S&W 32 Long Revolver

[BlueDubPirate]

I inherited this pistol, which appears to be a S&W 32 long. The serial number is 789XXX (has no letter at the beginning). The action is very crisp, there are some light marks on cylinder, but the machining is still in great shape. The pistol was stored in a leather holster, so it rusted along the top (some of the bluing was rusted over, my gunsmith has cleaned it up, but it deteriorated the blueing in certain spots, the worst being along the top above the cylinder). I would like help with understanding the following:

1) Date of manufacture
2) Any interesting background on the pistol
3) Approximate value

One question, should I have it re-blued?

Many thanks!

 

[Green Frog]

The serial number you list is 3000 higher than is shown in the Standard Catalog of S&W... is it possible you read it wrong? According to the list at the back of the book, the highest non-alpha SN should be about 786XXX which came at the end of 1969. The grips with "large diamond" around the screw were discontinued about 1968 and the alphanumeric SNs began about late 1969, so unless your serial number is off by hundreds of thousands, I'd place it in 1968... of course the book has some mistakes, so I would guess your number may actually be OK, but I'd still make it a 1968 gun.

As far as condition, the blue on yours looks pretty good for a shooter (if not so much for a collector) and I would just keep it clean and well oiled or waxed while enjoying shooting it. I have one a little earlier and gave a similar 30-1 to my littlest niece. She loves it as does her husband... these little guns are great shooters.

Regards,
Froggie

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Welcome aboard from Wyoming.

At that serial number you might (should) find a Model number inside the yoke, either Mod. 30-1 (round butt, also known as a .32 Hand Ejector) or Mod. 31-1 (square butt, a.k.a. a .32 Regulation Police). It's built on the J-frame, and 1961 was the first year the .32s were built on J-frames (prior to that they were built on the smaller I-frames). It might have what's known as a flat latch cylinder release, or it could be the newer thumb latch -- that changed in 1966. It might also have a diamond around the screw escutcheon on the stocks (if they're the originals); the diamond was deleted in 1968. It could have a 2", 3", or 4" barrel, measured from the face of the cylinder to the muzzle.

You have a great little shooter, but in the condition you describe I'd guess the value at $250 - $300. If you could post a few photos some of the experts could likely give you a better guess.

Some folks say the ammo is hard to come by, but one of my local shops always keeps some in stock so I don't have that problem.

You added photos and Green Frog replied while I was typing. I'd probably up my values a bit based on your photos. The serial numbers ran up through 826977 for the .32s (the number in GF's reply is for revolvers numbered in the Chiefs Special series).

Hope this helps,

Bob

 

[jeeps]

We keep one for a house gun 30-1 3" . Keep it loaded with 100grn. Hard cast flat tip bullets.These are good guns. $400-500 90-95 cond. 700-800ish N.I.B. if you can find one!

 

[BlueDubPirate]

Here are some additional photo's of the serial number. The number inside the yoke reads 30-1. The barrel is 3". Thank you!

 

[BlueDubPirate]

The serial number you list is 3000 higher than is shown in the Standard Catalog of S&W... is it possible you read it wrong? According to the list at the back of the book, the highest non-alpha SN should be about 786XXX which came at the end of 1969. The grips with "large diamond" around the screw were discontinued about 1968 and the alphanumeric SNs began about late 1969, so unless your serial number is off by hundreds of thousands, I'd place it in 1968... of course the book has some mistakes, so I would guess your number may actually be OK, but I'd still make it a 1968 gun.

As far as condition, the blue on yours looks pretty good for a shooter (if not so much for a collector) and I would just keep it clean and well oiled or waxed while enjoying shooting it. I have one a little earlier and gave a similar 30-1 to my littlest niece. She loves it as does her husband... these little guns are great shooters.

Regards,
Froggie

Hi Froggie,

Thank you for the information. The model number is a 30-1 and I posted a pic (above) of the serial number.

 

[Hondo44]

Congrats! Nothing wrong with that great 32 heirloom worth refinishing.

Teach the kids and grandkids to shoot with it and you don't have to worry about a little handling wear.

Although the .32 I frame Model 30 became the J frame Model 30-1 in Jan 1961, it was continued in the I frame serial # range and not switched to the J frame serial range.

Starting with the Model of 1896 .32 Hand Ejector the 32 is the very first Hand Ejector side swing cyl produced by S&W. It's still produced to this day in upgraded versions.