S&W 1914-15 32 short.

[KENGUN]

I have a chance to purchase a 1914 or 15 S&W 32 short, drop out cylinder . From my novice inspection, it appears to have been re-chromed and excellent condition, both in apperence and mechanically. However, while the frame and yoke serial numbers match, the cylinder's are difficult to read due perhaps to the rechroming process.Then too, the usual very light, scratched-in number inside the right grip, does not seem to match and again is difficult to read, even using a loop.
Its a handsome gun and my accepted offer is $200. Im just concerned about a rechromed piece and non matching numbers.
Your answers may decide my purchase.Thank you in advance.

 

[shouldazagged]

Welcome to the forum.

I don't have the information you want, but somebody will, shortly.

One thing I can say is that if the gun has been refinished it is probably nickel, not chrome. The original finish would have been nickel or blue.

 

[Cal44]

I guess the question is why do you want it?

If the gun has been refinished, it will have little collector value and probably won't appreciate in value much.

32 Short is very anemic for self defense, and is rather expensive and hard to find. So it's not ideal for plinking.

For myself, I would wonder what I might do with it.

 

[H Richard]

I'm a little confused with your description of a "drop out cylinder". Is this a Tip up, break down, or swing out cylinder? See the needed information to identify your gun and we can be much more helpful.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-antiques/326458-identify-your-gun.html

 

[glowe]

What H Richard says . . . The only times I hear that term is for a hand ejector and not a top-break. when you state "while the frame and yoke serial numbers match" you are talking about a HE. The numbers in the yoke are assembly numbers and not serial numbers, so the rear of the cylinder, the barrel flat above the ejector rod, and the butt are all places you will find the serial number. Let us know what you find and it might help ID the revolver.

Another problem is that there were no 32 S&W caliber hand ejector guns made. Check the barrel for caliber markings if any remain. The S&W HE in a 32 caliber would be either an I frame 32 Long or a K frame 32-20, so we need more information, including photos.

Lastly, lots of refinished guns out there are chrome and not nickel. Look under a good light and if there is no hint of yellow in the finish, it might be chrome. Are the hemmer and trigger plated?

 

[gmborkovic]

Hello Ken, if you can, back out now and put the $200 in your pocket.
I buy them cheap for pins, springs and etc.. I have a box of over buffed and badly re-nickled rec in my shop. There is absolutely no appreciation in these guns. Just my advice. Best

 

[KENGUN]

Gentlemen: Thanks for the several most interesting and informative replies to my post. First, my apology for errors in explaining this gun. Yes, it is a "swing-out" cylinder and yes, now I'm sure its nickel, but again appears so bright and clean. It looks like chrome. I do understand about the yoke and assembly numbers. So the numbers on the frame and cylinder do match.On the barrel left side it says..
S&W 32 long CTG (I assume for cartridge)
On top of barrel it shows early Pattern dates, the last being 1914.
On butt 491xxx...
Same on cylinder, but faint as said, perhaps due to refinishing.
On Yoke 10862...Thats it except as said, the grip number is most difficult to read.
Im not considering this gun for its intrinsic value. I want to collect some older S&W's for my own pleasure At a young 82 yrs., Im not looking to make a profit, just pleasure to hold history and yes fire them.
I already have a 1903 lemon squeezer, 85% nickel finish, well kept, 32 short hammerless breakdown and it puts them on the bullseye just fine. But this 32 long with its nice finish and excellent bore and cylindrer is appealing and ammo for it is available locally. I just want to gather a few of the
early SW's and keep you knowledgeable youngmen on your toes with answers!
Now, if I can figure this dam taptalk out ,I'll send you a picture....Again, many Thank You's to all.......

 

[glowe]

With that serial number, you are looking at a 32 Hand Ejector, 3rd Model. The gun would have shipped 1928 - 1929. With what appears to be a nickel-plate on the trigger and hammer, it was refinished. To a collector, it is not original and therefore no longer a collector class gun. If you are buying it as a shooter, offer the seller something less than $200 and explain the refinish. You might get a cheap nice looking range gun.

 

[Hondo44]

KENGUN;

Welcome to the forum.

I see nothing wrong with buying that ".32 Hand Ejector, 3rd Model" as a good looking shooter as long as the barrel bore is good. Yes it's clearly been re-nickel plated, and the buffing is a little over done but I've seen far worse. You're not looking for a collector item and not paying a collector price.

