100 yrs old and lookin good (to me)

Oldncrusty · Sep 18, 2022

Was talking to a friend of my Dad's the other day and found out he was parting with a couple guns he had inherited from his grandfather. I've had the .32 bug for quite a while, and 32-20 has eluded me till now.

AFAIK, this is a 32-20 Hand Ejector Model 1905, 4th change. SN 92,5xx. My best research says 1921 or 22 for a DOB.

e rex · Sep 18, 2022

That is really nice!

ontarget · Sep 18, 2022

Thats a nice looker right there. Im on the hunt for a 32 of some flavor right now myself.

wcwhitey · Sep 19, 2022

Very Nice, a bit of Flitz will clean it up nicely.

Jim Watson · Sep 19, 2022

Posters on the Smith board will point out that popularity of the .32-20 dropped off and they were slowly shipping out guns years after they were made.

airfoil · Sep 19, 2022

I trust you're a reloader...32-20 is expensive to buy, and tricky to reload, being a black powder cartridge...but worth it for the fun and knowledge gained. Nice piece...

I have done 'electro plating' nickel for flaked off chrome areas on old bicycle parts before, it worked...for a bike...I wonder...

NIGHTLORD40K · Sep 19, 2022

Nice!
My .32-20 is quite accurate and folks get a kick out of shooting it.

I got lucky and laid in a lifetime supply of ammo- which cost me 5X what the gun did.

.45Coltguy · Sep 19, 2022

airfoil said:
I trust you're a reloader...32-20 is expensive to buy, and tricky to reload, being a black powder cartridge...but worth it for the fun and knowledge gained. Nice piece...

I have done 'electro plating' nickel for flaked off chrome areas on old bicycle parts before, it worked...for a bike...I wonder...

These two 32-20's are mighty nice finds indeed. Don't see 'em that often.
airfoil; your avatar is CLASSIC! one of the best movies ever.

Walkalong · Sep 19, 2022

My well loved .32-20. Lots of fun. I had a Colt many years ago, but foolishly traded it off.
I reload for mine, no worse than loading .32 Long or Mag.

Oldncrusty · Sep 19, 2022

airfoil said:
I trust you're a reloader...32-20 is expensive to buy, and tricky to reload, being a black powder cartridge...but worth it for the fun and knowledge gained. Nice piece...

I have done 'electro plating' nickel for flaked off chrome areas on old bicycle parts before, it worked...for a bike...I wonder...

I had to buy the gun to get the 300 rounds of ammo that came with it. 100 factory Win, and 200 handloads to recycle. I am getting set up for reloading, so I'll have plenty of components.

Oldncrusty · Sep 19, 2022

NIGHTLORD40K said:
Nice!
My .32-20 is quite accurate and folks get a kick out of shooting it.
View attachment 1103904
I got lucky and laid in a lifetime supply of ammo- which cost me 5X what the gun did.

That's a mighty fine looking example there. I wish I had bought all the ammo I saw a few years back.

BigBlue 94 · Sep 19, 2022

Oldncrusty said:
Was talking to a friend of my Dad's the other day and found out he was parting with a couple guns he had inherited from his grandfather. I've had the .32 bug for quite a while, and 32-20 has eluded me till now.

AFAIK, this is a 32-20 Hand Ejector Model 1905, 4th change. SN 92,5xx. My best research says 1921 or 22 for a DOB.View attachment 1103689 View attachment 1103690 View attachment 1103691

I bowed out of an auction for one of those a week ago. Similar condition but a 1st change iirc. Went for about $400, just fyi.

32-20 is a fun caliber, enjoy it!

BLACKHAWKNJ · Sep 20, 2022

Skeeter Skelton once wrote an article about the 32-20 that featured a cowboy he called "Print Reed" who carried a .32-20 because "it didn't kick as much."
He mentioned-and recommended against-shoot the High Velocity ammo introduced for rifles.

Driftwood Johnson · Sep 20, 2022

Did somebody say 32-20?

