S & W 32 long CTG??

[Old Fuff]

Bobby C:

Check the serial number again. It should be stamped on the bottom of the butt, the rear face of the cylinder, and on the bottom of the barrel above the ejector rod. Swing out the cylinder to see it. If the stocks (grips) are original to the gun one panel will be marked with the same serial number, or the least part of it. Ignore the number stamped on the frame under the back end of the barrel. Also what are the stocks made of, black hard rubber, checkered walnut, or something else? And does your revolver have a square or round butt?


taurustracker:

Same questions as above. There are some exceptions, and you may have one, but I would expect a serial number without letters in it. The most likely exception would be a Regulation Police model, with a square butt and checkered walnut stocks that wrap around the bottom of the butt.

 

[Old Fuff]

REPII:

Your revolver is a .32 WCF 1905 Hand Ejector, 2nd Change. The 2nd Change revolvers were made during 1908 and 1909 within a serial number range running from 33,501 to 45,200 Be aware that it does not have a heat-treated cylinder, and that it is 100 years old or close to it.

A "Hand Ejector" revolver is one where the cylinder swings out to the left for loading and unloading. A "Top Break" revolver is one where the barrel is unlatched and swung downward (like a double-barreled shotgun) to load or unload it.

On re-reading your post I notice that the patent dates don't match the serial number. Double check to be sure you posted the right number. See the above post for instructions.

 

[mawtater]

smith and wesson 32 s and w revolver breakdown

we would like to know the date or an estimated guess of when it was made . I have the serial number (66523) but the patented dates are not really visible. Can anyone help with this?
Thanks

 

[mawtater]

please help

 

[Old Fuff]

We are always glad to help, but without a photograph some additional information is needed because S&W made more then one model with the .32 cartridge markings on the side of the barrel. That marking tells what ammunition should be used in the revolver, and does not identify the model.

The serial number should be on the bottom of the butt, the rear face of the cylinder, and the bottom of the barrel above the ejector rod. To see this number you will have to swing out the cylinder, and all of the mentioned numbers should match,

Does the frame have a round or square butt, and are the stocks/grips made out of black hard rubber, checkered walnut, or something else?

Measure the barrel from the front face of the cylinder to the end of the muzzle.

Then we should we able to get somewhere.

 

[taurustracker]

taurustracker TO Old Fluff

Thank YOU--andd here are the answers to the questions-The number is 46462-SN---black hard rubber with diamond in center -the butt is square-the other numbers I wrote down from inside the grip are correct-and I'm going to sell the gun today and just wanted to make sure I didn't get who-do"ed
Thank You Pamela

 

[Old Fuff]

You apparently have a S&W .32 1903 Hand Ejector; 1st. change.

These were made between 1904 and 1906, within a serial number range running from 19,426 to 51,126.

Book values run from $165 in fair condition to $385 in excellent + (which would be almost like new).

Ammunition (.32 S&W Long) is available, but given the revolver's age I wouldn't recommend shooting it until it is checked by a qualified gunsmith.

Standard barrel lengths were 3 1/4, 4 1/4 and 6 inches. Standard finish was blue or nickel plate.

 

[mawtater]

smith and wesson 32 breakdown

The calibur is 32 s & w. it has a 3 inch barrell , 5 shot cylinder, the serial numbers are 66523 ( matching). It has the round butt , with black hard rubber stocks.

 

[mawtater]

s and w 32

Also it is a breakdown cylinder (not the swing out). What we would like to know is when it was made . Thanks

 

[Old Fuff]

Well again some critical information is missing...

But I'll take a shot at it anyway, with the understanding I could be wrong.

I will presume that this revolver is a double-action, has a conventional trigger guard, and that that the hammer is the kind you can cock with your thumb. If this description doesn't match what you have come back and we'll try again.

The above would be a Smith & Wesson D.A. 32; 4th Model.

These were made from 1883 to 1909, within a serial number range running from 43,406 to about 282,999.

Standard barrel lengths were 3 and 3 1/2 inches, but lengths up to 8" are known. Standard finish was blue, or nickel plate with a blued trigger guard and barrel latch. The hammer and trigger were color case-hardened. Stocks were generally black hard rubber or pearl.

To exactly date the revolver would involve getting it "lettered" at the factory. For a $30.00 fee they will research the old records, going back a 100 years or more (likely more), find a shipping entry for your gun and send you a letter with all of the details they find out, including the day/year it was shipped - and to what distributor or dealer.

Additional information is available at the company web site at:

www.smith-wesson.com Go to: customer service > historical letter.

