32 S&W Long Revolvers

[kscharlie]

I needed a Model 16 for my K-frame accumulation, and picked this one up a bit over a year ago, for considerably less than the going rate.


But I couldn't just stop with one .32, so I found me a post-war Improved I frame Regulation Police, ca 1953.


That still wasn't good enough, so I got a pre-war I-frame round butt hand ejector, ca 1926.


I do love shooting these .32s. They are a hoot to shoot!

 

[Oldman11]

i shoot the .32sw,.32swl,.32acp,.32hr,.327 and the 7.62-38 nagant more than the rest. I even have a k.32 smith Wesson my favorite uncle left me. Great shooting.

 

[FN in MT]

I've got a pre M-30 HE, 3 1/4" barrel, round butt, manufactured about 1951. A twin and correct era too, to the very FIRST handgun I ever fired.

I was 6 or 7 and my Uncle Tommy was a Police Officer at the time. His Dept issued off duty gun was an S&W .32 HE. I can recall shooting it at a sand pit at GLASS bottles! (How times have changed) It was 1957 or maybe 1958.

Then bringing a handful of .32 and .38 Special emptied with me that next week to grammar school , to give to my buddies.

The .32 loaded with a cast Keith style slug is a formidable small game round. I have been tempted to get a set of dies and a shell plate to convert one of the Dillon 550's over to thirty two to really sped things up.

I'd love to have a K-32 but unless I find a bargain, it isn't going to happen.

 

[Jim NE]

Yes, the K 32's can't be had cheap. I had a thread here a while back that linked to a pre-model 16 on GB that went for something like $6700, as I recall. Admittedly in very nice condition, but still...

I wish there were .32 S&W Long revolvers of good quality out there that were affordable. I have a H&R, but they just aren't the quality level I'd like, and I have a Rossi, but it's before the Interarms era, so it isn't made to the level of later guns. I do have a Single Six in .32 H&R, but I'd kind of like a sa/da. Did have an old .32 hand ejector S&W but those are a little smaller than I want. Any ideas?

 

[Monac]

I wish there were .32 S&W Long revolvers of good quality out there that were affordable. I have a H&R, but they just aren't the quality level I'd like, and I have a Rossi, but it's before the Interarms era, so it isn't made to the level of later guns. I do have a Single Six in .32 H&R, but I'd kind of like a sa/da. Did have an old .32 hand ejector S&W but those are a little smaller than I want. Any ideas?

Aren't the Czech Alfa Project revolvers in 32 of good quality? I have no first hand or second hand information about them. I thought I read that the 22s and 32s were cast zinc and not steel frames, but I am not sure.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

Regarding the S&W K-32 and Model 16; I have been doing a little bit of research. They are expensive because not very many were made.

K-32 Hand Ejector First Model (K-32 Target) is very rare. Produced from 1936 - 1941, only about 94 were made. Prices can range from $5,000 to $20,000, depending on condition.

K-32 Hand Ejector (Postwar) "Pre-Model 16", produced from 1946 until 1957.

Model 16, produced from 1957 - 1974.

If I am reading things correctly, there were only about 3,630 of both the K-32 Postwar Model and the Model 16 combined.

In 1989 the Model 16-4 was reintroduced, with a full lug barrel, chambered for 32 H&R Magnum. Discontinued in 1993. About 8,800 produced.

Sorry, I don't have any production numbers for K-22, K-38, Model 17 or Model 14. The SCSW does not list production numbers for these models, but suffice it to say there were a whole lot of them made.

 

[cfullgraf]

They are expensive because not very many were made.

Yes, K-32 prices are not for the faint of heart.

From what I've seen over the past couple years...

Post war K-32's through Model 16-3's (32 S&W Long) prices run north of $3000.

Model 16-4's are in the $1500 range and up although I'm sure the 8-3/8" barrel version gets a premium.

