Nice, interesting and the price was right.

[robertrwalsh]

As I was cruising one of my favorite LGS I spotted it on the used-consignment shelf. A 4" M&P 32-20 S# 722XX. Blue, sort of. No real finish remaining but no rust or pitting either. Bore is slightly dark but rifling is clean and sharp. Timing is good on all bores both S/A and D/A. Lockup is tight. There was some strange. Both the hammer and trigger had been jeweled and the trigger had apparently had the grooves polished out of it. (Actually I prefer the smooth trigger.) The trigger was also somewhat wider than I expected. I may have to research that a bit. Grips were almost certainly replacements as they were in much too nice shape for a pre-WWII revolver, but they appeared to be period correct. It is in CA 10-day gun detention, but I will post photos when I pick it up. And as I said the price was right. Ask was $300. I didn't even haggle. (I even have some 32-20 ammo and brass available. Sometimes you just get lucky.)

 

[JP@AK]

Sounds like a good shooter, especially for the price.

I have a 5" in the 67000 range that shipped in Dec. 1916, and a 4" in the 75000 range that shipped in June, 1917. Maybe that helps to give you a guesstimate for yours.

 

[robertrwalsh]

4th edition says 65701-144684 from 1915-1940. I was guesstimating right around the end of WWI. Maybe I will check with Roy on it.

 

[JP@AK]

4th edition says 65701-144684 from 1915-1940.

Just to be clear on this, the .32-20 HE stayed in the catalog until 1940. However, there is a ton of evidence that actual production stopped in 1929-30. There were a lot of them in the vault in 1930 and probably parts around to assemble more. Hence, they were available for sale up to just prior to the World War. Keep in mind that the decade of the 1930s involved the Great Depression, so gun sales were slow.

 

[Muley Gil]

Early HE triggers were smooth. Grooved triggers didn't become standard until the mid-late '20s.

 

[robertrwalsh]

I didn't know that about the triggers. Thanks.

 

[4K2022]

Can’t wait to see this one! The wood stocks back then can have the most beautiful grain patterns. Jeweled hammer? I’m at the edge of my seat!

 

[robertrwalsh]

By the way Roy said Nov 1916 on ship date.