 

[mawtater]

To Old Fluff

Thank You for your help. Once the smith and wesson website is taking orders again i will be able to send off for the history on the gun . I do appreciate all the help you have given .

 

[BRachum]

I also have a S&W 32 long ctg

I recently obtained my father's old S&W 32 revolver. It was stored in a box in my brother's basement for about 20+ years. (Dad took sick and passed away in 1981 and I brought it to my brother's in 1988.

Serial Number on the front of the grip, back of cylinder and under the barrel is:
367586. On the right side of the barrel is stamped 32 LONG CTG, Left side "Smith & Wesson",

Top of the Barrel: Smith & Wesson Springfield, Mass, USA
Patented Feb 6, 06, Sept 14, 09, Dec 29, 14

Bottom of square walnut grip: Pat. June 5, 1917

Barrel length from front of cylinder to muzzle: 3 1/4 inches.

I appreciate your help with identifying this revolver and it's approximate age.

Thank you,


Bruce

 

[REPII]

I have verified that the serial numbers and patent dates that I posted are correct. I have heard some rumers that there are some Spanish copies of this gun out there is there a chance that this could be one of them. If so is there any way to make a positive determination about this.

 

[Old Fuff]

REPII:

It would be unsusal but not impossible for a revolver that was supposedly made during or before 1909 to have a barrel with a 1914 patent date. Without having the gun I have to speculate.

1. Sometime after it was made it was rebarreled with a 4th change barrel (1914 - 1941) that did have the Dec. 1914 patent date. In that case it probably wouldn't have the serial number stamped on the bottom of the barrel above the ejector rod.

2. The revolver's frame was serial numbered prior to 1910, but not assembled into a complete gun until 1914 or thereafter. It would take a factory letter to determine that, as the letter would (or should) have the shipping date. If the barrel is original to the frame I would expect the serial number to be stamped on the bottom, as previously described.

3. Is it a fake, made in Spain or elsewhere? I would need a clear photograph to tell, but the European guns are much inferior in fit and finish of the genuine S&W products.

 

[cluckhut]

32wcf

Hi

I have a 32WCFCTG seriel# 87281 with a 6" barrel and target sights with micro marked on them front and rear.
Also has fancy wingedwood target grips probably not factory, finish is I would guess very good and seems to be tight. Any help on numbers would be helpfull. Thanks!

 

[magoar]

Hi, I´m a new member and I have a S&W .32 long ctg revolver round butt, 2" barrel, 6 shots, wood grips.

My question is this it has diferents numbers and I´m so confuse abuot it, in the butt it´s stamped 342613, in the bottom of the barrel it´s 596621V andthen in the cylinder it´s 596621, in the yoke it´s 791598 and then inside the sideplate it´s 79159.

Could somebody tell me the model and explain to me about this gun.

Thanks

 

[Old Fuff]

I think that the folks at Smith & Wesson had a bad day...

The bottom of the barrel and rear face of the cylinder seem to agee on 596,621. The number in the yoke (791,598) and inside the sideplate (79159) are assembly numbers, and can be ignored for our purposes.

The bottom of the frame/handle should also be stamped with the number 596,621 - but that could be covered by the wood stocks. If that isn't the case, and that number really is 342,613 I'd conclude that it was rebuilt at some time using the barrel and cylinder (as well as some other parts) that were removed from another gun with the serial number 596,621. Only a factory letter could confirm this, and it would cost you $50.00.

If the revolver's true serial number is indeed 596,621 it is a S&W .32 Hand Ejector; Postwar pre-model 30. This would be a 6-shot .32 S&W Long revolver. Round butt with standard barrel lengths of 2, 3 1/4, 4 1/4 or 6 inches. Probably made on the Improved I-frame, which preceeded the current J-frame but was slightly shorter. Likely made around 1950.

A picture would help substantially to help make a more positive identification.

 

[magoar]

Thank you, it´s very useful to me, later I will attach pictures of the gun.

 

[BRachum]

As I posted in message # 187 I am looking for information regarding this 32 S&W that was my father's. My 15 year old son is very interested in family heirlooms and history. (He wears his grandfather's Ike jacket from WW2.)

Thank you,



Bruce

 

[Old Fuff]

Sorry about the delay, but sometimes the folks that ask questions far outnumber those who answer them, but sooner or later an answer is forthcoming.

Your father's revolver is a Smith & Wesson .32 Regulation Police. It is a variant of the Company's popular .32 1903 Hand Ejector. The latter had a round butt, but S&W modified it so that it could have a square one, which they believed would be popular with police departments. The patent date stamped on the bottom of the stocks (June 9, 1917) covers the design of the special stocks.

