My great-grandfather's revolver

[superdutyscaler]

Hi all, been a LONG time since I've posted on our forum. Always lurking reading through post, and liking your photos. Two days ago my grandfather passed away, yesterday my family was at his home going through paperwork my dad needs to transfer his property to him. My grandfather left me his Browing Gold shotgun which I gave to my son last night. He also left me his Ruger .30-06 and his father's (my great-grandfather) Harrington & Richardson .32cal top break auto ejection revolver.
Seeing if anyone knows much about the gun? I know it's around 1900, my dad said it shoots 32 shorts but Google search has me believing it shoots 32 long AND shorts?
My last question is after I clean it up and oil it properly would it be safe to shoot it a couple times? Last time it was shot was around fifteen years ago....a large coyote was walking around the town where my grandfather's lives. People were calling the police for weeks trying to catch the thing. Well Mr. Coyote walked down my grandfather's street one late afternoon....he happened to be outside watering his garden and his neighbor started screaming. He looked over the fence and seen the coyote walking out of the woods and making its way through their back yards. He ran I side and grabbed the .32, walled between his pool and detached garage and got a beautiful twelve yard head shot!
I'd like to shot the gun with my dad and son before my grandfather's funeral this week before I put it away in my safe

 

[superdutyscaler]

More pictures of his gun

 

[superdutyscaler]

I'm assuming the serial number is the 96504?
Cylinder and ejector are stamped 504. Left side barrel is stamped 32 CAL S.&W. CTGE
Top of barrel has company with patent number and then October 8, 1895

 

[bigwheelzip]

My condolences on the passing of your grandfather.

 

[quikdraw67]

Condolences on your loss.

 

[max503]

Sorry about your loss. I hope you get to shoot it.

 

[Babysitr]

Sorry for your loss..sounds like a family heirloom,with a story! the experts here will help you with shooting it

 

[superdutyscaler]

Thank you everyone. We've had more than our share of great times over the years, just unreal I'll never be able to hear him call me pop ever again. And yes these firearms will never leave pur family, I'd figured the pistol not only being my grandfather's but also my great grandfather's would be something memorable for my father,, my son and my younger brother to shot one time before my grandfather's funeral.
I know it works and my grandfather did shot it fifteen years ago on that coyote. But the ol interweb has me thinking I can at least shoot 32 long and shorts. Also I want to be okay with a gun this old and not hurting someone IF it blew up in our hands

 

[Baxter6551]

Super Duty - sorry for loss of your grandfather. Looks like pic is .32 short cartridges ? What caliber is marked on end flap of the box? Looks like midway has .32 long in stock. If long cartridge fits cylinder maybe it would work but I'm no expert in old top breaks. And make sure anything you shoot is not high velocity.

 

[Speedo2]

Sorry for you loss, SuperDuty. 32 S&W was never called "32 S&W Short". 32 S&W Longs have always been called "32 S&W Long". Since your revolver is stamped "32 S&W Cartridges", I wouldn't attempt to try firing 32 S&W Longs in that heirloom. -S2

 

[desi2358]

The six shot version (which you have) will chamber the Long cartridge. I have shot longs in several of mine over the years without issue. I do not know why H&R marked their revolvers as they did. Even in later years their revolvers continued to be marked "32 S&W" though they would chamber and fire the Long just fine. H&R actually had their own "Long" cartridge before S&W introduced the 32 S&W Long (1880's versus 1890's). I have wondered if it was simply a convenience to use just one roll stamp as "32 S&W" would cover the small frame, 5 shot revolvers as well as the large frame six shot models. And by the time they started marking calibers (@ 1908) it was a well recognized cartridge name.

As to your family heirloom if you already have the regular 32 S&W ammunition and only want to shoot it a few times for nostalgia I would just use what you have. No point in hunting down increasingly hard to find 32 Longs (seem to be a low demand item in the current market) and it would appear that is what your grandfather was shooting in it.

 

[Echo40]

There's no reason to expect that it isn't in shootable condition. Yes, it has some rust, but that can be cleaned off and the gun can be refinished to prevent further corrosion. I see nothing to suggest that the Revolver's structural integrity has been compromised.

 

[Inusuit]

There's no reason to expect that it isn't in shootable condition. Yes, it has some rust, but that can be cleaned off and the gun can be refinished to prevent further corrosion. I see nothing to suggest that the Revolver's structural integrity has been compromised.

I would suggest gently cleaning the exterior surfaces with bronze wool and oil, then putting on a coat of wax which will prevent further corrosion . Refinishing will cost 2-3 times what the firearm is worth and then it wouldn't be your great grandfather's pistol any more. The revolver earned that patina/corrosion (I don't think there is active rust) so I would clean it up and leave it alone.

 

[nutsforsmiths]

Looking at the H&R book by Bill Goforth that I have, it looks like your pistol was made between 1909-1912. And according to Goforth, the H&R catalog at that time shows the 6 shot 32 to shoot calibers 32 S&W, 32 S&W long and 32 Colt New Police.

If it was me, I'd stick with shooting 32 S&W.

 

[robvious]

sorry for the loss of your grandfather... I love the idea of having your great grandfather's gun shot by 5 generations, a wonderful tribute.

 

[superdutyscaler]

Thank you all for your condolences and your recommendations on what I should do with the gun. I'm gonna clean the ol gun up tomorrow and get my family together to shot it one more time. Hopefully one day when I'm gone I hope my son will take his kids and shot it one more time and keep this new tradition going

 

[Llance]

Really sorry for your loss I do know how it hurts to lose a grandpa.

His fine old pistol will shoot anything with .32 that will fit in the chamber except the H&R magnum. That means .32 H&R, .32 S&W, .32 S&W long, .32 Colt, and .32 autos. The action is plenty strong enough for all of these cartridges. Yes I have one and shoot it regularly.

 

[Puller]

My father has a S&W model 31 chambered in .32 S&W Long, but he shoots .32 ACP rounds in it since they're semi-rimmed.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

I have my paternal great-grandfather's S&W Model 1½ in .32S&W (the short one). It was given to my grandfather when he left South Carolina to attend Oklahoma A&M University around 1910. It was shipped in the early to mid 1880s.

Sent with some arcane communications device.