Pre-WW II 32 Multi-Cylinders?

[Green Frog]

Gentlemen,
I have acquired an extra 32-20 cylinder from a Ruger Buckeye convertible. I am working out my options.

Are you guys saying I can put that in my Ruger Blackhawk 8 327. With only small adjustments?

the experts over on the Ruger Forum (including our very own Hondo44) can give you more definitive answers to that question, but I'm going to guess that "small adjustments" may be an overly optimistic estimate. I can say with authority that the 32-20 cylinder would not be usable for anything in the 32 family other than the 32-20. The base diameter of this cartridge is greater than the rest, but if you are planning on using it to make an existing 32 caliber into a 32-20, you should be good to go. I just don't know which Ruger frames your cylinder will fit. Sounds like you have some interesting potential there though!

Froggie

 

[Green Frog]

Good stuff, Mike Priwer! I may have seen one of your previous postings on this topic and conflated the ideas of numbering a 32 S&W L in the same 32-20 SN sequence and having the two cartridges in a single revolver. As far as you know, do any documented specimens exist with the two calibers being available in a single revolver equipped with both cylinders from the factory?

As the long term fog of my anesthesia continues to wear off, I'm beginning to wonder whether your posting and my hallucinations may have intersected to start a juicy rumor. I'm hoping I'm not going to be declared guilty of creating a fantasy while "under the influence." Then again it worked for Samuel Taylor Coleridge back in the 19th Century.

Regardless, the existence of pre-War Target 32s and 32-20s (no matter what their model designations) is a fascinating concept. While obviously rare (or everybody would have one!) the fact that they exist at all is a source of encouragement for those of us in our armchairs dreaming. Thanks for sharing.

Froggie

 

[StrawHat]

While my Scottish ancestry applauds the economy of one revolver capable of handling two (or more) cartridges, the practical Irish side tells me each time I swap cylinders, I would need to readjust the sights. Far more practical to have two, properly sighted revolvers.

Of course, you may prefer something else.

Kevin

 

[Hondo44]

Too much emphasis on speculation rather than actual experience. I've never needed to change sight settings on any convertible revolvers I have or have had.

 

[StrawHat]

Too much emphasis on speculation rather than actual experience. I've never needed to change sight settings on any convertible revolvers I have or have had.

Jim,

You are fortunate not needing to change sights. Anytime I changed cylinders and cartridges, the sights needed tweaking. This was going from long Colt to ACP.

Heck, switching from Special to Magnum in the same cylinder often required an elevation adjustment.

Kevin

 

[Green Frog]

While my Scottish ancestry applauds the economy of one revolver capable of handling two (or more) cartridges, the practical Irish side tells me each time I swap cylinders, I would need to readjust the sights. Far more practical to have two, properly sighted revolvers.

Of course, you may prefer something else.

Kevin

Kevin,

My own ancestry is so convoluted I won't go into it here, but the German in me is fascinated by things mechanical... any gadget, gizmo or gimcrack grabs my imagination. Solving any problems of fit and match to make a multi-cylinder, multi-caliber revolver just turns my crank. I have to admit that solving the problems is sometimes more attractive than the actual using of the finished product. I also must admit my thrifty Scots blood (or is it the Scotch in my blood?) is attracted to the concept of one gun with more than one usage as well.

Anyway, this is turning into an exercise in speculation on my part, but I may actually "force myself" into doing something like this. After all, Project 616 took place when I talked myself into it on this board, and I had my Model 16-3 Homage built as a result of discussion on this forum unearthing the original barrel upon which it is based. Since I already have the cylinder for adding to the SS 327 to expand its capabilities to 32-20, I'm sort of running out of excuses. The Ruger project is just a sort of add-on to the whole thing, and logically, I could just as well follow your advice and do a slight mod to a 30 Carbine BH and have the pair of guns, not just calibers.

Froggie

 

[Drm50]

I've been looking for a 1905 32/20 Target for better than 20yrs. The hi condition ones I've ran across are out of my price range. I have never seen a shooter grade for sale. Have seen several that were thrashed with near collector grade prices. I do turn up some nice fixed sight HEs in 32/20 fairly often. Most 4" guns. I'm about ready to take the next good one I get and have it fitted with Target Sights. I had a lot of S&W HEs pass through my hands back in 60s when 32s and 32/20s weren't cool. I had K32s and many fixed sight 32s but never Target Models of HE in 32 or 32/20. For the last 15 years it seems all the 32s in S&W and Colt have been swallowed up. Somebody must be sitting on piles off them.

 

[Green Frog]

Drm50, I think it's just a matter of more interest causing available examples (never over abundant anyway) have indeed been snatched up by some of the many potential collectors who are interested. The one shooter grade 32-20 Target Model that I saw make the rounds of our local (Central VA) shows a couple of years ago was well worn, almost to "brown gun" condition, but apparently a good shooter. It stayed in circulation at $899 asking for only about a month.

Froggie

 

[mikepriwer]

Froggie

I'm not aware of any pre-WW2 32-20's being sold with dual cylinders. There were only a few occasions on which the factory made up some 32 longs in the 32-20 series. These were very small batches, like a dozen or less guns in each offering. Those that were made up were simply listed in the shipping records as being 32 long caliber.

As we know, in the 1930's, the factory did make up some 32 longs in the .38 serial number series. There is something like 200 or so of these guns. And, of course, they made a lot of K-22 revolvers in the .38 serial number series, during the 1930's.

I've always thought that the 32-20 series was the 'proper' serial number series for the 32 longs, because the barrel is the same for both calibers. Its only the cylinder that is different. I'm at a loss to explain why they used the 32-20 series for a very small number of 32 longs (in the 1910-1920 period), and then used the .38 series for a whole lot more in the 1930's.

Regards, Mike Priwer

 

[Drm50]

I think 32/20s were regional. There seem to be areas of the country where they were popular and not hard to find. Same areas have 32/20 rifles floating around too. Back in 50s most of the small PDs still were using HE 32s. I don't remember when they went to 38sp. I know when they went to
357s because I sold most of them in early 80s.