S&W Model 30?

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

Greetings:

I just received from my father's estate a S&W revolver. It appears to be a J frame, but it could possibly be an I frame. It's the same dimesions, approximately, as a Model 36, it's chambered in .32 Long, and holds 6 cartriges. The barrel is approximately 2 inches in length. It also has a flat latch and has the standard S&W deep bluing. There are no markings on the crane and frame aside from the assembly numbers and a '4' and a '9', superposed and subposed over the frame assembly number. The front sight is the serrated wedge ramp type, rear sight, of course, is a notch in the frame's topstrap. The grips are standard S&W wooden grips consistent with the small J Frame style.

The serial number is 6725xx. My father bought it for my grandmother shortly after the death in 1958 of my grandfather. To my knowledge, per my father's statements, it has had 6 rounds fired through it. The condition certainly agrees with it.

Model 30, Model 31, or something else? What is this little beast?

BTW, I also received my father's night stand revolver, a nice Model 36 that was professionally refinished in nickel after his home flooded about 15 years ago. It too was also fired very little, and it (the M36) will now be a prized occasional CCW piece for special occasions.

Photos will appear later in the Revolver forum as time permits.

Regards,
Rabbit.

 

[Jim K]

Since there is no model number under the crane, it was made before the adoption of model numbers by S&W around 1958. The gun could be either the .32 Regulation Police or the .32 Hand Ejector. The former became the Model 31, the latter the Model 30. (The .38 Regulation Police became the Model 33.)

The two guns were made in the same serial range and apparently on the same tooling; they are nearly identical except for the point where the grips fit. For the likes of me, I don't know why S&W kept both in the line, but maybe someone else knows. The two guns tracked on all changes, including the changes from the I frame, to the Modified I frame, to the J frame.

HTH

Jim

 

[gunfan]

I have a 1905 sample of the .32 Hand Ejector.

I love it! I purchased this little gem for my wife Shelley. It shoots like the proverbial "house afire." These are great little handguns. Don't ever underestimate either their accuracy, nor their capability to inflict either death, or greivous bodily injury!

If you don't want the little piece, sell it to me and I'll give it an excellent and loving home!

Scott

 

[Jim K]

I once carried a .32 HE when my .38 Special was in the shop. Another deputy asked me what I would do with that "little gun with its teeny little bullet" if he attacked me.

I replied that I would put one of those "teeny little" bullets through his left eyeball and then, if he still felt hostile, we would have a cup of coffee and talk things over. He had no comment.

Jim