.32 long colt

[Roadkill]

.32 long S&W

A gentleman just brought me a S&W .32 Long S&W to see if I could fix it, appears mainspring is broken, has a last patent date of 1901, actually in very good condition, should I be able to replace the mainspring would it be safe to shoot modern cartridges in it? Cylinder walls look real thin. Again, except for the spring gun is in very good condition. Any comments to value? Barrel is marked Smith & Wesson Springfield.

rk

 

[Jim Watson]

A Smith & Wesson in .32 Long Colt?
Most unusual. Unlikely, even.
Even Colt quit making guns in .32 Long Colt around 1907 and went to the .32 S&W Long which is much superior, even though they called it .32 Police Positive or New Police.
Not interchangeable.

Not real valuable.
Probably wouldn't blow up if fired with the right ammo, see above.

 

[Working Man]

Here's a link with some general info.

http://www.gunblast.com/Cumpston_32Colt.htm

 

[Roadkill]

Big mistake on my part, it is a .32 S&W Long Ctg, my old eyes aren't as accurate as I wish, its an I frame, I've located a few J&K frame mainsprings, do these fit in an I frame? Would not have caught the mistake if you would not have questioned iit.

Rk

 

[Old Fuff]

If the revolver is in good shape it would be safe to shoot with .32 S&W Long or .32 S&W cartridges. It uses the same mainspring as the .38 New Departure/Safety Hammerless model. I think you can get a mainspring at:

www.e-gunparts.com

To learn more about the little gun and values, go to:

www.armchairgunshow.com

Post a serial number and I can tell you more.

 

[Roadkill]

Thanks a lot,, sn is 4834, appears to have an adjustment screw on the inside bottom of the frame at the butt of gun.

rk

 

[Old Fuff]

I am going to presume some things, and if what I say isn't right you tell me so.

If the ejector rod is locked at the front, and you open the cylinder with a thumbpiece mounted on the left side of the frame behind the cylinder, you have a:

Smith & Wesson .32 Hand Ejector, Model of 1903; Second Model. These were orginally made with barrel lengths of 3 1/2, 4 1/4 and 6 inches; blue or nickel finish; black hard rubber grips. They were serial numbered from 1 to 19,425 and produced from 1903 through 1904. If you (carefully - they break easily) remove the grips you should see TWO flatsprings mounted in the handle. The rear one is the mainspring. The screw you mentioned in the front/bottom of the frame is the mainspring strain screw, and it also positions the spring mounted in front of it. Mainsprings for this model are generally not available, but one for a .38 Safety Hammerless are, and they can be made to work.

 

[Roadkill]

Old Fluff,
Sir, you are absoultely correcton all points. I finally got the grips off (one is already cracked), the mainspring is not in the gun. I ordered one for the .38 Hammerless from Numrich, if its not an imposition I'll ask asisstance when I try to put it in.


Thanks You

Rk

 

[Old Fuff]

O.K. Send me a P.M. when the spring arrives - unless there are others that want to follow along, in which case I will continue to post on this thread.. Also be aware that Numrich has replacement grips. Again, the ones for the .38 Safety Hammerless fit.

 

[John C]

Old Fuff;

I for one would like to follow along the line of this thread.

-JOhn

 

[Old Fuff]

O.K. One way or another we'll do that.

 

[vodkazombie]

I've got a Colt New Police chambered in .32 Long Colt.. it's a nice shooter, although I'd love to find a source for decent brass. I have a Lyman mold that casts a 90 grain heeled bullet and a set of Redding dies. But brass is scarce and expensive.

Oddest thing about this is that it is serial number 10000 on the nose.