My .32-20

[Max R.]

Was inherited from my Grandmother. Was either my Grandfather's sidearm in Mississippi county, Ar where he was a deputy sheriff or my Great Grandfather who was a nightwatchman in Helena, Ar. Shoots pretty well but I have retired it from shooting. I also have a box (original) of .32-20 stainless steel jacketed bullets - for display only, of course !
First 3 digits of the serial # are 358. There is a screw in front of the trigger guard.

 

[mikepriwer]

A picture of the other side would be very helpful, along with the first
3 digits of the serial number. And - is there a frame screw in the front
of the trigger guard ? From what I see here, its a 1902 1st change, or
later.

Later, Mike Priwer

 

[mikepriwer]

Max

Thanks for the additional info. The gun is about 1907-1908.

The surface condition shows some minute scratches, but the grips
look very nice. They should be numbered to the gun, in the inside of
the right grip panel, probably in pencil.

Later, Mike Priwer

 

[Max R.]

You're welcome.

Thanks for the info. I really need to order the factory letter and see where this gun was shipped. That would give me a better idea who actually owned this baby. The grips do indeed have the serial number written in pencil. I'm happy to have this revolver, as it is the only thing I have that may have been owned by my Grandfather or Great Grandfather.
Again, thanks for the extra info.

max

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

"I also have a box (original) of .32-20 stainless steel jacketed bullets..."

They aren't stainless steel. SS wouldn't swage down in the bore when fired. Probably nickel plated copper.

Or, are the cases silver colored and not the actual bullet?

Are they hollowpoints? Some early ammo was for rifles only and aren't safe to shoot in S&W revolvers, due to higher pressure.

 

[29aholic]

Welcome to the forum

Neat gun

I believe your ammo is probably "Staynless" or "Stainless" as in non-corrosive or as Remington put it "Rustless"

The silver jacket on your ammo is actually a "Cupro-Nickel" versus copper as we know jackets today

 

[robertrwalsh]

Those are nice weapons. I've got a 5" blue round butt 32-32, 4 screw Serial # 72XX. I have rolled my own and shot a couple of hundred rounds through it. The bore is a tad dark but it shoots well and the rifling is clean. Mine has hard rubber grips.

 

[Göring's S&W]

There is a screw in front of the trigger guard.

This fact is irrelevant to the gun because the first screw to be removed was the upper sideplate screw, (directly behind the top of the cylinder on the right side) and was removed in 1955. The trigger guard screw was not removed until the 60s. Its a common misnomer that the trigger guard screw is the "fifth screw" or that it was removed first but it was not. Nice gun btw.

 

[Max R.]

Makes more sense ...

The cupro - nickel idea is much easier to believe than the stainless steel jacket. Anyway, I have almost a full box (short 3) and it stays in my display case whether the pistol is in there or not. My Grandmother actually had the gun loaded with these many,many years ago (she passed away in 1980) until my dad insisted that she remove them as they were unsafe.
I only mentioned the screw in front of the trigger guard because someone had asked that specifically in an earlier post.
The bullets are now very oxidized lead, with a silvery looking jacket, encased in brass.
I had actually considered handloading for this gun but I prefer shooting my Dan Wesson 357 and my other 9mm's. Reloading for them gives me about all the time I want right now in front of my press. I do have dies and 100 rnds of new brass just in case I change my mind !
Thanks to everyone for their comments and suggestions. I'm sure I'll be asking many more questions in the future.

Max

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

YouTube - ROBERT JOHNSON ; 32 20 Blues [6/41]