[Londo]

I have a Smith & Wesson 32-20 OTG 6 shot double action revolver. My father got the gun over 70 years ago in Kentucky. The serial number is 122080. There is a number inside the gun when you slide open the shell chamber (19366). I don't know if it's a model number or not.

I have attached a picture to this thread. The barrel is approximately 4 1/4" long. There are several patent dates on the barrel.

Any information on this pistol ie.. date manufactured, model number, type of shell to use or approximate value would be appreciated

Thanks,
Londo

[russ69]

32-20s are sweet, they use to be very popular. I have a Contender in 32-20 but it shoots match rifle bullets. Less than 1 inch groups at 100 yards. 32-20 is not too hard to find, Midway has some in stock.

Thanx, Russ

[kle]

That should read "32-20 CTG" on the barrel ("CTG" is short for "Cartridge"). It is chambered for 32-20 WCF (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.32-20_Winchester). The barrel length is measured from the cylinder to the muzzle--from the picture, you have a 5" barrel. The 19366 number is probably an assembly number, meant to keep groups of fitted parts together during the gun's manufacture.

According to my copy of the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, 3rd Edition (http://www.amazon.com/Standard-Catalog-Smith-Wesson/dp/089689293X) The 1220xx serial number (found on the butt of the grip) puts the gun's date of manufacture between 1915 (serial number 65701) and 1940 (serial number 144684) and means the gun is a S&W .32-20 Hand Ejector Model of 1905, 4th Change. If we assume that S&W made the same number of .32-20 HEs per year, that would narrow your gun's date of manufacture to somewhere around 1928.

The SCSW3 lists the values of the .32-20 HE 1905 4th Change as:
As-New-In-Box: $2000
Excellent+: $750
Very Good: $415
Good: $300
Fair: $225
Poor: $100

Also according to the SCSW3, the cylinder of your gun should be heat treated to withstand modern pressures, though I would recommend shooting pistol loads with lead bullets (as opposed to heavier .32-20 rifle loads using jacketed bullets).

[rcmodel]

There are no "heavier rifle loads" loaded anymore.
Factory SAAMI pressure spec is 16,000 CUP, or a little less then .38 Special.

The 32-20 WCF Hi-Speed rifle loads were discontinued at least 50 years ago.

rc

[kle]

The 32-20 WCF Hi-Speed rifle loads were discontinued at least 50 years ago.

Well, if Londo happens to find an old box of 32-20 WCF Hi-Speed, I'd recommend that he NOT shoot it through his Hand Ejector, is all.

[Schutzen]

kle is quite correct. There are boxes 32-20 WCF Hi-Speed floating around out there. I purchased a box last year at an estate auction for $5.