need info on 32 HE

[sparkman10mm]

I recently aquired a 1905 32 HE from (believe it or not) a lady at a church I do work for.
It is a 6inch, round butt, 5 screw, SER #272xx,
Brown colored hard rubber grips
All #'s match on frame, cylinder, and barrel.
The last patent date is Dec.17.01. on top of barrel.
On the left side of barrel is marked 32 Winchester CTG.
On right side sideplate is S&W logo as well as
S.I. Johnson engraved (very nicely engraved.
Looks like factory engraved (?)
The blue finish is about 90%, hardly any turn line, extractor star looks like brand new. Case
colors still nice.
No holster wear any where. Looks like it was hardly ever fired.
The lady I got it from said she remembered her
father shooting it once when she was about 10
(shes 60ish now). No box or docs, she brought it in wrapped in an oily rag (been in her basement for many years like that).

Any input would be appreciated
thanks
sparkman10mm

 

[sparkman10mm]

I recently aquired a 1905 32 HE from (believe it or not) a lady at a church I do work for.
It is a 6inch, round butt, 5 screw, SER #272xx,
Brown colored hard rubber grips
All #'s match on frame, cylinder, and barrel.
The last patent date is Dec.17.01. on top of barrel.
On the left side of barrel is marked 32 Winchester CTG.
On right side sideplate is S&W logo as well as
S.I. Johnson engraved (very nicely engraved.
Looks like factory engraved (?)
The blue finish is about 90%, hardly any turn line, extractor star looks like brand new. Case
colors still nice.
No holster wear any where. Looks like it was hardly ever fired.
The lady I got it from said she remembered her
father shooting it once when she was about 10
(shes 60ish now). No box or docs, she brought it in wrapped in an oily rag (been in her basement for many years like that).

Any input would be appreciated
thanks
sparkman10mm

 

[29aholic]

Not much help, but being a 32 Winchester it would be chambered for 32-20, which is still fairly readily available.
Chances are if it was a presentaion gun to someone that may allude to the good condition as I have found most (not all) guns that were presented were used very little...mostly just looked at.

BTW WE NEED PICS!!!!!!!

 

[sparkman10mm]

Yes, I knew it was a 32-20, hoping to find out
DOB and what "change" it was.(CHAD MAYBE??)
And approx. value (I know-pics would help)

the lady I obtained it from thought she "might" have a box of cartridges to go with it.
thank you
sparkman10mm

If somebody would post them for me, I would send some pics.

 

[29aholic]

email them to the address in my profile and I'll be glad to post them for you.

 

[Hondo44]

DOB 1906-07. Model 1905 1st change.
Jim

 

[sparkman10mm]

Thanks Curtis
I will send some out later tonight

Wells

 

[sparkman10mm]

Thanks Hondo44

 

[mikepriwer]

Its not a 32HE - its actually a M&P Model of 1902, chambered in the optional 32 Winchester
caliber. Its more generally now called a 1905, but with a round butt, its a 1902. Its a K
frame.

The estimated shipping date of 1906 -1907 is reasonable - I would have guessed 1907 - 1908.

At 90%, the value is $250 to $300, although some may think that is too low. I don't .

Later, Mike Priwer

 

[29aholic]

Originally posted by 29aholic:
email them to the address in my profile and I'll be glad to post them for you.

Here are the pics of sparkman10mm's gun

It appears to be a reblue.

 

[sparkman10mm]

Thanks guys,
I agree that its been reblued somewhere along the line.

I am a bit confused though is it a 1902 or 05?

and chambering is 32-20 or 32 winchester?

I bought nit for $100 so I don't think I did too bad.

 

[mikepriwer]

It does look refinished, to me, as well. My estimate was based on the finish being
original, as per your comment about the finish being 90%. That is suppossed to mean
90% original finish. A refinished gun has 0% original finish.

From the factory catalogs, a round-butt is a model of 1902, and a square butt is a model
of 1905. The collectors lose this distinction in 1905, referring to both models as a 1905.
This is convenient in terms of keeping track of engineering changes, but is inconsistent with the
factory literature. The factory maintained the distinction between the two models up until
the late 1960's, or early 1970's .

32/20 is a more formal name for the 32 Winchester. They are the same thing.

Later, Mike Priwer

 

[Muley Gil]

the lady I obtained it from thought she "might" have a box of cartridges to go with it.

If the ammo does show up, don't shoot it!

It could be corrosive ammo, it could be collectible, and most of all, it could be the "rifle only" stuff that was sold for a number of years and could be unsafe in your revolver.

 

[Hondo44]

Originally posted by mikepriwer:
Its not a 32HE - its actually a M&P Model of 1902, chambered in the optional 32 Winchester
caliber. Its more generally now called a 1905, but with a round butt, its a 1902. Its a K
frame.

The estimated shipping date of 1906 -1907 is reasonable - I would have guessed 1907 - 1908.

At 90%, the value is $250 to $300, although some may think that is too low. I don't .

Later, Mike Priwer

Mike,
Close, but no cigar. It's a 32 HE; a "32-20 HE" (Sparkman having already established it was a 32-20 i.e. 32 Winchester Cartridge) and therefore a K frame. As I said, a Model 1905 1st change (round butt K frame for fixed sights and sq butt K frame for target sights) It's in a different serial range from the M&Ps. Therefore with a 272XX serial number it would have to have been an M&P 2nd Model (Model of 1902) but it would have to have ONLY 4 SCREWS. As can be seen in the photo, it's a 5 screw. This really has nothing to do with the 1902/1905, Rd butt/sq butt controversy.

Jim

 

[sparkman10mm]

thanks, but I only wanted the ammo for a collectible, I do not plan on shooting this
32. I have PLENTY of shooters.
thanks
sparkman10mm

Originally posted by Muley Gil:

the lady I obtained it from thought she "might" have a box of cartridges to go with it.

If the ammo does show up, don't shoot it!

It could be corrosive ammo, it could be collectible, and most of all, it could be the "rifle only" stuff that was sold for a number of years and could be unsafe in your revolver.