 

[Walkalong]

About 4 or 5 years ago there was a K32 on GB with a buy it now price of $1500, and while I was debating, someone else took advantage of it. Sure wish I had pulled the trigger. *sigh*

Oh well. I did manage to pick up a 4" 16-4 not long after for under a grand, and it is super nice, but it isn't a K32. I'll likely never own a K32 unless prices drop drastically, and I don't see that happening.

I kick myself for not hitting buy it now.

 

[cal44mag]

I have one gun in 32 Long.

A 31-1 with 2" barrel.

It's my most accurate snub.

I used to carry it with the two types of Buffalo Bore ammo shown:

 

[kscharlie]

Yes, the K 32's can't be had cheap. I had a thread here a while back that linked to a pre-model 16 on GB that went for something like $6700, as I recall. Admittedly in very nice condition, but still...

I wish there were .32 S&W Long revolvers of good quality out there that were affordable. I have a H&R, but they just aren't the quality level I'd like, and I have a Rossi, but it's before the Interarms era, so it isn't made to the level of later guns. I do have a Single Six in .32 H&R, but I'd kind of like a sa/da. Did have an old .32 hand ejector S&W but those are a little smaller than I want. Any ideas?

There is an abundance of reasonably priced S&W Hand Ejectors that are of the highest quality. In my earlier post above (with pics), the round butt pre-war HE cost me $300. The square butt post-war RP was $400. The 16-4 set me back $900. While that one may be a tad pricey, the .32 Hand Ejector round butt revolvers, both pre and post-war can be found all day long for $250 to $350, with the RPs costing a bit more. Both of mine are just about as tight as the day they left the factory, and are of excellent quality. These were purchased last September and August, respectively.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

There is an abundance of reasonably priced S&W Hand Ejectors that are of the highest quality. In my earlier post above (with pics), the round butt pre-war HE cost me $300. The square butt post-war RP was $400. The 16-4 set me back $900. While that one may be a tad pricey, the .32 Hand Ejector round butt revolvers, both pre and post-war can be found all day long for $250 to $350, with the RPs costing a bit more. Both of mine are just about as tight as the day they left the factory, and are of excellent quality. These were purchased last September and August, respectively.

Yes, S&W Regulation Police revolvers are great. That's why I have two of them.But they were built on the I frame which is roughly the same size as the modern J frame.

If I got a chance to grab a K-32 or a Model 16 I would grab it, because the K frame is larger and I think easier to shoot than the I frame.

This photo shows relative sizes, top to bottom, of a S&W New Model Number Three top break, a K frame 32-20 Hand Ejector, I frame 32 Regulation Police, and a 32 Single Action Top Break.

 

[cp1969]

I kick myself for not hitting buy it now.

If misery loves company, this should help: I passed on a 6" Python for $600.

 

[WestKentucky]

Let’s make it even worse, I had a very nice Taurus 66 around 2005 and was shooting it heads up with a beat up old .357 There was a beer bet on each “first to hit” shot. And I drank for free all night. The offer at the end of the day was to swap guns and cancel the bets...I was shooting heads up against a well used python. I even shot it a lot that day. It was about 90% so no collectors item. I wasn’t impressed with anything other than how smooth it was. Shot like crap.

 

[cfullgraf]

If I got a chance to grab a K-32 or a Model 16 I would grab it, because the K frame is larger and I think easier to shoot than the I frame.

I'd like to get a Model 16 no dash to -3 as well because they are a K frames but they also have adjustable sights. I would not mind a Model 30 or 31 with adjustable sights, but I understand not many of them were built.

Here is my 32-20 Hand Ejector. 4th Model if I remember correctly from about 1921. It got re-nickeled at some point of it's life. The grips are on loan from my 16-4. The 32-20 came with some faux stag grips.

 

[mnrivrat]

Walkalong - Just a note to your gun being a Regulation Police rather than a Model 1903. All 1903's had round butt frames. (pretty much the same gun and both are I frames)
I have a nice shooting S&W 1896 , and 6 Model 1903's . Most of my 1903's are 5th change. I have a nice Colt in .32 but it is the .32 Long Colt cartridge which is not the same chambering as the .32 S&WL . Sorry no pictures until I get a new camera. All of the S&W guns are cosmetically challenged but mechanically very good to excellent and shoot well.

