Need help IDing a 32-20

[kyhuntsman94]

I received this revolver when my grandfather passed away twenty years ago. I have shot it with my father mutiple times and it is a real shooter.

I'm curious to see when this one was shipped.

The Serial # is 93897 and matches on all 3 places.
The oldest patent # is Oct.8.01 and the newest is Dec.28.14.
32 W.C.F. CTG on the right side of the barrel.
It has the S&W trademark stamped on the left side.
It has the groove backsight and fixed blade front sight.

I will try to post pictures a little later.

Thanks!
Matt

 

[murphydog]

Hi, and welcome. You have a .32/20 Military & Police 4th change. Someone may have a specific year it was shipped but call it mid-1920s or so. You can send for a factory historical letter for the exact ship date and destination. Hope this is helpful.

 

[kyhuntsman94]

Here are some pics to help things out.

Again, thanks for the help! I'm not looking to sell this as it is one of the few things that reminds me of the good times with my father and grandfather, I'm just curious as to it's history.

 

[Alk8944]

Assuming the stocks are original to the gun (look inside the right stock for the SN in pencil) it was manufactured between 1920 and 1922. Shipping date could possibly have been several years later.

The style of stocks on this revolver was introduced in 1920. The caliber marking .32 WCF was replaced in 1922 by .32-20.

When taking close-up photos like these use the "Macro" feature of your camera and the pictures will be in focus instead of so fuzzy.

Nice honest revolver that saw some use.

 

[DCWilson]

I like that gun; since it is a family heirloom for you it is a real treasure.

Just a little additional history: S&W introduced the .32-20 on their mid-size frame in 1899. With some design revisions it was in production for 40 years. The company discontinued it in 1940 when wartime contracts began to monopolize their production, and it was not reintroduced after the war because its heyday was clearly over.

During the Great Depression its marketability had declined. Total production of the .32-20 line came to about 150,000 (compared to about 750,000 for the corresponding .38 Special model in the same period), and given what we know about serial numbers and dates, most of that production had taken place by the early 1930s.

The .32-20 was much used by trappers and hunters as a sidearm, and it was popular as a law enforcement revolver in parts of Appalachia; agencies in much of the rest of the country preferred the .38 Special version.

I have one of these from 1915, and despite some cosmetic challenges (it was badly renickeled), it is an excellent shooter with a clean bore and tight action. Great revolvers.