New to me .32 Long, please help

[roberto1951]

I picked this up today and was hoping you knowledgeable guys could help me out on exactly what it is and about when it was made.

It is a .32 Long, serial number on the grip frame is 518115. It has the same number on the cylinder and the same number is stamped into one side of the stocks. It has a case color trigger and hammer. There is no model number in the crane. From what I've read here I think it must be an I-frame model.

Pretty cool little gun. I haven't shot it yet, the fellow I bought it from said it was very smooth and accurate. The trigger feels excellent to me. Am I right in assuming modern .32 Long ammunition is safe to use?

I gave $350 for it. I was satisfied with that, how did I do?

Thanks

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Are you sure about that serial number? The serial you posted is pre-war but the gun that you take a picture of is post-war.

Guy

 

[DancesWithMoonclips]

Lucky you! It's a beauty and I couldn't fork over 350 fast enough if I found one like it. Factory 32 S&W long tends to be loaded pretty conservatively so I'd anticipate no problems using it provided the gun is in sound mechanical condition. I load a lot of 32 both long and h&r mag and it's one of my favorites. Enjoy your find!

 

[H Richard]

That is a Post War 32 Hand Ejector, and I will guess from 1952. I have a 3 1/4" #600097 which shipped Jan 1953. They are sweet shooting little hand guns, and any factory 32 Long will work just fine. I think you got a great buy for that price.

 

[roberto1951]

Yes, I made a mistake on the serial number. Old eyes or old brain, not sure which. The correct serial number is 581115.

Thanks for correcting me.

 

[cgt4570]

More FYI:
That model (with a few subtle changes) evolved into the Model 30 when the factory started using the modern model number system a few years later around 1958.

 

[DWalt]

Yes, I made a mistake on the serial number. Old eyes or old brain, not sure which. The correct serial number is 581115.

Thanks for correcting me.

I'd say it likely shipped around early 1952. Any .32 Long ammo you find will be safe to use.

 

[steelslaver]

Fun guns. Easy recoil, not loud. Plinker, rabbit shooter and tin can killer. But, the in times of old lots of cops carried the same caliber.

I too would have dug out the $350 and I already have a couple.

 

[daddio202]

That was a good find!! I think I paid $350 or $399 for mine and it is not as good condition as your. Mine is 606037 so it is close in date. I found the ammo in the last picture online pretty cheap and those wadcutter's are pretty accurate.

 

[.357magger]

The I frames are starting to heat up price wise in the national general auction sites. $350 is an exceptional price imo.

In other words...nice snag.

Thanks for sharing it.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

These are really fun guns to shoot. Get some ammo and go kill some targets!

Guy

 

[BC38]

I'd love to hand over $350 for that one.
As others have said, the 32 long is a fun round to shoot.
I've picked up several boxes of PPU at Cabelas for about $17 a box since I got mine 6 months ago.

 

[Erich]

Just had mine at the range yesterday - what fun! (Yours is prettier.)

 

[Turn4811]

That looks a lot like the gun I bought for my daughter when she left home. A 9mm was too much for her as was a 38 Special. All she had ever shot more than once was my 22 pistol. The 32Long fit the bill perfectly.

 

[Scharfschuetzer]

Mine is a bit newer than yours, but it's a fun little bugger.

Best load is with a cast 115 grain bullet over either Tight Group or Unique powder.

 

[roberto1951]

Thanks for all the replies and the help. I did take it to the range today and I liked it a lot. For such a small gun, it fit in my hand really well, and was just plain fun to shoot in both double and single action. It took me a while to be able be accurate with it though, as it was a little dark inside and my up close eyes are not that great. I think it will excel as an out in the woods gun.

 

[StrawHat]

My EDC is a 45 ACP revolver of some flavor usually a Model 22-4. BUT, I really enjoy shooting my 32 Long Hand Ejector with a 3 1/4" barrel and grip adapter. I have shot both the RN and the WC factory ammunition but have come to prefer my handloads with a 100 grain Keith SWC cast bullet. I believe if i had a mold that cast a good WC bullet, it would become a favorite also!

Kevin

 

[Erich]

Carried my .32 today...