[HenryH]

Hand me down...

-------------------------
"Smith & Wesson" on one side... "32 W C G CTG" on the other side of the barrel...

Barrel... 3 to 3-1/8 inches long.

Nickel color.

Wood gripes.

"103829" on the butt.

What is the proper name for this revolver?

Any estimates when she was made?

What ammunition do I purchase?

Any other information is welcome.

Thank you for your time and consideration with this post.

:)

[Archie]

Also known as .32-20 was originally a rifle cartridge in the 73 Winchester, I believe. One of the early lever guns, at any rate. Originally a black powder round, it's a sort of bottle neck, more like a tapered body leading to a long throat.

Ammo is still available, but store-bought stuff is fairly pricey. I reload mine - I have a Savage 'Sportster' rifle from the twenties that uses the same round.

The revolver itself is the basic Military and Police frame - what later became the "K" frame. That three inch barrel is a mite short for that era. It's probably been trimmed by someone along the way. Someone else will have to chime in with the manufacturing dates, I don't have a 'Smith book'.

(Just between you and me, 'grips' does not have an 'e'. That makes them complaints. Actually, those old pencil stocks were complaints, but that's a bad pun.)

The late Skeeter Skelton wrote about a couple trappers who carried .32-20 revolvers and killed deer with them. That is probably not reccomended these days, but it can be done.

Oh, they are loud in a short barrel. Like pencils in your ears loud. Wear hearing protection - as I'm sure you do anyway.

[SaxonPig]

I'm going to take a guess and say it's a S&W Hand Ejector of 1905 4th Model made between 1915 and 1942 (assuming it's a genuine Smith and not a Spanish copy of which many were made). Serials ran from around 65,000 to about 144,000 so take a guess as to where yours falls in that 1915-1942 range.

Could it say 32 WCF Ctg instead of WCG Ctg? The 32-20 or as it is also known the .32 Winchester Center-Fire Cartridge is what it shoots (hence the WCF). CTG means cartridge.

[Old Fuff]

Smith & Wesson didn't normally make this model with a barrel length under 4 inches. Measure from the cylinder face to the end of the muzzle. If it is indeed a 3" (give or take) barrel it was either shortened after it left the factory, or it was custom ordered. If that was the case, which is unlikely, it would be worth substantially more then a standard version.

[Cocked & Locked]

Here's a pic of my S&W 1905 4th change .32 WCF. The barrel on mine is marked .32-20. This one shipped from S&W in 1926. It has a King Super Police front sight that was installed aftermarket at some point in time.

six inch barrel...

http://pic14.picturetrail.com/VOL523/3082611/6486421/278247802.jpg

[Diggers]

What are the ballistics like for a .32-20? Bullet grain?

[Walkalong]

Oh, they are loud in a short barrel.
Dang right. And Sharp! I guess that was what Archie meant by
Like pencils in your ears loud

[mec]

The current lead 115 grain winchester western factory load clocks in the 700s from a 5.5" The black powder loads used 20 grains and got considerably higher velocity.(modern WW and Starline brass holds considerably less) Smokeless loads pre-WWII did mid 1,000 fps from a six inch revolver according to WHB Smith, Book of Pistols and Revolvers.
A fairly decent handload is the 115 grain Oregon Trail round nose flat point over 4.3 grains of unique. This does 1005 from my cimarron model p
Elmer keith used a similar bullet and ten grains of 2400 that raised the velocity and blast considerably. I'm not going to use that load as I don't want to shake my revolver loose.

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=64178&stc=1&d=1190155150

There is some talk of revolvers that have bulged barrels resultiing from bullets getting stuck in the barrel with the powder gass venting through the b/c gap. the bulge comes from shooting the stuck bullet out with the next shot. I haven't seen this but the guess seems to be that it comes from a combination of underpowered loads and a large barre/cylinder gap.

Oh and, that king sighted smith is way neat.

[Vern Humphrey]

Stuck bullets were common in the .32-20. The standard question when someone tells you they have an old .32-20 revolver is, "How far up the barrel is the bulge?

This may also explain why this revolver has a 3" barrel -- someone cut it off behind the bulge.

[Diggers]

Stuck bullets were common in the .32-20. The standard question when someone tells you they have an old .32-20 revolver is, "How far up the barrel is the bulge?


