[jrdolall]

I got this today in a family deal. It is a S&W 32 6-shot revolver. I will get it tomorrow and try to make out the serial number as well as measure the barrel. It is not in very good shape as you can see. Any ideas of what I have with just these pics?

[Jim K]

Not really enough information to identify the model but it was probably made just before WWII. Value depends mainly on condition and the pictures don't show enough to determine that.

Jim

[Radagast]

.32-20 Hand Ejector. Manufactured 1902 to 1940. Need a serial number to give a better DOB.

[shiftyer1]

If your right thats pretty good, you must have one. More pics would be better:)

[P5 Guy]

My thought too.
32/20 Winchester Center Fire. Earlier model S&W.

[jrdolall]

The barrel is 5". Here are a couple more pictures. There is a serial number on the bottom of the grip, 6 numbers/letters, as well as on the barrel but I cannot make them out even with my glasses. The gun is by no means in good shape. Notice the 2 bullets? They were in the gun though at the bottom. Gun has probably not been fired in 50 years or more so I doubt those two shells are any good. My wife will be home tonight and can probably make out the numbers. She sees well up close and I can see at a distance so we make a good team.

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

I agree, 32-20 Hand Ejector. The cartridge callout on the side of the barrel confirms this, 32 Winchester Ctg is the way S&W called out the 32-20 cartridge.

The large mushroom shaped knob on the front of the ejector rod indicates this is a fairly early one, probably 1920s or earlier. The SN should appear in 4 places on this gun, bottom of the butt, underside of the barrel, rear of the cylinder, and underside of the ejector star. You should be able to read one of them, or find somebody who can, to further pin down the manufacture date.

[Radagast]

A six digit serial number makes it a .32-20 Hand Ejector Model of 1905 4th Change manufactured between 1915 & 1940. It lacks the Made in the USA stamp on the right side of the frame, so 1920s. Heat treatment of cylinders began in May 1919 at serial number 65701, serial number 11160x shipped in January 1923 & serial number 120129 in February 1924. So roughly 10,000 guns a year through that period. That should help you narrow down the likely year of manufacture.

[Radagast]

Your gun lacks a positive internal hammer block safety. Leave the chamber under the hammer empty. Otherwise if dropped it could fire.
Avoid use of old jacketed .32-20 High Speed ammunition, this was rifle only ammunition and has a reputation for bulging the barrels in S&Ws. Current lead only factory loads should be fine.
.32-20 Winchester Centerfire = .32-20. One of the rounds in your pic is not correct for your gun. Personally I would not attempt to fire either round, I would buy new ammo.
Although your gun has a heat treated cylinder it is still early steel and bulged cylinders are not unknown from that period. If handloading don't try and hot rod it. I would stick to light cowboy loads only.

[jrdolall]

Okay the serial number is 29167 so only 5 digits. It is fairly clear on the butt when she read it to me and the barrel number definitely matches though it would be difficult to read without the butt as a reference.

[Jim Watson]

Notice that the two cartridges that came in the gun are not the same.
The correct load is the .32-20 - the longer one.
The other is a .32 S&W Long which would at least bulge if not split in the larger .32-30 chamber.
People do strange things, a lot of them based on not knowing what they are dealing with.

[Radagast]

OK. It's a .32-20 Hand Ejector Model of 1905 1st Change manufactured between 1906 & 1909 in the serial range 22427 to 45200. As your gun falls in to the first third of that range, I'd guesstimate 1906/1907. This model predates heat treatment of cylinders. So stick to lead only cowboy loads.

[jrdolall]

Thanks Radagast. Another one for the top shelf though I will probably try a couple of boxes of ammo if everything checks out before I retire her. One box will cost more than I paid for the gun.