.32 S&W short or long?

[Pyro]

I've got an old top break F&W revolver dated 1896-1897 and would like to know whether it can handle the .32 S&W long. The cylinder is 32 mm in length (S&W long not including the rim, for obvious reasons, is approx. 31.1mm with a bullet). According to my math the revolver can at least chamber the .32 S&W long (although it will be close fit), but how do I know whether or not it was meant for the caliber? Not looking to actually shoot, just curious towards it's original caliber designation. How much space in front of a loaded chamber of a revolver is considered "safe", since I am dealing with a space less then 1mm.
My hunch tells me this is a .32 S&W short only gun, but S&W longs did become available in 1896. How many pistols at the time other then those made by S&W were chambered for .32 S&W long?

 

[IBEWBULL]

http://www.armchairgunshow.com/Z-AGG04.htm#forehand

Maybe this information will help you. No promise but an attempt.
I am not too familiar with old 32s.

 

[NCsmitty]

I have no experience with F&W revolvers, and can only speak of my 32 S&W chambered H&R.
My H&R is a M732 made in 1975, and it is stamped 32 S&W. The chambers are cut for the 32 S&W Long, yet there is no markings for that chambering. Other H&R M732's that I have seen have been marked for the 32 S&W Long.
I reload for 32 S&W Long, and use them in my H&R M732.

If your revolver has the chambers cut for the 32 S&W Long, it should handle them, but I really don't know if those old revolvers were designed for the Long. The old metallurgy may not handle anything but the 32 S&W (short), although the pressures of both loadings are fairly close.



NCsmitty

 

[DrLaw]

Forehand & Wadsworth. .32 Short. Most all those little top breaks were made for .32 short, and a good deal of them were made only for black powder pressures. After the turn of the century, more were made for smokeless powder.

The company went out of business in 1890.

Post a photo or two.

The Doc is out now.

 

[Old Fuff]

As a rule-of-thumb concerning these older top-break revolvers:

Most makers made two lines, one based on a "large frame" (actually medium/small) and "small frame."

The large frames were chambered in .38 S&W (5-shots) and .32 S&W Long (6-shots). The small frames were chambered iin .32 S&W (5-shots) and sometimes .22 Long (7 shots).

So if the revolver in question is a six-shooter it is chambered in .32 S&W Long, and if the cylinder only holds five rounds it's supposed to use .32 S&W cartridges.

Keep in mind that there are some exceptions to the rule, but not many.

In all cases those made before 1910 should be considered black powder only.

 

[Pyro]

These are .32 acp catridges just for comparison, .32 shorts are just 2mm shorter then .32 acp.