S&W 32-20 sold on an auction site, but does it have correct features?

[shooter7]

I was watching this auction: http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=88473696

There are a couple questions that I have about this gun. First, the S&W logo doesn't seem to be stamped into the frame on either side, and the grips appear to not be from the correct period. This information I got from the current Supica book, though they state on page 131, that the trademark logo refers to examples they have seen.

I had emailed the seller about serial number matching, and he didn't respond. I wondered if this gun could have been refinished, but there is some apparent holster wear and the markings are sharp. The grips, though, have little wear, the ejector rod look to have no blue wear except where it latched in the front, the cylinder latch has minimal wear, and not a huge cylinder line.

You always hear about police or security guards of the era not unloading their guns or using them very often, which may explain why this gun looks in pretty good shape, with parts that should be worn, no being worn much, but who knows.

BTW, what purpose does the dimple/pin serve, in the frame, under the cylinder latch on these models?

 

[shooter7]

I was watching this auction: http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=88473696

There are a couple questions that I have about this gun. First, the S&W logo doesn't seem to be stamped into the frame on either side, and the grips appear to not be from the correct period. This information I got from the current Supica book, though they state on page 131, that the trademark logo refers to examples they have seen.

I had emailed the seller about serial number matching, and he didn't respond. I wondered if this gun could have been refinished, but there is some apparent holster wear and the markings are sharp. The grips, though, have little wear, the ejector rod look to have no blue wear except where it latched in the front, the cylinder latch has minimal wear, and not a huge cylinder line.

You always hear about police or security guards of the era not unloading their guns or using them very often, which may explain why this gun looks in pretty good shape, with parts that should be worn, no being worn much, but who knows.

BTW, what purpose does the dimple/pin serve, in the frame, under the cylinder latch on these models?

 

[john traveler]

The dimple or pin under the thumblatch on K frame guns is the end of the hammer axle pin. On later models, this was ground off flush with the frame and is nearly invisible.

 

[mikepriwer]

The gun is not 1903. The serial number is 83000 or so, so that is about
1919 to 1920. Those would be the correct grips for that vintage.

Its curious that the logo is missing, although I suppose that it is possible.

The dimple directly under the cylinder thumb release is the end of the
hammer stud. The smaller pin just forward of the frame cutout for the top
of the grip is the rebound-slide spring retaining stud.

Its anybodies guess about how the gun was used. It would be informative to
know to whom the gun was shipped.

The price, $389 or so, is probably more than the gun is really worth, but
for its condition, is not unreasonable. There are a lot of these that
survive to this day - usually in lesser condition, but still a lot of them.

Later, Mike Priwer

 

[bigolddave]

I have a similar gun, serial number just over 79000. The grips are identical, and it does not have the logo on either side. Judging from the condition, I would say mine has not been refinished, and if it has, the polishing was such that a logo could not have been removed.

 

[shooter7]

Thanks for the info. Too bad he didn't respond to my correspondence regarding the serial numbers, and if they all matched, as the gun looks in very good shape for that time period.

 

[OFT]

I could be wrong but I think that there was a time period after the first war that the logo was left off. It seems that this time period lasted three or four years.

 

[DHENRY]

As Mike said, nothing is impossible.
I've had two 1919 I-frames, one blued and one nickel, and neither one had a logo.
My 22/32 from the same era has a logo.
K's of the same period seem to (more often) have the logo.
The usual story is that, winding up the Federal Government's running of the Smith & Wesson Factory during WW I, some things just weren't judged to be real important...Evidentally the consistent use of the S&W logo was one of them!
Don

 

[handejector]

Guys,
MANY (as in MOST) guns from the end of WW I to 1923 or so do NOT have a logo on the frame!!

Ahhhhh, the BOOK, boys, the BOOK.

Neal & Jinks, Revised Ed, Page 262.

 

[mikepriwer]

Yes, Lee, that is a good idea. So I did check the book - the dictionary, that is :

Many -- constituting or forming a large number; numerous

Most -- in the majority of instances

So - you are saying that a large number is a majority ? Hmmm - I don't know about that.

I did own a half-dozen .38 targets from that era, but never paid much attention to
the logo. I still have two or three, one being a gun shipped to McGivern in Sept of 1917.
It has those brass/gold sideplates, so I can't tell what's stamped on the gun.

I suspect that many were shipped without a logo - particualrly right after the war.
As to most, I don't know .

Regards, Mike Priwer