Want to learn info on this pistol if possible.

[Marinesniper21]

Ok I had this gun handed to me by a family member saying it was my great grandfathers. It's a 5 screw by reading as much as I have. Says 32 long ctg on one side of barrel. Smith and Wesson on opposing side. And 3 patent dates on top last being 1914. Has real mother of pearl grips and was factory nickel plated. Barrel is quiet long. Gun is by far not perfect but has a nice bore and some good family history somewhere. Lol. Just want to learn what this is exactly.

 

[Hondo44]

Welcome to the forum!

Great heirloom. It's a ".32 Hand Ejector". I can only tell from looking at it that it's at least a Third Model made in 1917 and before the end of WWI.

It does have genuine Mother of Pearl grips but aftermarket, not original S&W Factory pearls.

With a serial # or partial # I could likely tell your more.


HISTORY:

The .32 Hand Ejector with round butt and its cartridge, the 32 S&W Long are both historical. The .32 HE is the first side swing out cylinder produced by S&W, built on the first I size frame, and introduced as the 1896 Model (1st Model) along with its new cartridge.

During the 32's early period of production it's normal for all frame sizes, I, K & N to not have the TG screw. Including the 1st Model 32 hand Ejector, Model of 1896 and even the very earliest of N frames, the 1st Model 44 Spl also known as the triple lock.

It went thru several evolutionary changes until it became the 32 HE 3rd model in 1917 when a sq butt version, most common barrel length is the 4 1/4", was introduced as the 32 Regulation Police beginning at ~ #258001 in the same serial range as the 32 HE.

Target models with adjustable rear sights were available with 6" barrels as well as very rare 4 1/4" barrels (including 196 with 4" barrels in 1957), and with 2 screw extended target stocks.

By 1920 the cyls received a heat treatment for additional strength as did all S&W revolvers.

The 3rd Model had the 2nd type hammer safety block change ordered in 1925 to WW II.

Both were reintroduced after WW II in identical form except for the change to the much more fool proof post war sliding bar safety. They went thru more evolution in the 1950s, and in 1957 became the Model 30 w/round butt and the Model 31 w/square butt, and finally in 1961 were upgraded to the slightly longer J size frame which added -1 to the model #s.

Eventually both versions were combined as just the Model 31 in 1976, until discontinued in 1991. Various iterations were later introduced using the 32 H&R Mag and/or the 327 Fed Mag, both of which still use the 32 Long as well.

Any currently available 32 Long ammo in standard loadings is perfectly safe to shoot in your 32. You'll be happy with its accuracy and light recoil.

 

[Marinesniper21]

332xxx is the serial. I don't currently have it with me as I'm out on patrol but I remember the first 3

 

[Marinesniper21]

Not that I would ever sell it but are these even worth anything? I actually bought some ammo and was impressed with its accuracy. I can plink with it and hold almost as good groupings as my new Sig xfive legion which really impressed me.

 

[Hondo44]

I stand corrected, it's a little newer than I could tell from the photos, clearly made after 1920 but before 1923.

It has two more improvements than most previous models; a side plate mounted safety hammer block and a heat treated cyl for extra strength that began at ~#321000.

The ,32s were made in great volume, therefore only those in really excellent condition command more than $300-400. Yours though, has the slightly more rare 6" barrel that can add to value.

 

[Marinesniper21]

The nickel isn't all that great anymore. But it has no pitting anywhere and shoots great and everything has tight tolerances still so it makes for a great shooter. I know my g grandpa was a mobster during the 20s and early 30s in New York City. He was Sicilian. So no telling what this gun has seen and heard.

 

[Marinesniper21]

And what is the safety block? All I can seem to find is the cylinder release. And it has the firing pin directly on the hammer which is in great shape. Sorry if I ask dumb questions. I'm completely new to these and reading all these forums only answers certain questions after hours and hours of reading. Mostly find the same indirect info about these telling me to call smith. Which I did. They def wasn't in their game as they said serials indicate 1878-1881. I was like well if it was patented in 1914. That's way off lol

 

[Old_Cop]

Pretty sure that the safety block is on the inside of the side plate. Welcome to the forum.

 

[DWalt]

SN 3354xx shipped in 1/21. Yours probably shipped sometime close to that.

 

[38crackerjack]

Someone else here could explain better than I about the hammer block safety, but I'll give it a shot. The way it worked was that if the revolver was dropped and hit the floor hammer first, the safety block prevented the hammer coming in contact with the primer on a round in the cylinder. The block only allowed this to occur when the trigger was pulled fully rearward during normal firing, either single or double action. Semper Fi!

 

[merl67]

As the reply above says above an internal safety improvement to prevent accidental discharge if dropped with a loaded cylinder. You were thinking of a external safety that you would move to safe or fire position. I would think your gun in the condition it is in would be in the $400 range.

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

Whenever you or someone else is able to check, look at the serial number that is stamped under the barrel. If there is a "B" stamped there, it shipped with a blue finish. If no "B" is visible, it shipped with a nickel finish.

SEMPER FI and stay safe.

 

[Marinesniper21]

Thank you all for these replies. Y'all have helped a lot and I greatly appreciate it. It has no b stamped and I seen a pic of him with it in 1922 and it was nickel/silver in the old photo. Same grips were on it from what I see as well and my grandma said he never changed them to her knowledge cause it was carried on the family farm after he retired as police chief and put up in 1939 in a box and hid where my family found it 17 years ago an
d it's been in a shadow box in my mother's closet until she handed it down to me.

 

[Pointblank2U]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqypovuFS2A"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqypovuFS2A[/ame]

 

[merl67]

Whatever you do don't sell Grandpa's gun...

 

[Art Doc]

So your great grandpa was a gangster and your grandpa was a police chief?

Interesting family history.

 

[rocknroad]

Whatever you do don't sell Grandpa's gun...

I second this recommendation.

I inherited my grandfather's LEO 38/44 Outdoorsman and it quickly became my most prized possession, outside of my family.

I don't know if there is enough money to cause me to sell it.

My sons will fight over who gets it next.

Enjoy the heck out of that gun.

 

[Marinesniper21]

Yep. I know that's a odd combo. I was told it was my great grandpas gun. It turned out my cousin was wrong I verified with the family through my grandma the gun belonged to my grandfather who was police chief in Tennessee. Just goes to show how stories get three around when people are not for sure on the details. I actually seen the photo and was given his uniform and badge and holster for this same gun earlier today during a visit.i mean it would have been cool to have belonged to a mobster but it was a small Tennessee towns police chiefs gun. Which I am okay with for sure. Still a great pass down to myself either way.