I'm new to the forum and will likely be asking more questions in the coming weeks. I recently picked up this revolver. It's chambered for .32 S&W Long. The serial number is on the front/ inside of the grip-frame and the backstrap appears to end about 2/3 down, there the wooden grips take over. I can't find a model # on it. Any clues.
Mystery Model
- Thread starter Streak
- Start date
geoff40
Member
It's an old gun, made long before they used model numbers. 1920s is my guess. Looks like a Model of 1905, but the exact model requires a serial number, at least the first 3, which is on the bottom of the grip frame. Matching SN should be under the barrel, and on the cylinder face too.
That's a .32 Regulation Police from about 1938. The RP was an I-frame revolver, basically a .32 Hand Ejector with a square butt. This model was introduced in 1917.
The gun appears to have a short backstrap because of the clever design the company came up with to mate square butt stocks to a small round butt grip frame. When you take the stocks off, you will see a small step in the backstrap that mates with a thicker part of the wood. Do it without the milled step and the wood gets too thin and fragile. These easily identifiable frames are called rebated (= rabbeted) frames.
These are excellent little revolvers and you have a fine specimen.
And welcome to the forum. Should have said that first.
The gun appears to have a short backstrap because of the clever design the company came up with to mate square butt stocks to a small round butt grip frame. When you take the stocks off, you will see a small step in the backstrap that mates with a thicker part of the wood. Do it without the milled step and the wood gets too thin and fragile. These easily identifiable frames are called rebated (= rabbeted) frames.
These are excellent little revolvers and you have a fine specimen.
And welcome to the forum. Should have said that first.
Hondo44
Member
Welcome to the playground for all Smith lovers.
That's a peach! It only has a model name in that vintage which David gave you and wasn't assigned a model # (like all Smiths) until 1957; the Model 31.The serial is on the forestrap because the stocks cover the butt and it's also on the backside of the right stock.
Shoot it and you'll love it.
That's a peach! It only has a model name in that vintage which David gave you and wasn't assigned a model # (like all Smiths) until 1957; the Model 31.The serial is on the forestrap because the stocks cover the butt and it's also on the backside of the right stock.
Shoot it and you'll love it.
You guys are great!!! Thanks to all!!! I can hardly wait to post my next "head scratcher." I also picked up a Model 30-1 in my little foray. It's nickel and NRA 99%. I'm not sure if it falls into this category, but I'll post a pic for you to admire if you like. I'm certainly going to have to find myself some .32 S&W Long before my next trip to the range. I saw some Fiocci on line. Has anyone had any experience with it?
Fiocchi ammo is fine. So is Sellier and Bellot, which is made in the Czech Republic. Smells a little funny, but accuracy is fine. I usually use the match wadcutter loads from these companies -- low stress on old guns and sharp, clean holes in the paper.
Green Frog
Member
Your 30-1 is simply an evolutionary development of the design series that included your Regulation Police a few decades earlier. They stretched the frame slightly to accommodate a long enough cylinder for the 38 Spl and changed the mainspring from leaf type to a coil spring. The Model 31-1 was the actual replacement for the Regulation Police because they also added to the grip frame to make it square. The earlier I-frame came in 22 LR, 32 S&W Long and 38 S&W. The J-frame added the 38 Spl, then 32 H&R Mag, and eventually 357 Mag and 327 Fed Mag.
You've already heard from my "coconspirators" with the small frame guns, David and Jim, so you know we are very enthusiastic about S&W's most compact and elegant revolvers. Welcome to the madness!
Froggie
You've already heard from my "coconspirators" with the small frame guns, David and Jim, so you know we are very enthusiastic about S&W's most compact and elegant revolvers. Welcome to the madness!
Froggie
Hondo44
Member
Streak, that's another little beauty! I love that vintage. It's post 1961 when it was introduced on the J frame but 1966 or earlier, so it still has the panache of the flat latch, diamond stocks and pinned barrel.
Yes, I did luck into a couple of juicy finds, didn't I? "Froggie", I love the madness. LOL. I'll post some more on this page soon. I think I have about 10 or so S&Ws in my collection. Many are of like vintage in various conditions.
.32 Hand Ejector, 1906-1929 from observable features. Let us know the serial number (or the first part) and we'll narrow that down.
1913/1914.
Nice collection, Streak! Don't lose or damage the grips on that RP because they are as rare as hen's teeth and twice as expensive. Congratulations!
You mean the ones on the re-bated gripped/ blued model? I suppose they would be a bit of a pill. LOL. Good advice. Thanks for the advice and compliments. I have 13 S&Ws in my collection. Most of them are of like vintage with a few more contemporary. I appreciate the additional knowledge I've been able to get on the older models through the Forum and its members. Y'all have been a wealth of information and help to me as I work toward documenting my older pieces. I'll be posting some others when I get a chance.
Hondo44
Member
Oh my gosh, the 1st Model, Mod of 1896. Very nice, yeah most of the blue is gone but so what, it's all original and no one has screwed it up! I like them that way.
I'm with Jim in my appreciation for that Model of 1896. Nice gun!
jpwhel
Member
You have a fine collection of 32s, I am envious. I like the I and J frame 32 S&W Long caliber and have a few Mod 31s, the earliest dating to 1962. Great guns, enjoy shooting them.
Art Doc
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