Need assistance in ID'ing a Second Model .32 HE

[wyop]

Gentlemen,

I have a bit of a puzzler here in my shop. A neighbor asked me to get enough parts into a .32 HE to get it complete again, even if the true collector value isn't there. This gun came down through a couple of ranching families here in northeast Wyoming, and the revolver used to belong to a Wyoming lawman supposedly "about 100 years ago."

OK, I like a challenge. I had no idea I was biting off more research than I could perform. The particulars:

1. Barrel length 3.25" long, from the front of the cylinder.
2. Serial # 1047xx. Serial number matches on the butt, the bottom barrel flat, the ejector star and the back of the cylinder.
3. Five screw.
4. Nickel plated, with what looks like some mother-of-pearl grip.
5. "32 LONG CTG" on left side of barrel.
6. Nothing on right side of barrel.
7. Top of barrel reads:

"SMITH&WESSON SPRINGFIELD MASS U.S.A
PAT'D MARCH. 27.1894. AUGUST. 4.1896
DECEMBER. 22.1896. OCTOBER. 8.1901
DECEMBER.17.1901. FEBRUARY. 6.1906"

8. S&W logo under the cylinder latch on left side of frame.
9. There are no markings on right side of frame.
10. It has a pinned barrel.
11. It has fixed sights, with a half-round front sight.
12. There is a strain screw on the front of the grip. There is no serial # or other marking on the front of the grip.

Now, here's the complicating matter: This revolver came to me with lots of the lockwork missing. It cannot be found - the gun was disassembled in the past, and passed through a chain of custody at least three people deep, two of whom are now deceased. It is missing at least the following parts:

- Hammer
- Trigger
- Four screws from the right side of the lockplate
- the rebound slide & spring
- the hand
- the mainspring


The way my books tell me to interpret these markings, I think I have a second model, but without the rebound slide, I'm not sure which change (2nd, 3rd or 4th) I might have here. Supposedly, this revolver serial # is within the range for the Second Model .32, Fifth change... but the markings for the patents do not reflect a fifth change gun - but the barrel S/N matches the butt's S/N.


Thanks for any light you gents might shed on this,
dave

 

[Nicksterdemus]

SCSW sez 5th change SN 102501-263000 1910-1917. And has two extractor locator pins.

"...like the 4th w/major internal changes in the trigger, hammer & sear."

 

[Muley Gil]

Post a Want to Buy in our Classifieds for the parts you need.

 

[glowe]

Your revolver would have likely shipped in 1910 and the 5th Change did have a rebound slide. This is a tough era with your serial number being only 2,000 over the 4th Change. This means is that some changes may not have occurred at exactly 102,500, so there may be some 104,XXX guns out there with some of the features of both 4th and 5th Change. With the parts actually missing, you may end up purchasing some parts that will not be correct for your particular revolver. Best to try and find 5th Change parts, but most parts dealers do not know what Change parts they are selling themselves.

BTW, the model and change numbers are easy to get mixed up. Your revolver is actually a 2nd Model, but not many people care. The 1st Model was also known as a Model 1896. You have a Model 1903, 5th Change. The 32 HE 3rd Model started around 263,001.

 

[wyop]

Much appreciation, gentlemen. I'll start down the road of getting some 5th change 1903 parts to try into this gun.

The nickel finish is worn through in spots. What are your opinions on "refinish vs. leave it as-is?"

And thanks for the tip on obtaining parts here. I shall do that as soon as I have a complete list of the missing lockwork.

Many thanks again,
dave

 

[H Richard]

I think you are looking at a "Labor of Love", your hourly rate to research the parts so far has most likely exceeded the value already. A recommendation to shine it up and mount it in a nice shadow box to display might be realistic move. But, everyone loves a challenge.

 

[delcrossv]

The nickel finish is worn through in spots. What are your opinions on "refinish vs. leave it as-is?"

Many thanks again,
dave

Honest wear retains more value than a refinish. Poorly done, it removes almost all the value, well done it's more than the gun's worth.

 

[steelslaver]

There IS a rust pitted up I frame 32 on GB that you can probably get fairly cheap. The guts should be OK

 

[opoefc]

2nd model, .32HE, Model of 1903, Ser. # 1047XX was made between Aug. 9 to 11, 1909, as part of a production run of 200 nickle plated revolvers with black hard rubber stocks. Ed

 

[Muley Gil]

There IS a rust pitted up I frame 32 on GB that you can probably get fairly cheap. The guts should be OK

This sounds like your best bet.