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[pete3240]

Read up on what info is needed to identify this pistol, so here goes.

Serial # 2666xx Located on front of grip strap only.
Cartridge marked n barrel is *.32 Long Ctg. *
Barrel Length is 3 3/16"
5 screw
Has the strain screw.
Any other info needed should be obvious from the pictures. If not let me know.

Two questions...... What is it? And does the cal. marking mean it is a .32 S&W Long.

Pete

 

[DWalt]

It looks like a very early .32 Regulation Police model, from perhaps 1917. They were made with a 3-1/4" barrel, which is probably what yours has.

 

[pete3240]

DWalt,

Thanks for the info. Know very little about the early S&W's. Actually very little about any of them. Don't know if you can tell but it's in really good condition. A lot better than I would have thought in a gun that old. Turn line of course plus a little wear around the front of the cylinder and muzzle. The surface search you see up by the right side hammer is the only flaw along those lines.

I am assuming that the .32 long marking on the barrel means it's chambered in .32 S&W Long?

Pete

 

[DWalt]

That's correct - .32 S&W Long. It will also accept .32 S&W. Both are available, but are somewhat difficult to find. .32 Long is the more common. .32 ACP will fit, but for safety reasons I don't recommend using it in an older gun like yours which is not heat-treated. You have a fairly desirable piece.

 

[pete3240]

DWalt,

Gee! Didn't know it might be desirable. Paid $600 +sales tax. To much?

What I can see of the inside of the stocks the serial# is written in pencil, but so close to the outer edge that with the wipe down over the years it's stained off all but three of the numbers, but the good news is they match the frame serial # in the right order.

Have plenty of brass and several moulds from shooting a .32 S&W long Pardini in BE competition.

Pete

 

[DWalt]

I think you did OK at $600 for an RP in that condition.

 

[Hondo44]

Pete,

You have a little screamer there! Yep .32 Long Cartridge. The same gun with round butt and shorter barrel lengths was known as the 32 Hand Ejector and was the very 1st swing out cyl model S&W beginning in 1896.

You'll notice it's not marked as a Reg Pol on the barrel as was its .38 S&W chambered counterpart.

The Reg Police Model began in 1917 in the 258XXX serial range and the 266XXX range was reached by 1918. Production and shipping was interrupted by WW I military contract production.

 

[JSR III]

Welcome to the forum. Very sweet looking revolver.

This is what you need....

 

[Green Frog]

Pete3240,

Nice entrance! If you are already loading for your Pardini, just take your nice little RP and some of the same ammo along with you to the range next time you go and be prepared to smile a lot. It's not like shooting the Pardini, of course, but it is supremely fun! Also, you don't have to look all over H@77 and half of Georgia for your brass! Try it on man size (Police type) targets at 7 1/2 and 15 yds and then out to 25, and you will see where that gun shines... or shoot some reactive targets like tin cans, swingers, etc and you'll really be grinning. Congrats on a nice find.

How about sharing your load for the Pardini with us? I'm guessing it's either a HBWC or a DEWC, seated flush, but what powder and charge gives you your best results? Inquiring minds...

Froggie

PS BTW, what is the significance of the 3240 in your handle? You aren't another schuetzen refugee like me are you? I still shoot my high wall in that caliber.

 

[pete3240]

Thanks for all the replies. Really appreciate them.

Hondo44,
Was curious as to why the serial# on my gun was so high. You answered that with the start # and my gun being made before the WWI cutoff for wr production. Do you know if they continued production after the war and what the final date and serial # was?

Froggie,

Yes. The 3240 in my handle is my favorite Schuetzen rifle. A CPA 44 1/2. Got it out the other day and got it ready for the upcoming season.

See Dale53 is on here too and your trying to get a .32 cal. Forum(?) going. You can count me in as beside the above gun I have a Colt 32/20 and a Ruger SS in .32 H&R Mag.

Always enjoy you two's messages on the ASSRA Forum.

Sorry to say I sold the Pardini many years ago and a computer crash two years ago wiped all the load data I had on it. Needless to say I don't trust computers with that kind of stuff anymore. So won't try and recall what powder charge of BE I used.The bullet I used is an NEI 312 100. Not sure what kind of wadcutter you'd call it but looks like a small version of the 38 cal. H&G # 50.

Pete

 

[Hondo44]

Thanks for all the replies. Really appreciate them.

Hondo44,
Was curious as to why the serial# on my gun was so high. You answered that with the start # and my gun being made before the WWI cutoff for wr production. Do you know if they continued production after the war and what the final date and serial # was?

Pete

Pete,

The .32 RP did continue after WW I and WW II and was assigned the Model #31 in mid-1957. It continued in the original serial # range until 1968 ending at # 826977 then continued in the H prefix range thru #H161201, when the 3 letter prefix serial series was introduced, eventually being discontinued in 1991 for a few years.

But reintroduced shortly after, it continued almost to this day, in various configurations with various new model #s, chambered in 32 Mag versions which of course also shoots the 32 Long. So virtually the first and one of the longest lasting calibers chambered in a Hand Ejector Smith revolver with the aforementioned brief breaks!

 

[pete3240]

Hondo44,

Thanks for the additional info. Didn't realise it had been in production for so long.

Pete

 

[JSW]

Welcome, nice little 32 to start with.