S&W .32-20 Hand Ejector Model of 1905 4th Change

[Muss Muggins]

Came across this at one of my LGS’s last week. Quickly came to a reasonable OTD price. Didn’t have quite enough walking around money at the time, paid it off today. Mechanics perfect, honest wear. Stocks aren’t original, but they’re in the neighborhood. My guess is 1916 based on the serial number . . .

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Muss, is that a picture of your 32-20? It looks like an M&P made in the 1930's. The gun has a large extractor rod knob (1928 and later) and silver medallion grips (1929 and later). Is the serial number above 140K?

 

[stanmerrell]

It's nice. I would want to shoot that one on every Sunday picnic with my wife and boys.

 

[Muss Muggins]

Muss, is that a picture of your 32-20? It looks like an M&P made in the 1930's. The gun has a large extractor rod knob (1928 and later) and silver medallion grips (1929 and later). Is the serial number above 140K?

No, it’s one I found on the interweb, but it happened to have my Randall knife laying upon it. I mentioned the stocks were not original. The picture of the same revolver in SCSW has the same ejector rod knob. The serial number is from 1916, but feel free to disagree. . .

 

[JP@AK]

The picture of the same revolver in SCSW has the same ejector rod knob.

It really doesn't matter what the picture in the SCSW looks like. There is no way an M&P from 1916 could have that style knob. The change order came in the middle of the 1920s. Unless, of course, the rod was changed out later. But if the number on the barrel flat agrees with the one on the butt, the barrel will have the two step notch, even if the knob was changed.

The serial number is from 1916, but feel free to disagree.

Would you please share the first three digits of the serial number? No one can agree or disagree without knowing what the number is.

EDIT: Since you haven't shown us a picture of the actual gun you bought, perhaps it has the mushroom shaped knob, and your picture is misleading. Is that the case?

 

[Muss Muggins]

Nope. Not perpetuating this madness. It’s not a dissertation to be defended. Sorry I brought it up . . .

 

[Muley Gil]

Muss, is it stamped "MADE IN U.S.A." on the other side?

 

[Wiregrassguy]

No, it’s one I found on the interweb, but it happened to have my Randall knife laying upon it. I mentioned the stocks were not original. The picture of the same revolver in SCSW has the same ejector rod knob. The serial number is from 1916, but feel free to disagree. . .

I apologize for attempting to ask a foolish question instead of implying something else. It's really nice that you have a Randall knife...I don't. I also don't own a .32-20 M&P from 1916. But, if I did, it would probably have different engineering than yours.

 

[Scharfschuetzer]

32/20 Hand Ejector

They are enjoyable handguns to shoot. Mine shoots best with the Lyman design 115 grain plain base cast bullet at 800 fps. It hits to the point of aim at 25 yards. I hope that you enjoy yours too.

 

[Walter Rego]

Here is mine from 1922. The serial number is in the mid-108,000 range. An easy way to spot a .32-20 M&P at a quick glance is by the low half moon front sight. They are considerably shorter in height than the sights used on the .38 M&P's.