S&W 22-32 Revolver

[dd698]

Just acquired a 22-32 revolver serial no 361055. Can anyone fill me in on these revolvers as to strong-weak points.Anybody know when it was built? Thanks Neil

 

[alaskavett]

Any chance of photos? Great little guns that I do not feed hot ammo to. I'm no expert on these so I digress as they will soon be here. I would guess sometime in the 1920's. Kyle

 

[DCWilson]

I have 364316, which shipped in October 1921. S&W didn't have a policy of shipping in serial number order, so your gun might have gone out several months earlier or later. My gun had an adventurous life, because in 1946 it went back to the factory for repair work. It emerged with a new four-inch barrel and a recessed cylinder, making it a virtual .22/32 Kit Gun, a configuration S&W didn't market as a separate model until 1936.

Until 1931 and the introduction of the K-22 Outdoorsman, the biggest .22 revolver S&W made was the .22/32 Heavy Frame Target (the model you have), originally called the .22/32 Bekeart. This model was introduced in 1911 partly at the urging of San Francisco gun store owner Phil Bekeart, who thought he could sell a lot of them. But note that in 1910 Colt had introduced a .22 target revolver, so S&W's .22/32 revolver was partly a counter-marketing move.

Yes, please let us see pics. I love .22 caliber I-frames.

 

[H Richard]

I can tell you that S/N 44172X was shipped 1926. It still has non recessed chambers, and I use only standard velocity ammo in it. The grips are longer "target" grips, but are still rather slender and not easy to get a good grip on. The weight is rather light and a little difficult to hold "on target" as well as say a K 22. They are really fun to shoot, and can be nearly as accurate as any other good quality .22 pistol of the era. Condition will dictate how well it shoots. Keep in mind it will be 80-100 years old.
I particularly like all the "I" frame pistols. They are all built i a period where hand fitted quality was the norm. Does it look like this?

 

[S&W HE]

Mine is #4442XX. It looks just like the one pictured above. Where do you guys buy the standard velocity long rifle ammo?

 

[fyimo]

CCI makes a standard velocity 22LR round and I usually buy it at gun shows.

 

[dd698]

My PC skills are rather limited'but the gun can be seen on Auction Arms closed item list as no 10254197. The auction closed on 4 4 2011. Thanks guys. Im waiting patiently for the gun to arrive.

 

[glenncal1]

Seems like a nice old gun for the $$. Dick's sporting goods (If you have them in your area) often has the CCI standard velocity. Can be found online as well. It's good ammo I use it in my model 41 and my Anschutz target rifle.

 

[H Richard]

I favor Aguila, 40 gr. Standard Vel. It's a little less expensive, and it is available at Midway, as well as other locations.

 

[crsides]

Dave

I have it's relative .... # 4445xx


Charlie

 

[Union Mack]

I have the same gun sn 341746 in fantastic condition. I know nothing about it. I detect that the 22/32 was a kit that had two cylinders for 22 and 32, it must have had two barrels too? This gun has the box which just mentions 32 Winchester.

 

[DCWilson]

Actually, 22/32 means "22 caliber revolver built on the 32 caliber frame." Every 22/32 ever made shoots only .22 rimfire ammo.

The .32 WCF cartridges are a different story. The .32-20 (or .32 WCF) was a larger center fire round that was offered only on the company's mid-size K-frame revolvers. There were K-frame revolvers in .32 Long as well. You could have called either of these a ".32/38" revolver, but that was not used as a marketing term.

 

[JP@AK]

I detect that the 22/32 was a kit that had two cylinders for 22 and 32, it must have had two barrels too?

Everything that David wrote, plus this:
The .22/32 "Kit Gun" was called the Kit Gun because, with its small frame and short barrel, it was marketed as a gun you could carry easily in your camping or fishing "kit."
Jack

 

[Hondo44]

I have the same gun sn 341746 in fantastic condition. I know nothing about it. I detect that the 22/32 was a kit that had two cylinders for 22 and 32, it must have had two barrels too? This gun has the box which just mentions 32 Winchester.

So just to clarify, all 22/32s are not kit guns. Originally as Dave said there were 22/32 Target guns with 6" barrel beginning in 1911 which is what the original poster has. Then it was introduced in a 4" version c.1936 hence given the moniker 22/32 Kit Gun; meaning something easier to stow in a fishing kit, hunting kit or trail kit, as Jack said.