Info Please: .32 Short Colt

Wow ... I have not seen those in a while.

In my native South American country, 32 long and short were popular because anything bigger than a .38, 357, etc in the revolver side was considered "weapon of war" (regulated ownership)

On semiautomatics, anything bigger than .25

Plenty of .32 shorts.

Actually, plenty pimps carried those early in the 20th century.

I think the last revolvers specifically chambered for the .32 Short Colt were made during the 1870's and 80's. They can be safely fired in a revolver chambered in .32 Long Colt, but doing so would be stupid. They have a greater value as collectables. Next time you go to a gun show go find a cartridge collector's table and swing a deal for something more useful.

Unless of course you collect 19th century Colt pocket revolvers.

Old Fuff, he has "32" short colt, not 38 short colt. I own an early Colt Police Positive revolver in 32 Colt from 1910/1911 period. Very nice gun. Winchester still catalogs 32 Short Colt ammunition and offers cases as components. My information says that Colt stopped chambering the round in 1913. It is not interchangeable with 32 S&W or 32 Colt New Police.
If the packaging on the old ammo is fresh and sharp it may be collectible, other wise its shooting fodder. Now if its 32 Long Colt, thats a different story. I have been looking for a shootable quantity of 32 LC for some time as my PP will shoot it. I just picked up 2 boxes of new Winchester 32 Short Colt and will shoot it and load it.
Fun gun and fun cartridge.

The Old Fuff is having a hard time wakeing up, and needs another mug of coffee...

Anyway, Colt chambered some 1870's/80's pocket revolvers in .32 Short Colt, but all of their early hand ejector/double-action revolvers were chambered in .32 Long Colt (or later, .32 Colt New Police AKA .32 S&W long.) Most of the remaining .32 Long Colt revolvers are the New Police model (not to be confused with the New Police cartridge). All of the .32 Long Colt revolvers had chambers that were bored straight through, and yes, you can fire .32 Short Colt in them. However very few people are left that have these revolvers, and shoot them. I stand with my advise that selling the box to a cartridge collector would be more productive then trying to find a shooter that was interested. I will take note that MMCSRET is an exception to the rule, and maybe he can buy the box that's the subject of this thread.

As an aside: When I was 15 a neighbor gave me a new, unfired Colt .32 New Police revolver he had found in an old safe. It was chambered in .32 Long Colt, as most of that model were. I was delighted until I discovered that those .32 cartridges cost a lot more then the .22 Shorts I was used to.

I have a .32 revolver that shoots those, its pretty sweet.

I have an old Ivor Johnson revolver that shoots .32 Short Colt. It was my Dad's BUG (he was a law enforcement officer some 65 to 70 years ago). It is asweet shooting little gun. I do not know know how bad it would hurt or how deep it would penetrate. I am having trouble finding that kid of ammo. If you want to sell your ammo let me know.

Oh, if only it was .32 rimfire...

I have about 3 boxes of .32 rimfire! I just like to look at it, because I have no idea what its for.