One of the last .32 Regulation Police Target Revolvers

[Green Frog]

Hey David, for the purpose of adding to our historical knowledge, how "retro" did they go? Specifically, does your new treasure have the post-war hammer block safety seen on the early release post-war non-target models, or did they go all the way back to the pre-war innards? Inquiring minds want to know!

I wonder whether S&W could ever be persuaded to take their current J-frame platform, recut the grip frame to take the flat spring action, and build a modern version of this as an ultimate woods walking gun? I'm sure they could get a lot of folks interested, but probably sales wouldn't satisfy the bean counters. More's the pity!!

Regards,
your 'phriend the 'phibian

 

[DCWilson]

Allen and Froggie, thanks for the interest. I don't actually have that many, but it may sound like I do because I keep alluding to them and recycling the photos. I'll try to put together a couple of family portraits of the small-frame .32s and .38s in the next few days. I posted a group shot of some prewar Kit Guns in another thread a couple or three weeks back.

Froggie, this "retro" .32 RP has the postwar hammer block. Looking down from above as you pull the hammer back slowly, you can see the block move straight down until it is below the falling hammer's path of travel. I probably won't try to take the sideplate off for a photo because the action can't possibly be dirty and the screws look as though they have never been turned.

 

[Green Frog]

Allen and Froggie, thanks for the interest. I don't actually have that many, but it may sound like I do because I keep alluding to them and recycling the photos. I'll try to put together a couple of family portraits of the small-frame .32s and .38s in the next few days. I posted a group shot of some prewar Kit Guns in another thread a couple or three weeks back.

Froggie, this "retro" .32 RP has the postwar hammer block. From above you can see it move straight down in front of the hammer as you pull it back slowly. I probably won't try to take the sideplate off for a photo because the action can't possibly be dirty and the screws look as though they have never been turned.

That's yet another reason it should be in your hands instead of a Philistine like me... I'd probably have to have the side plate off to drool into the innards and since it has the perfect combination of new and old design parts would have to try to wear it out shooting at the range and in the woods. Enjoy the pride of ownership, my friend, but do let it come out to play on special occasions. It deserves nothing less!

Froggie

 

[H Richard]

Now that is something special. If S&W would ever put something similar out I'll be in line to get one. .32's are becoming more frequently to my attention. I seem to have accumulated over a half dozen, starting with a 1865 Mod. 1 1/2 1st Issue, up to a 1953 shipped Pre 30. They just have that "something" that attracts me.

 

[OIF2]

That is a superb gun, with excellent photos and an interesting, informative text. Posts like this make me realize why this forum is so neat. Never really thought about a .32, but I'd take that one for sure! Thanks, David.
Bob

 

[EdwardM]

David:

As an aspiring Bullseye shooter I'd like to have a .32; you mention you have other guns in that caliber - are these S&W's also or some other make?

I'd love to get a K32 - as would, I suspect, virtually everyone on this board - but was wondering if there are other less costly guns you have been satisfied with.

Ned

 

[DCWilson]

David:

As an aspiring Bullseye shooter I'd like to have a .32; you mention you have other guns in that caliber - are these S&W's also or some other make?

I'd love to get a K32 - as would, I suspect, virtually everyone on this board - but was wondering if there are other less costly guns you have been satisfied with.

Ned

Ned, my only real .32 caliber shooting experience is with S&Ws. I have an early Pocket Positive in .32 Colt, but haven't shot it because I don't have any ammo. I have a couple of .32-20s made by both Colt and S&W, but they have fixed sights. I have a prewar Colt Officers Model in .32 Long that I haven't shot but probably will some day.

My impression is that a model 16-4 might be an excellent Bullseye revolver. As you may know, it is basically a K-32 with a full underbarrel lug and chambered in .32 H&R Magnum. I have never even held a 16-4, let alone fired one; it may be a fine revolver in its basic configuration, or it might benefit from some gunsmithing to achieve its full excellence. Forum member Hammerdown has a customized 16-4 for which he has developed some hot loads. It is astonishingly accurate. Prices on 16-4s are rising, but they are still less than the early Model 16s and pre-16s.

It may be heresy to say so on this board, but I have been able to get better accuracy in my experiences with the Colt Officers Model revolvers in different calibers than with S&W's K-Masterpiece series. This may be because the OMs have a slightly larger frame and weigh a bit more; I find I do better with heavier guns. The .32 OMs are rarer even than K-32s. Nevertheless, they are still a little less expensive when you can find one. Please understand that doesn't mean they are cheap. They just are not as much in demand.