I have the .32 H&R magnum pictured in my Avatar which is a total titanium Model 731 Taurus which serves as my carry gun. I have other larger caliber wheel guns, but I like the .32's .

ps: Also have a pre war K frame HE in .32-20 if that counts.

 

[Jim NE]

I have a regulation police S&W in .38 S&W, and it is great. I've been having problems finding the .32 version, though, at least at reasonable prices.

It seems there are also some old Colt options, as well. I saw a Police Positive the other day on GB that looked promising. Some of them can be higher priced if minty, but a shooter grade piece should be doable, Thanks for the input.

 

[Walkalong]

Walkalong - Just a note to your gun being a Regulation Police rather than a Model 1903. All 1903's had round butt frames. (pretty much the same gun and both are I frames)

Here is a pic of the butt from the rear.

 

[Walkalong]

my 32-20

.32-20 if that counts

Well, it's still a .32. Model 1905.

 

[mnrivrat]

Walkalong : Yes , that is the Regulation Police revolver. If you were to gently remove the stocks you would find that there is a step in the back strap and the stocks then hide the lower half of the back strap. The serial number should be on the inside portion of your grip frame so it can be seen with the stocks still on the gun. The rounded frame of the 1903's had the serial numbers at the bottom of the grip.

If you look at kscharlie's pictures (post#26) you will see the 1903 in his bottom photo , and a Regulation Police in his middle photo. I think the regulation police models have the same internals as the 1903 - 5th change.

 

[Jeb Stuart]

While I do not own a Smith, I aquired a Rossi model 69 in 32.smith and long. It was in new condition when I received it. Very strong double action, extremely light single action. Accurate as hell. From my little research, the gun was manufactured by Rossi with equipment sold to them by Smith.
Regardless, gun seem like fine quality. Enjoyable shooter. Interesting to see small guns of the past to present. This one I believe is circa 70's.

 

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

I picked up an I-Frame .32 for $125 last year. It was headed for the trash-heap of history; bad finish, bad timing, massive end-play and cylinder-gap. Cleaning a century of gunk out of the mechanism resolved the timing issue. I shimmed the cylinder and set the barrel back to produce a reasonable gap, refinished the gun in 'Antique Gray' and made a T-grip style adapter for it. The grip is still small for my hand, but it's a great shooter!


The big score was this Detective Special we ran into right in time for it to become my anniversary present- a 1949 Colt Detective Special with a factory hammer-shroud in .32 New Police-

I absolutely love this gun! Even the period-correct Franzite grips are growing on me.

 

[KYMJoeP]

The big score was this Detective Special we ran into right in time for it to become my anniversary present- a 1949 Colt Detective Special with a factory hammer-shroud in .32 New Police-
View attachment 773916
I absolutely love this gun! Even the period-correct Franzite grips are growing on me.

Oh ma goo'ness that's nice.

 

[kscharlie]

Walkalong : Yes , that is the Regulation Police revolver. If you were to gently remove the stocks you would find that there is a step in the back strap and the stocks then hide the lower half of the back strap. The serial number should be on the inside portion of your grip frame so it can be seen with the stocks still on the gun. The rounded frame of the 1903's had the serial numbers at the bottom of the grip.

If you look at kscharlie's pictures (post#26) you will see the 1903 in his bottom photo , and a Regulation Police in his middle photo. I think the regulation police models have the same internals as the 1903 - 5th change.

As you pointed out, the RP and HE are pretty much the same handgun with the exception of the grip handle. One more significant difference with the ones I showed is the mainspring. However, that was a change that affected all .32 Hand Ejectors with the Improved I Frame around 1952. S&W removed the flat mainspring and strain screw in favor of a coil mainspring. So, my RP is an Improved I Frame, and my round butt HE is the older I Frame.

 

[Walkalong]

Walkalong : Yes , that is the Regulation Police revolver.

Thanks.

 

[Walkalong]

Model 31. It gets carried occasionally.