The .32-20 Hand Ejector Thread

[Alk8944]

tjpopkin,

What Jack didn't point out is the more likely production date of your (1939) revolver is 1928-1929. Any earlier and it would have had the large "Mushroom shaped" ejector rod knob (I can't get around calling it a LERK!). If any later the stocks would have had the large silver medallions instead of being smooth convex top.

The last shipping date for a Winchester Model was in 1965!

As Jack commented, very nice guns!

Badshot48,

From your posted photos your revolver has definitely appears to have been re-finished, although apparently a very good job. The color is a Nitre blue, wrong for the period this gun was built. It's just one of those "Doesn't quite look right" things from seeing a bunch of these over the years. If I am remembering the posted SN correctly (50,000 range) it would date from 1911-1912, although it may have shipped somewhat later.

 

[JP@AK]

Yes. It would be interesting to know what the serial number is on this revolver.

 

[badshot48]

32.20 third change

Yes. It would be interesting to know what the serial number is on this revolver.

Finally getting back with this info with pictures to help. As far as I can determine on my own this is the third change. The stocks aren't numbered to the gun so I don't know if they are original. 5 inch barrel. The serial number is 50616. Obviously I either need a new camera or need more practice with this one I've had for 13 years.

 

[JP@AK]

Pretty nice looking piece. I would agree with Alk8944 that this shipped c. 1912.
Nice looking stocks and the case colors are wonderful, particularly on the hammer.
I would not kick this one out of my safe!

 

[badshot48]

Thanks, I appreciate everyone's comments. I've been shotting this in the back yard when the weather is good along with a 38 and 45. I need the practice, as they say, I still can't hit a bullet with the broadside of a barn............Dan

 

[badshot48]

Not S&W but meets the requirement of 32-20 1913 Colt Army Special.

I saw your Colt so I figured it was OK to add this one.

I believe I'm getting the 32.20 bug since I've been shooting my S&W more. Yesterday I had to go over the mountain to Medford for a VA appointment and stopped in a gun shop nearby and bought this nice 1924 Colt, pictured with my S&W. I dickered for half an hour but they would only come off their price by $75. Paid too much I'm sure but I wanted it.

My girlfriend wasn't happy when I came home with another gun but what the heck......I'll probably miss her for a while after she's gone.

 

[DWalt]

Last Fall, I picked up a very nice Colt Army Special in .32-20 from 1911, with the unusual 4-1/2" barrel length to go with my 1931 .32-20 Colt Official Police with a 6" barrel. There is very little difference between the Army Special and the Official Police, aside from the name.

 

[badshot48]

I noticed that there wasn't much difference when I looked on the Colt Autos website, the change came in 1927.

I took both the Smith and the Colt out back yesterday and shot up a box for comparison. I seem to be more accurate with the Colt, maybe because of the extra inch barrel length. Both are excellent shooters. I was thinking someday I'd get a 32.20 rifle if I ever found an affordable one.

 

[DWalt]

The story is that Colt was heavily pursuing police sales at that time (in that there was no military market for revolvers in the 1920s), so it was deemed that "Official Police" was a much more appropriate model name than "Army Special." The same frame (with several changes) was later used for the "Officer's Model" series of target revolvers, the .357, the early Trooper, and finally the Python.

 

[mcpilot]

Can anyone help me with a date of manufacture on this one?

I picked this up at the LGS a few weeks ago. I saw it in the case and could't leave without it. There is some pitting but does not look like it was fired a lot. There is some holster wear at the end of the barrel. I am thinking it was a service weapon and then put away for a long time....

 

[DWalt]

From my SN list, I'd put it as shipping sometime in 1923. The grips are correct for the 1920s. A nice-looking piece.

 

[mcpilot]

Thanks. They wanted to sell it I got them down to $275. I think I might have done well

 

[Green Frog]

Thanks. They wanted to sell it I got them down to $275. I think I might have done well

Yes, based on current prices around here, you did very well. In addition, it is a late enough example to be well into the range of good heat treating of the cylinder. A good solid example of the 32-20 M&P at $275 for shooting (not necessarily for collecting) sounds like a real winner to me.

Froggie

 

[N7BLW]

1923 looks about right

According to the info in my database, 1923 is probably a close shipping year.
The nearest serial numbers I have confirmed ship dates for are:
108615: 6/22/22
111608: 1/31/23
120098: 10/16/23
120129: 2/27/24

 

[Plain Old Dave]

I have one, already discussed in the "shoot right through a man" thread.

Thought of a question in general about the .32-20: Why .32-20 in the K-frame and not .32 Long? If the logic was to make sixguns you could have a rifle in the same caliber for, there should be plenty of .44-40 or .38-40 Triple Locks or 2d/3d Model .44 (or .38) HEs, too. Yet those rightly demand huge premiums.

 

[drjjpdc]

One thing confuses me and that are the right barrel markings. I have seen more than one marking. Supica's book says it should say 32 win ctg, although I have seen other markings. .32-20 Ctg and some other variations. Have these others been modified or changed? Or is there only one official marking on the right barrel?

John

 

[JP@AK]

One thing confuses me and that are the right barrel markings. I have seen more than one marking. Supica's book says it should say 32 win ctg, although I have seen other markings. .32-20 Ctg and some other variations. Have these others been modified or changed? Or is there only one official marking on the right barrel?
John

Well, to begin with, the caliber stamp was originally on the left side of the barrel. It was later moved to the right side.
From 1899 until about 1914, these were stamped 32 Winchester CTG. The model was referred to as the Winchester Model at that time.
From 1914(ish) the caliber stamp was 32 W.C.F. CTG (still reflecting the Winchester heritage of the cartridge).
Then, in 1922, the caliber stamp changed again, this time to 32-20 CTG.
So, there were three distinct periods, which is why you see the different stamps on different revolvers. Together with the serial number, this helps to put each gun into an approximate date range, at a glance.

 

[JP@AK]

Here is a picture of an early (and rare) .32-20 Target revolver, showing the early caliber stamp on the left side of the barrel. You will notice that the barrel has no shoulder where it meets the frame. This was the case until about 1903 when the barrel threads were enlarged. This gun has no cylinder stop spring retaining screw in front of the trigger guard, either. That was added in 1905. This target revolver shipped from the factory in March, 1904, but the frame was probably built earlier, since it accommodates the earlier style barrel.
The stocks are a later addition. The original stocks on this Model of 1902 were hard black rubber.

 

[H Richard]

Jack, I would imagine it shipped that late due to it's being a Target Model, and so few were built, I'm not sure they were cataloged and it was most probably a Special Order.

 

[JP@AK]

I believe you are right, Richard. Someone estimated only about 2% of the early Winchester Models wore target sights. Fortunately, this one letters as such.