One of the last .32 Regulation Police Target Revolvers

[H. M. Pope]

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

Sorry sandwtrader,
I was mistaken, my brain was not engaged when I wrote that I was thinking of selling one, I know this is about the 32 Regulation Police Target Revolvers, but when I read that you were looking for a pre war .32 Target with the 6" barrel all I was paying attention to was "Pre War 32 Target" that's not what I have.

The one I was thinking of selling is a Pre War K Frame 32 Target made in 1940, not the 32 Regulation Police Target.
Sorry again for the mistake.
Regards
H. M. Pope

 

[jcelect]

Boxes

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.

The sun burst boxes for the 2" barreled guns is 7 5/8" long with a diamond boarder and the 3 1/2" & 4" guns are in the 9 3/8" boxes with the double line or solid boarder! These boxes were used for the 32 HEs, 32 Reg Police, Terrier, Reg police, 22/32 Kit gun, 22/32 Kit gun airweight, Centennial, Centennial Airweight, Chief's Special, Chief's Special Airweight, Bodyguard, & Bodyguard Airweight. I have never seen them used on anyother guns!
jcelect

 

[DCWilson]

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?

I neglected to reply to this question when this thread was active, so I'll defrost it for one more go-around.

Despite occasional references to the fabled postwar transitional .22/32 target revolver, I don't think they exist. I have never seen a photo of one, let alone the real thing. I suspect S&W intended to manufacture some, but, with the possible exception of a couple of super-rare prototypes, never got around to it. Somewhere I have a postwar six-inch tapered .22 barrel that would have been installed on such a gun, so the intent to produce seems to have been there. If you can find one of those barrels and a postwar transitional Kit Gun, you can build your own.

Good luck with the prewar I-Frame .32 Target. I bought two off of GB, but I haven't seen one listed there for a long time. I think they have all gone to ground.

 

[H. M. Pope]

DCWilson,
This is supposed to be the top rear end of a transitional .22/32 target revolver. I haven't had time to compare it to a Pre War 22/32 Target to see if there is something different about it.
Regards
H. M. Pope

 

[DCWilson]

Well, that certainly catches my attention.

When I compare that to a very late prewar HFT in my safe (533038, shipped January 1940), I see the same prewar sight and some clear differences: (1) semi-circular boss at the foot of the hammer face, absent in prewar varieties; (2) postwar thumb release, different from the prewar "hourglass" configuration; (3) small logo on left side of gun, as opposed to large logo on sideplate (which is what you see on prewar .22/32s from 1938 to 1940).

Do you have any further information about or photos of that revolver? I'd love to know the serial number and grip configuration, among other things.

That seems to prove that at least a production prototype of a postwar transitional .22/32 Target revolver exists. I wonder how many units were actually assembled.

Thank you for posting that intriguing photo.

 

[H. M. Pope]

David,
I remember it being round butt and has a number in the 551000 range from 1949 or 1950. It's been a long time since I've seen it, I'll check into it soon as I can and get back with more info.
Regards
H. M. Pope

 

[Green Frog]

David (and anyone else with access to one of the 196 I-frame Targets "born out of time") I am curious now about the sights. Are all of the rear sights of the pre-War style, or did some post-War adjustable sights get used too? While classy, the pre-War sights just aren't that easily adjusted. I'm starting to feel another "dream gun" come on, even though Project 616 isn't all that close to finished yet.

Froggie

 

[Hondo44]

Charlie,

I have not seen or heard of any sight variations on the 196 or any other variations; all the same with pre war sights. The sights do take a little extra effort when one is used to the newer Microclick. But once I dialed mine in to my handloads I never touched them again. I do constantly check the screws for fear of having them work loose and lose them. Smith used the same SAT for them as the transitional KGs, on the left:

When I first heard of them but hadn't seen one I just had to find one and was a bit disappointed to find it was almost all a pre war style gun. I was looking for a match to my Model of 1953 22/32 Kit Guns. But still glad to have it since it's a great match to my pre war KG. And my solution was acguiring the 30-1 target.