This 6-shot revolver is chambered to use .32 S&W Long cartidges, which are available. I would suggest that you have it checked over by a gunsmith, after which there is no reason you or your son can't shoot it.

Standard barrel lengths were 3 1/4, 4 1/4 and 6 inches. Standard finishes were blue or nickel plate.

This vaiant was introduced in 1917, and serial numbered in the same series as the earlier .32 Hand Ejector; Model of 1903. As a consequence serial numbers on the .32 Regulation Police start in the 260,000 range, and go to 536,000 at which point they stop in 1942 when World War Two started. Production resumed after the war. I estimate that your revolver was made sometime during the middle/latter 1920's.

More detailed information can be obtained for a $50.00 research fee from Smith & Wesson. They will go back and find the original shipping record for your particular revolver and send you a formal letter with the details, including the exact day it was shipped, and to what distributor or dealer. I highly recommend this service for those that are passing a gun down through the generations. Additional details will be found at the company website at:

www.smith-wesson.com

 

[BRachum]

Old Fuff.

Sorry for being impatient and thank you for your response. I was guessing by your responses for other 32s that the revolver was made much later than that. I and my older brother remember our father starting to carry it in the mid 70's after he was followed out of his business by a "gentleman" carrrying a bat under his jacket.

My son and I did fire it this weekend (putting 100 rounds through it) and it does shoot very nice, about all but 2 or 3 rounds into the outline of a "bad guy" target from about 20-25 feet at the range.

Again, thank you for your help.

Bruce

 

[wdavis111]

32 Long CTG

Like so many others here, I'm looking for any info you can give on my Dad's S&W 32 Long CTG that we found packed away when he passed recently. I'm posting some photos, but in a nutshell, it's nickel plated, 3.25 barrel, flat bottom wooden handle with serial number 548367 stamped on the bottom of the grip and the back of the cylinder.

Any info would be appreciated!

Walter Davis
Houston, TX

 

[cglove]

S&W .32 Safety Hammerless CTG

I am trying to find out some information on my pistol ie, what year it was made, what model is it, what is its value, how many were made and where did it come from.

The pistol has a serial #242174 on both the barrell the cylinder and the butt of the grip. I have a box that is brown and is not hinged with the date Dec. 28, 1920 and instructions in both English and Spanish. The barrel is 3" long. Are the grips ebony? The pistol is in excellent condition with no pitting or peeling or discoloration. The inside of the barrel and cylinder are shiney to a mirror finish.

 

[Old Fuff]

Wdavis111:

Your Dad’s revolver is a Smith & Wesson .32 Hand Ejector (Pre-Model 30) made shortly after World War Two. Post-war production started at serial number 536,685 during 1946 or 1948, depending on what source you are using.

Cylinders were 6-shot, and chambered to use the .32 S&W Long cartridge. Standard barrel lengths at the time were 3 ¼, 4 ¼ and 6 inches. Standard finishes were full blue or nickel plate, with color case-hardened hammers and triggers. Because your revolver appears to have a plated hammer and trigger I suspect that at some time it was refinished. The checkered walnut stocks are correct for the period, and if you remove them and check you may find that one panel is serial numbered to the gun. It should also have an improved hammer block that was developed during 1944, and consequently you can safely carry the cylinder fully loaded.

 

[Old Fuff]

cglove:

Please go to the following link and see if your revolver and the one pictured are generally the same. Your revolver should have a different barrel latch and the front sight is probably not pinned.

http://www.auctionflex.com/showlot....sortorder=lotnumasc&pagenum=1&action=&lang=En

I believe it is a Smith & Wesson .32 Safety Hammerless (New Departure), 3rd. Model.

The 3rd. Model variant was made between 1909 to 1937, within a serial number range running from 170,000 to 242,981. Some 73,000 of this particular variant were made. Note that your serial number (242,174) is only 807 short of the end of production. I suspect that the December 1920 date on the box does indicate when it left the factory, or was sold at retail – provided that the box is the one the revolver originally came in. See if the end label or bottom of the box has the serial number listed.

These revolvers had standard barrel lengths of 3 and 3 ½ inches, although other lengths (especially 2”) are known. The 5-shot cylinder is chambered to use .32 S&W cartridges. Standard finishes were full blue, or nickel plate with a blued barrel latch and trigger guard. The trigger was color case-hardened. Standard stocks were molded from a black hard-rubber material called “gutta percha.”

In total, Smith& Wesson made around 243,000 of these little pocket revolvers between 1888 and 1937.

Given the gun’s condition and the apparently original box with it, the current book value would be around $600 to $950 if it is as described.