Smith & Wesson .32 long CTG

[algrennathan]

Smith & Wesson .32 long CTG

serial no. is 9844xx. 4" barrel.

Does anyone has an idea about the age or date of manufacture of this gun based on the serial? Also, .32 long is pretty scarce here in my area. I only have 2 rounds left when I acquired it, never fired them. Is it ok to use .32 autos on it?

Thanks!

 

[Aussie Collector]

I cannot date your gun with these details others may, can you give more details or post a picture?
32 long vs 32ACP, one is rimmed and the other rimless no they are not interchangeable.
Cheers

 

[DCWilson]

Welcome to the forum. That serial number doesn't sound right for a true antique, or any .32 that I know for that matter. Can you post a couple of pictures? And please check the rear face of the cylinder to see if the serial number from the butt is repeated there.

Is this the type of gun in which the cylinder swings out to the side to eject and reload? Or is there a latch on top that lets the barrel pivot down for ejection and loading?

With a little more info we can tell you about your gun; it's just not clear right now exactly what you have.

 

[glowe]

Welcome to the Forum. The 32 Long cartridge was not introduced until 1903, so your revolver must be a solid frame with a cylinder that opens to the left. If so, check your serial number, since there were no 32 Long revolvers with serial numbers approaching one million.

 

[DCWilson]

Welcome to the Forum. The 32 Long cartridge was not introduced until 1903, so your revolver must be a solid frame with a cylinder that opens to the left. If so, check your serial number, since there were no 32 Long revolvers with serial numbers approaching one million.

Why didn't I think of that? Of course this would have to be a fixed frame gun with a swing-out cylinder.

One minor refinement: the year the .32 Long was introduced was actually seven years earlier, when the .32 Hand Ejector first model (Model of 1896) was introduced.

 

[H Richard]

The .32 acp will fit in a .32 Long chamber, and it is semi-rimmed. BUT, they do work at a higher pressure and it is not advisable to use them in a .32 long. .32 S&W Long is readily available from many internet sources such as Midway and Brownells, as well as most larger gun stores. It is not overly prices as 38 S&W is. It is also easily reloaded. It is a very accurate round with very little recoil. We would need to more accurately identify your gun before recommending shooting anything in it.

 

[glowe]

One minor refinement: the year the .32 Long was introduced was actually seven years earlier, when the .32 Hand Ejector first model (Model of 1896) was introduced.

David - I keep forgetting about the 1896 since I do not yet own one, but someday . . .

Also, 32 Long is readily available for purchase. You can order Federal Wadcutters in lots of 4 boxes for about $17 a box including shipping, and there are also some online dealers out there that ship that many boxes free.

 

[algrennathan]

Thanks for the info guys! Yes it is a swing out cylinder and not a top-break. Serial number under the butt is also seen under the barrel and is covered by the hand ejector when it is closed. No markings at the rear face of the cylinder. If you ask me, it looks more like model 10 but is in 32 long. On the top side of the barrel is the patent dates, on the left (if you are holding it and the barrel facing outwards) is the "smith & wesson" marking and on the right is the .32 S&W long ctg. So guys, any more info? Can't find my bluetooth device to upload the pics.

 

[algrennathan]

Mine is kinda like the one pictured in this thread but it only says "Made in USA" near the trigger guard.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...0553-5-smith-wesson-32-long-ctg-question.html

 

[glowe]

Smith & Wesson .32 long CTG serial no. is 9844xx. 4" barrel

This is the serial number you posted. Something is wrong with the number. If it is 98XXX, it would have been shipped before 1910, but the Made in USA stamp did not happen until the 1920s. Let us know what the numbers are on the bottom of the butt frame?

 

[handejector]

He forgot to tell you guys the serial number is S 9844xx.
It is a 32 M&P.

 

[algrennathan]

What is really under the butt is "S 984439". I thought the S stands for serial so I just didn't add that before. And when you swing out the cylinder, you will see a different set of numbers, 63xx something..... it is inscride inside the frame below the barrel and in the part the connects the cylinder and the frame. So they face each other when close. I don't remember the numbers exactly but I do know they start with a 63. I don't have it handy right now but I will take a look at it when I get home.

 

[Hondo44]

Never mind, the anomaly is resolved. The 63XX # is a factory "soft fitting" number and useless in identifying the gun. The only purpose it serves is to verify that the other two parts where it is stamped, the yoke (cyl swingarm) and inside surface of the sideplate, have the matching # and they are all opriginal.

 

[algrennathan]

He forgot to tell you guys the serial number is S 9844xx.
It is a 32 M&P.

M&P? Really?

What's the value of this gun?
And whats its official name/model? Also, date of manufacture (based on serial).

 

[Hondo44]

32 Military & Police Post war c.1948.

 

[Green Frog]

OH WOW!

If your (and our) identification is correct, you have found one of the truly rare and most difficult to obtain of the M&P variants, one some of us had never heard of and most of us have never seen! Not only is it a rare one to own, but it should be lots of fun to shoot as well!

As for your ammo question; if we are correct and it is indeed built on a M&P frame, you have the option of shooting the 32 S&W Long for which it is actually chambered, the older, shorter 32 S&W (sometimes called "32 S&W Short") and even the semi-rimmed 32 ACP, with safety. As late as that serial number shows it to be, the heat treating is such that it can withstand pressures that any of these generate and still have a nice margin of safety.

Congratulations on a great find, and by all means please post pictures, we love pictures around here!

Regards,
Froggie

 

[glowe]

32 Military & Police Post war c.1948.

Hondo44 - Good job on ID. Not many of these show up.

algrennathan - Hondo has give you the correct name, simply 32 Military and Police. Just before the war, there was a K-32 Target with only 94 mfg, and during the same era as your revolver was manufactured, S&W made a K-32 Masterpiece. About 5000 of your model was made from 1948 to 1950 and the last SCSW publication had $2200 for Excellent; $1000 for Good Condition. Sure the prices are up from 2006.

 

[DCWilson]

I wish I had been smart enough to figure out the model on the basis of the first post.

Congratulations on owning an uncommon and very collectible model!

 

[algrennathan]

Really? Its worth that much? The condition of this gun is pretty beat up. Rusts and and spots, and it looks like this was dropped many times due to the marks. But, it can still shoot and it doesn't rattle, meaning its still ok on the inside. Other than that, someone had a GREAT idea of coating it with wood varnish. In this kind of condition how much do you think its gonna worth, and, if I get it restored, will it worth $2000? Thanks guys!

 

[Green Frog]

algrennathan, not to put too fine a point on it, but originality is kinda like virginity, once it's gone, you can't put it back. Your gun is a rare and desirable piece that many collectors would be happy to get... even in its present condition. At most, cleaning it up (including stripping the "wood varnish") would be the most that most collectors would suggest. A total restoration would not increase the value of the gun by much more than its cost and might not even make that much, and a simple refinishing would probably hurt the value. Such are the vagaries of collectible guns!

Froggie