At the top is a Winchester Model 1892 that shipped in 1911. At the bottom left is a S&W 32-20 Hand Ejector that shipped in 1917 at at the bottom right is a Colt Police Positive Special that shipped in 1926.

All three are chambered for 32-20.

Oldncrusty: Those grips are correct for a S&W K frame that shipped between around 1920 to around 1929. If you take them off you might see they have the serial number penciled onto one of them, indicating they shipped with the revolver.

Personally, I would not do a thing to the finish, just rub a little oil on it to help preserve it. I would not do any polishing, and keep any solvents that have ammonia in them, like Hoppes #9, away from the nickel plating.

GeoDudeFlorida · Sep 20, 2022

A pair of .32-20's. Colt and Smith. Not new or safe queens, just hard-working utility guns.

EMC45 · Sep 20, 2022

GeoDudeFlorida said:
A pair of .32-20's. Colt and Smith. Not new or safe queens, just hard-working utility guns.

Smith is super neat.

GeoDudeFlorida · Sep 20, 2022

EMC45 said:
Smith is super neat.

. Thanks!
It doesn’t show in the picture but that poor old thing has been reblued a few times. The S&W mark is gone. Shoots really well; no real value otherwise. I like it but like everything else eventually it will have to go and all I can do is hope it finds a good home.

Oldncrusty · Sep 20, 2022

Driftwood Johnson said:
Did somebody say 32-20?

At the top is a Winchester Model 1892 that shipped in 1911. At the bottom left is a S&W 32-20 Hand Ejector that shipped in 1917 at at the bottom right is a Colt Police Positive Special that shipped in 1926.

All three are chambered for 32-20.

View attachment 1103999

Oldncrusty: Those grips are correct for a S&W K frame that shipped between around 1920 to around 1929. If you take them off you might see they have the serial number penciled onto one of them, indicating they shipped with the revolver.

Personally, I would not do a thing to the finish, just rub a little oil on it to help preserve it. I would not do any polishing, and keep any solvents that have ammonia in them, like Hoppes #9, away from the nickel plating.

Thanks a bunch for the tip on ammonia. I had a hunch that nickel needed extra attention but hadnt had time to research it yet. I like the finish as is and wouldn't think of trying to improve it.

EMC45 · Sep 20, 2022

GeoDudeFlorida said:
. Thanks!
It doesn’t show in the picture but that poor old thing has been reblued a few times. The S&W mark is gone. Shoots really well; no real value otherwise. I like it but like everything else eventually it will have to go and all I can do is hope it finds a good home.

Looks to be cut down at one point in life by the front sight.

As long as she shoots and is tight then rock it!

GeoDudeFlorida · Sep 20, 2022

EMC45 said:
Looks to be cut down at one point in life by the front sight.

As long as she shoots and is tight then rock it!

Yup, that too. Probably somebody put a ring in it and decided to cut it. I got it for parts value about 1998/99. It was dirty inside and out. I went at it with a cotton cloth and some sewing machine oil and cleaned it up. Shoots good and those Jay Scott grips were hanging around the safe waiting for something to wear them so they were a no-brainer. Think it needs some range time now.

BigBlue 94 · Sep 20, 2022

My great grandfather was sheriff of Alma, KS about 100 years ago. Also the veterinarian lol! He carried a 32-20. I do not know the make of the gun.

I bought this 1897 mfg Colt New Navy a number of years ago to pair with my 1873 winchester in 32-20. Its well worn (out) and has 6 purposely made notches in one grip. Your guess as to their authenticity is as good as mine, but they add character regardless.

I need to add some material to the cylinder lock because it is pretty sketchy. The rest seems in good order though. The little link on the trigger has a wollered out hole so i need to make a new one of those too.

Best of all, i bought it at Cabelas and actually haggled about 15% off.

Walkalong · Sep 21, 2022

I love 1905s

100 yrs old and lookin good (to me)

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Moderator

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Moderator

Similar threads