sellers than the 38 Specials by the 1920s. This gun has the 32 W.C.F. stamping.

 

[cmansguns]

Nice one!

That one really looks nice for its age. I agree that is a 4th change but I don't know the year the caliber marks changed.

Mine is also 4th change and was confirmed by Roy to have shipped October 1921. On mine the barrel is marked on right side with * 32 WC.F. CTG * The * are actually dingbats and the periods are only after the C and the F and not after the W.

Other than the barrel marking, most all of your 4th change features seem to be same as mine, albeit you a lot more finish.

I don't reload but got a nice Christmas present of 3 boxes of HSM Cowboy Action loads and it is a pleasant gun to shoot.

 

[glowe]

Here is what I have on the caliber stamping changes.

From 1899 until 1913 - 32 Winchester CTG. (left side of barrel)
From 1914 until 1922 - 32 W C.F. CTG (right side of barrel) between 111,000 & 113,000
From about 1922-23 until the end of production (1940) - 32-20 CTG. (right side of barrel)

Of course that stamp would have been done when the gun was manufactured. My 32 WCF Target did not ship until a couple years after the change to 32-20 occurred.