My latest FFL visit

[Jcon72]

Ran across this model 31-1 made in 1971-72 recently and decided to give it a new home. It was wearing a set of early to mid-60's diamond Magnas but I just happened to have this correct set of Magnas ready to swap out.
It has a few flaws, but that just makes it a bit easier to take it out and shoot guilt-free.

 

[StrawHat]

I have an earlier variation, a 3" 32 Long HE. They are fun little revolvers!

Kevin

 

[Jcon72]

I have an earlier variation, a 3" 32 Long HE. They are fun little revolvers!

Kevin

For way too long I was J-frame-less, but I've been working on that over the last year and a half and have managed to scrounge up just a few.

 

[Truckman]

Flaws?...What flaws?...I see no flaws......Ben

 

[Jcon72]

There are some blemishes. Far fewer than I have, though, and I'm the same age.

 

[StrawHat]

For way too long I was J-frame-less, but I've been working on that over the last year and a half and have managed to scrounge up just a few.

Mine is the earlier and slightly smaller I frame. Wait until you discover these little gems!

Kevin

 

[Hondo44]

Ran across this model 31-1 made in 1971-72 recently and decided to give it a new home. It was wearing a set of early to mid-60's diamond Magnas but I just happened to have this correct set of Magnas ready to swap out.
It has a few flaws, but that just makes it a bit easier to take it out and shoot guilt-free.

Extremely nice .32 regulation police, congrats!

 

[Jcon72]

Extremely nice .32 regulation police, congrats!

Thank you!

 

[StrawHat]

Extremely nice .32 regulation police, congrats!

Jim,

What are you seeing in the two images that causes you to call this a Regulation Police Model?

Kevin

 

[Jcon72]

Jim,

What are you seeing in the two images that causes you to call this a Regulation Police Model?

Kevin

Well, seeing that the model 31 is literally called the "Regulation Police" there's really not much to explain.

 

[retnavyshooter]

I like it!

 

[Inland7-45]

.32 Regulation Police

Ran across this model 31-1 made in 1971-72 recently and decided to give it a new home. It was wearing a set of early to mid-60's diamond Magnas but I just happened to have this correct set of Magnas ready to swap out.
It has a few flaws, but that just makes it a bit easier to take it out and shoot guilt-free.

Congratulations on a really nice find. I have a pre model 30 2" RB and 2 pre war .32 Regulation Police.

The .32 I frames are great little guns. Along with their J frame successors and .38 S&W versions they offer some good Collector opportunities.

For my next .32 I would like to get something with a little more bulk like a J Frame or a Colt Police Positive, Det Special or Cobra.

I started reloading for this caliber a few years ago and will soon be casting my own bullets from an RCBS 98 gr RNFP mold. I just completed a 1,000 rd run using the RNFP 98gr from Missouri Bullet Co. as well as 500 with a full wadcutter. I have been using W231 with loading data from Speer manual.

I totally agree that the best guns are those with just enough wear on them so that they are not devalued by a trip to the range.

Good luck with yours.

 

[Inland7-45]

.32 HE

Mine is the earlier and slightly smaller I frame. Wait until you discover these little gems!

Kevin

Nice .32. My 1924 RP has the same barrel length but being an RP it has the rebated frame with the square butt stocks. It has a very nice original blue with very little wear. My other RP has a 4" barrel with an original nickel finish that has picked a cloudy look with some finish wear an the side plate and below the thumb latch. This one was made in 1940. These guns are a ball to shoot. Once your are set up to reload this is an easy and economical round to reload for.

 

[Hondo44]

For my next .32 I would like to get something with a little more bulk like a J Frame or a Colt Police Positive, Det Special or Cobra.

Since you have a pre model.32, which is a Model of 1953 NEW I frame, a J frame .32 is not going to give you much more noticeable bulk. Almost the same gun. If you have a pre model 1953 then you might notice a bit of additional bulk from the 1/8" longer grip frame of the J frame rd butt. Or 5/16" longer sq butt J frame.

 

[Hondo44]

Jim,

What are you seeing in the two images that causes you to call this a Regulation Police Model?

Kevin

The sq butt grip frame. But you have a point since in 1976 the .32 hand ejector and RP merged into one model, the Mod 31 (until 1991) with a choice of grip frames and barrel lengths.

 

[StrawHat]

I always associated the rebated grip frame with the RP, did not realize the name was reused after that feature was discontinued.

It figures though, S&W never wasted anything!

Kevin

 

[Mark 40]

Jcon- congrats on a fine acquisition, lots of fun times ahead.

 

[jcelect]

The sq butt grip frame. But you have a point since in 1974 .32 hand ejector and RP merged into one model with a choice of grip frames and barrel lengths.

Sir, I very confused by your statement! I don't understand the significance of the 1974 date and the two guns you referred to became two models, the model 30 & model 31 after 1957. This is the only time S&W changed the model number for a butt configuration!
jcelect

 

[Hondo44]

Merged into one model, not two.

I don't have the SCSW in my hand but IIRC a few models in 1974 including the .38 S&W models 32 & 33 were eliminated. And in 1976 the models 30 and 31 were combined into one model, the Mod 31 with the features of both available on that remaining model until 1991 when discontinued.