What do I have here?

[65ny]

Hello all, I've been digging through this forum for a long time..... finally decided to join. This place is awesome, I've lost track of all the time I've spent reading and looking at pics.

I traded for this little revolver and I hope someone can help me identify exactly what I have. I know it's a .32 SW long with no model # on the crane. Someone has refinished it. It is very well done, but I wish it was blued...oh well....I still love it. The hammer is bobbed. Maybe this was done when it was refinished. The grips are marked with the S/N and it shoots like a new one....it's a keeper.

Anyway, any information would be great. Roughly how old is it? Does it have any value? (sorry for the cruddy pics)

Thanks!

 

[handejector]

Probably 50-51.
Are the grip medallions plastic?

 

[65ny]

Nope, the medallions are metal....
Thanks for the reply

 

[hotrod150]

Looks sweet. I like those half-moon front sight snubbies. What type of re-finish on it? Although not original, it looks good in the photo. I like bobbed hammers & carry-grade guns, so unless I paid a collector-grade price neither of those aspects of this gun would bother me.

 

[Green Frog]

Looks like an improved I-frame (no strain screw = coil mainspring) and other than the bobbed hammer seems to be in original configuration. There was just a nice discussion of an un-improved version that is about 40 thousand SN lower than yours, and as I told him, these are great little guns. I agree with Handejector that yours probably shipped in '51 or '52, probably in the latter portion of that range. It does look blued to me... what is the finish? If it's a matte blue, although not as pretty as some others from S&W, it could be original in that time frame. Are the trigger and what's left of the hammer case colored? It might be original after all. You would have to look for other signs such as smeared or thinned roll marks, rounded edges, or other telltale signs to know it was reblued. Regardless, the interest in the little guns is strong right now, and in any kind of shape at all they are bringing at least $250, with one like yours bringing more, with a premium for the snub barrel, so probably around here I would expect to see it offered at more like $350-400 for an asking price. This is quite variable around the country, though, so others may challenge those numbers.

Regards,
Froggie

PS Now that I've blown up your picture of the whole gun, it does look too matte finished for S&W even then, and the trigger and hammer look refinished as well. Even with those detractions, I would expect to see it bring North of $300 at gun show or auction and would be happy to carry and shoot it like I am with my own. Congratulations on a nice find!

 

[65ny]

Thanks a LOT for the info. The little gun has been refinished in some kind of spray on finish. Whomever did it did a fantastic job....it really is very nice. I don't mind it at all. I did have to put a slightly stiffer mainspring (coil) in it because it was having light strikes about a third of the time. I found one in my spare parts but I don't have a clue what it was originally intended for. I haven't had a problem with it since.
It all but disappears when I use a pocket holster and fairly baggy pants.

I traded a used Walther PPS for it and regardless of the value I think I got the best end of the deal.

 

[hotrod150]

I'd pay "north of $300" for that one in a heartbeat.

 

[Hondo44]

Nope, the medallions are metal....
Thanks for the reply

Very nice little pocket protector.

As Froggie said, you have a "Model .32 Hand Ejector, Improved I frame":
Coil main spring, (.32s beginning at #554536, lowest # known; #610935 highest known)

Very early '50s production may have plastic or steel stock medallions due the Korean war brass shortage. You could check the medallions with a magnet to confirm whether they are brass or steel.

 

[65ny]

That's a cool little tidbit about the medallions. I just checked and they're metal.
Thanks to all!