 

[EdwardM]

Thank you David.

Ned

 

[EdwardM]

As luck would have it there is a Colt OM "Fitz Target" .32 for sale on Gunbroker.

Has a buy-it-now price of $4,450!!

A tad rich for my wallet.

Ned

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Thats an awsome little .32. I would have to shoot it!

 

[DCWilson]

As luck would have it there is a Colt OM "Fitz Target" .32 for sale on Gunbroker.

Has a buy-it-now price of $4,450!!

A tad rich for my wallet.

Ned

In my opinion that should not be more than a $2000 gun. The box is thrashed and the muzzle is damaged. The "Fitz" inscription adds no value without some form of documentation showing that this is "the" Fitz and not just any old guy with that nickname. It also needs to be known what "selected" means in this case. If the real Fitz just told the recipient, "You ought to get one of those Colt .32s," then signed the target for him when it arrived, there is no value kick. Buyer beware!

 

[bower]

.32 Reg.Police

David, When you shoot your 32 OM,you are in for a real treat.An extremely accurate,pleasant handgun.Like so many of these 32 OM's mine was originally sent to the State of Mass.It came with the box, etc.I hope you enjoy that Reg. Police target,as I am the previous owner of that piece.It was my first venture into the world of small frame S&W. Dick

 

[DCWilson]

David, When you shoot your 32 OM,you are in for a real treat.An extremely accurate,pleasant handgun.Like so many of these 32 OM's mine was originally sent to the State of Mass.It came with the box, etc.I hope you enjoy that Reg. Police target,as I am the previous owner of that piece.It was my first venture into the world of small frame S&W. Dick

Dick, thank you for taking such good care of the RPT. It is a delightful little revolver. Did you own it long? The accompanying letter that came with tells us who owned it in 1978, but I wonder how many people might have cared for it in the interim. Please reply by PM if you have any details about it that you would rather not post publicly.

I'm sure you are right about the pleasures of shooting the OM in .32 Long. I haven't lettered mine, but it is numbered close to other Massachusetts revolvers shipped in or about 1940.

 

[bower]

32 Reg Pol target

David, PM sent

 

[jcelect]

Another one of the 196!

Hey DC
Here is another one of the 196 guns, #657294. As you stated, it appears to have been shot very little. This gun came out of CA a short while ago.

An interesting side note you mentioned about the " Sun Burst" box is, my gun is in a double lined boarder box and yours is in a solid line boarder box. I have made a study of the sun burst boxes and have found that usually the diamond boarder was used with 2" guns, the double line boarder was used with the 3 1/2" guns, and the solid boarder was used with the 4" guns! Again, this shows the factory used what ever they had on hand!
jcelect

 

[DCWilson]

Joe, how could I not agree that you have a really nice revolver there?

Thanks for the additional insight on the borders of the sun ray/sunburst boxes. Would that mean that the box dimensions vary, or only the barrels of the guns they contain? Max dimensions on my box are 9-3/8" x 4-5/8".

Were these boxes used exclusively for small-frame guns? I'm pretty sure I have never seen one in a picture of a K- or N-frame revolver.

 

[H. M. Pope]

Interesting,
Here are some photos of a double line boarder Sun Ray box for a 22/32 Kit Gun Round Butt 4 inch.

The 4 inch has been lightly X'ed out and 3 1/2 inch penciled in along with I Frame 6 Shot, 16823. The bottom of he box has the number 29230 in white grease pencil. In Ink as you can see is mod 43 on the right and 14 1/4 oz on the left.
Regards
H. M. Pope

 

[sandwtrader]

.32RP

Very nice find. Let us know how it shoots! Yours looks just like mine.
Serial No 657245. I'm now looking for a pre war .32 Target with the 6" barrel. or better yet, a post war .22/32 Target prior to the 1953 version. Anybody seen one?

 

[H. M. Pope]

Very nice find. Let us know how it shoots! Yours looks just like mine.
Serial No 657245. I'm now looking for a pre war .32 Target with the 6" barrel. or better yet, a post war .22/32 Target prior to the 1953 version. Anybody seen one?

Don't have any Post War S&W's but do have a Pre War 6 inch 32 Target that I've been thinking of selling, let me know if your still interested.
Regards
H. M. Pope

 

[sandwtrader]

.32 Target

Definite interest in pre war .32 Target. Can you provide pics and condition to E-Mail [email protected]?
Thanks