S&W 32 Long CTG Value

[Lord Samwise]

This gun belongs to a friend of mine. I thought I would check and see if it was worth anything. You can see there's some surface rust, the grip is cracked/broken, etc., but mechanically it seems in good shape. Serial number 250xxx. Text on the barrel reads:

Smith&Wesson Springfield Mass. U.S.A.
Pat'd March 24, 94, Aug 4,98, Dec 22,96
Oct. 8, 01, Dec. 17, 01, Feb. 6, 08, Sept. 14, 09

Thanks!

 

[mnrivrat]

The grips are not factory anyway so no big loss that they are cracked. These guns make nice shooters and this one would have a value of a couple hundred bucks or more.

 

[Ala Dan]

Probably close to $250, give or take~!

 

[Radagast]

Your friend has a .32 Hand Ejector Model of 1903 - 5th Change. Manufactured between 1910 & 1917 in the serial range 102501 to 263000, so late in that period seems likely.
It predates the internal hammer block safety, so if kept loaded the chamber under the hammer should be left empty. Otherwise if dropped it could fire.
It also predates heat treatment of cylinders so stick to standard velocity lead loads, attempts to hot rod hand loads could lead to a blown cylinder.
In 2006 the Standard Catalog of S&W gave a value of $275 in good condition.
The surface rust may be removed by very lightly rubbing with 000 steel wool dipped in oil, make sure no fragments of the steel wool are left on the gun as they will start it rusting again.