It appears to be an all numbers matching gun. you can check two other places for the serial # if in doubt:

Yoke - on rear face visible thru a chamber with a flashlight

Extractor star - backside


Serial numbers near yours were shipped anywhere from 1928 to 1941 and from its features, it was clearly made in the 1930s era. It is chambered for 32 Long, an excellent cartridge. But also safely shoots 32 S&W (the earlier and shorter version) but an inferior round for accuracy, and almost obsolete. Although Remington has made some modern productions runs.

If you want to know its original finish: if it was blue, there is a capital B in front of the barrel serial # and on the side of the grip frame under the Gutta Percha stocks, if no B or if it has an N, it was nickel plated from the factory before being re-nickeled.

Enjoy!

 

[glowe]

. . . Serial numbers near yours were shipped anywhere from 1930 to 1941 and from its features, it was clearly made in the 1930s. . .

Jim, help me out here. I see a gun that could have been made in the late 1920s, especially when you compare serial numbers. I think the barrel shaped ejector rod came out in 1927 & 1928, but see nothing else to indicate later??

486XXX 05/17/1928
504XXX 04/00/1929
509XXX 03/00/1930
513XXX 10/00/1929

 

[gwpercle]

Check and see how the barrel looks, clean and bright with sharp rifling is good. Next check and see if you can get ammo, 32 short, 32 long and 32 S&W is not common and might be pricey . If you want it to do a lot of target shooting with , there are better chamberings...right now even 22 LR is hard to find ! If you want it just because you like it , go for it but $150.00 would be a fair price. The gun has a rather shoddy refinish and it's not a collectible or in a easily obtainable caliber.
Since the grips are not numbered to the gun, maybe by pointing out all the "flaws" the seller might reduce the price. A knowledgeable buyer is hard to take for a ride....and now you are armed with some knowledge so you can dicker with him. Hope this helps.
Gary

 

[Hondo44]

Jim, help me out here. I see a gun that could have been made in the late 1920s, especially when you compare serial numbers. I think the barrel shaped ejector rod came out in 1927 & 1928, but see nothing else to indicate later??

Gary,

You're not wrong. And I should have indicated 1928 to 1941, although few are seen with barrel knobe before 1929, even though the barrel knob was ordered 1/22/27.
But after the depression when guns piled up in the vaults, ship dates can be way out of sequence on most models, especially the .32s.

We also have these known ship dates:

450xxx .32 HE 12/00/1941
492XXX .32 HE shipped in 1941.
504xxx .32 HE 12/00/1941
513xxx .32 HE 11/00/1941

 

[Hondo44]

Check and see how the barrel looks, clean and bright with sharp rifling is good. Next check and see if you can get ammo, 32 short, 32 long and 32 S&W is not common and might be pricey.
Since the grips are not numbered to the gun, maybe by pointing out all the "flaws" the seller might reduce the price. A knowledgeable buyer is hard to take for a ride....and now you are armed with some knowledge so you can dicker with him. Hope this helps.
Gary

You're right, always good to dicker for a better price using knowledge of the facts. But market value on that gun is and would sell for $200.

There's only .32 S&W and .32 S&W Long cartridges (and the Colt equivalents). I believe the stocks will prove #d to the gun.

 

[Pondoro]

I think it's worth around $200 as a nice shooter, if the bore is good and the action locks up well. But I'm a bit addicted to 32's. Not for self defense, just for cheap fun.

 

[KENGUN]

What an informative range of answers I have gleaned from your collective efforts!
In any condition, these hand sized, most handsome, steel works of art in American arms excites my curiosity & I Ive learned some basics to make smarter future purchase decisions.
Thank you again.....

 

[glowe]

. . . I should have indicated 1928 to 1941, although few are seen with barrel knobe before 1929, even though the barrel knob was ordered 1/22/27.
But after the depression when guns piled up in the vaults, ship dates can be way out of sequence on most models, especially the .32s.

That could be Jim, but I am skeptical of just a couple of guns in the list that are 14 years outside of all the other examples around them. I do see that the wheels totally fall off by 510XXX+. Anything is possible, but I keep thinking of the possibility of errors in dating? It may be another question of many that doesn't have a logical answer.

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

I have a S&W .32 Long Hand Ejector with a 3 ¼" barrel, nickel finish, serial number 512621 and it shipped in April 1938.