Thanks for resurrecting this great old thread.

 

[Green Frog]

Charlie,

I have not seen or heard of any sight variations on the 196 or any other variations; all the same with pre war sights. The sights do take a little extra effort when one is used to the newer Microclick. But once I dialed mine in to my handloads I never touched them again. I do constantly check the screws for fear of having them work loose and lose them. Smith used the same SAT for them as the transitional KGs, on the left:

When I first heard of them but hadn't seen one I just had to find one and was a bit disappointed to find it was almost all a pre war style gun. I was looking for a match to my Model of 1953 22/32 Kit Guns. But still glad to have it since it's a great match to my pre war KG. And my solution was acguiring the 30-1 target.

Thanks for resurrecting this great old thread.

Uh, uh, yeah, OK. I understand that... hey wait a minute! There's a "30-1 target" variant?? Where did that come from? What is the barrel length of the 30-1 Target? What other features does it have?

You guys keep throwing me curves with all of these exotic variations I have never seen. Where does it end??

Froggie

 

[Hondo44]

Uh, uh, yeah, OK. I understand that... hey wait a minute! There's a "30-1 target" variant?? Where did that come from? What is the barrel length of the 30-1 Target? What other features does it have?

You guys keep throwing me curves with all of these exotic variations I have never seen. Where does it end??

Froggie

Sorry, not factory, you've seen this one; I added the target hammer, trigger, stocks, front sight base and pre war thumbpiece:

 

[davidrc]

.32 Rugulation 4 inch Police Target Revolver

So, I think I have one of these special revolvers. It's serial # 657308
Has the 4 inch barrel, adjustible rear sight and target front sight. Condition is about 97+ condition.

Glad to know it's a unique firearm. I haven't fired mine, but it is used and has been fired in the past.very little cylinder wear on it.
so my question is: what are the value of these nifty guns on today's market if one was to sell it ?
Anybody know ?

 

[jhvaughan2]

Ah. So it does exist!

My biggest S&W regret is that they did not make (enough of) a .32 kit gun.


I'll still probably never get to own one.

 

[DCWilson]

So, I think I have one of these special revolvers. It's serial # 657308
Has the 4 inch barrel, adjustible rear sight and target front sight. Condition is about 90 + condition.

Glad to know it's a unique firearm. I haven't fired mine, but it is used and has been fired in the past.very little cylinder wear on it.
so my question is: what are the value of these nifty guns on today's market if one was to sell it ?
Anybody know ?

Condition is important, and collectors would find value in the box as well, if that is available. I would guess between $2000 and $3000, depending.

 

[davidrc]

.32 regulation Police Target with 4 inch barrel

So how would the best way be to sell my treasure ? I'm interested in
selling it, but to a good home.
thanks
Dave

 

[DCWilson]

So how would the best way be to sell my treasure ? I'm interested in
selling it, but to a good home.
thanks
Dave

Use the classified section of this forum. Most of the interested buyers are members here anyway. Read the rules, which are not oppressive but are definitely to be observed, provide some high quality photos, and see what happens.

Bear in mind that you may end up shipping out of state, so learn what the rules are where you live if you are not familiar with them already.

 

[Hondo44]

Ah. So it does exist!

My biggest S&W regret is that they did not make (enough of) a .32 kit gun.


I'll still probably never get to own one.

Yes, they do exist but Only 196 were made. See some here: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/65412-32-regulation-police-target.html

Easy enough and much cheaper to have one made and you get to choose your favorite barrel length and the much improved post war micro click rear sight.

 

[jcelect]

Oldie but goodie!

I'm posting to an almost 10 year old thread! It is interesting to read and realize how much knowledge and guns we have accumulated over those years! The picture is of two more Reg. Pol. Targets of 1957 era that I have found! Serial numbers 657294 & 657313.

Note the difference in the boxes and the grips on these two guns! Both of the boxes are numbered to their guns. The grips have different numbers. IMHO this shows how S&W "used what they had on hand"!
jcelect

 

[.357magger]

Night of the Living Threads - The Zombie Posts.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.