Really?! :eek: Why do you think the .32-20 had this problem? That strikes me as really strange seeing as this cal. was ment for a rifle.

[Vern Humphrey]

Why do you think the .32-20 had this problem?
Ammunition quality, most likely. But whatever it is, I've seen a lot of .32-20 revolvers with bulged barrels

The good news is, they often shoot quite well, even with the bulge. If you find one you like, check it for the bulge -- push a jag with a tight patch on it through the bore -- and when you find it, point it out to the seller. Then scratch around and figure what it would cost you to have the barrel cut ahead of the bulge and a new front sight mounted, and use that as a talking point to drive down the price.:D

After you get it, shoot it before you cut it. You may well get a real bargain.:D

[Trebor]

This may also explain why this revolver has a 3" barrel -- someone cut it off behind the bulge.

I'm betting he's just measuring the barrel incorrectly. Most non-gun folks under-measure barrel length by measuring from where the barrel meets the frame. My guess is it's a 4" barrel.

[HenryH]

Yup ... new guy here did not know where to measure .... but now, thanks to all your great posts I do... and more...

Thank all of you for your information.

This revolver looks just like Cocked and Locked's picture, but nickel and 4 inch with the wood grips (not gripes) on not off as in that picture.

What can you all tell me more about ammo?

I understand... ".32" but as a new person to this revolver... what should I purchase?

[mec]

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/AKChurch/3220sw.htm


http://www.leverguns.com/articles/AKChurch/3220HANDEJECTORB.JPG

[Vern Humphrey]

I understand... ".32" but as a new person to this revolver... what should I purchase?
You want .32-20. You may have to search for it -- Wal-Mart probably doesn't carry it. On the other hand, having a fine revolver with hard-to-find ammo is a great excuse to start handloading.

[rcmodel]

Stuck bullets in the old 32-20 revolvers were common because in those days, the 32-20 was first and foremost a rifle cartridge.

As such, the slow rifle powder of the day used in the HS loading often didn't get a complete burn in the short revolver barrels and lost all the pressure out the cylinder gap.
The Jacketed bullet would then stick in the bore, followed by another one that did get a complete burn.

The result was a ringed barrel.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j219/rcmodel/KTOG/1224.gif
rcmodel

[Diggers]

Ahhhhh, interesting. Yes... I wasn't thinking about the rifle cartridge having slower burning powder. I could see how the bullet could get a half ass push into the barrel and then get hung up forcing the expanding gas to exit through the gap after that.

[redroad]

Hi, new here. Can anyone expound on this piece? Thank you. Redroad

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=64394&stc=1&d=1190514775

[Old Fuff]

redroad:

For some reason your picture didn't come up. (anyway I presume it was a picture... :D). So post a more complete description.

In particular, the serial number (should be on the butt - include any letters if there are any). Patent dates on top of the barrel? (Only need the last one). Number of shots, cartridge (look on the left side of the barrel), and barrel length (measure from the cylinder face to the muzzle). Does it have a round or square butt, and what material are the stocks made out of?

This should be enough to get started... ;)

[redroad]

Old Fluff
What I can find on it; Smith & Wesson trade mark on the right side, 4" inch barrel, patent date: near front sight-Oct. 4, '98, serial on the butt 1163 or 1168, has rounded butt, 6 shot, on the left side of the barrel is stamp 32 winchester CTG, has woodstock. To bad I don't have any luck posting the pic. Thanks again. Redroad

[Old Fuff]

It would appear that you have a Smith & Wesson .32-20 Hand Ejector, Model of 1902, 1st Change.

The 1st Change revolvers were made between 1903 and 1905, within a serial number range running from 9,812 to 18,125. Standard barrel lengths were 4, 5 and 6 1/2 inches. The Oct. 4, 1898 patent date would be correct for this model, and further confirms its identity.

The standard stocks were usually black hard rubber, with walnut being optional. Carefully remove the stocks and see if the revolver's serial number is marked on the inside of one panel.

The serial number (may) be stamped on the rear face of the cylinder, and on the bottom of the barrel above the ejector rod. If so, you will need a good glass to read them.

At the time this revolver was made, cylinders were not heat treated. If you choose to shoot it be very careful what ammunition you use. Keep in mind that the gun is over 100 years old. ;)