Smith & Wesson .32
- Thread starter Leo Berg
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George P
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That's a 32 S&W Long
Your serial number should make that a .32 Hand Ejector, Third Model
Serial numbers ranged from 263001-536684. These were made from 1917 to 1942. Cylinder heat treating began in 1920 with serial number 321000.
Value in today's crazy markets is hard to determine, but yours is in excellent condition, so I would guess at least $400. You can get a letter from Roy Jinks at the S&W Historical foundation that will tell you when it shipped and where it was shipped. IIRC, that letter now costs about $100 for him to do the research.
As to where it was produced, MA is where S&W has been for about forever, and where your gun was made.
Your serial number should make that a .32 Hand Ejector, Third Model
Serial numbers ranged from 263001-536684. These were made from 1917 to 1942. Cylinder heat treating began in 1920 with serial number 321000.
Value in today's crazy markets is hard to determine, but yours is in excellent condition, so I would guess at least $400. You can get a letter from Roy Jinks at the S&W Historical foundation that will tell you when it shipped and where it was shipped. IIRC, that letter now costs about $100 for him to do the research.
As to where it was produced, MA is where S&W has been for about forever, and where your gun was made.
ThomasT
Member
You have a very nice revolver. I am a 32 long fan and own 3 revolvers chambered for that round. Ammo isn't always easy to come by. I reload so ammo is no problem. Shoot your gun and report about how much fun you had with it. I am always on the hunt for a new 32 caliber revolver. If I saw one like yours for sale I would hurt my arm getting my wallet out so fast. 
Your gun is indeed chambered in .32 S&W long and not in the .32 long Colt. It is an I frame with square butt and known as a Regulation Police model . In the higher condition that yours seems to be in they are desirable to collectors and you should take this into account on pricing as well as shooting. My estimate of value in todays market is closer to $600 + , but as always they are worth what someone will pay. No matter what, take proper care of it. It is a very nice example.
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chicharrones
needs more ammo
Around here, during the gun-demic, that little beauty would retail in a gun shop for well over $1000.00.
If you're selling it yourself, I'm not sure what you would be offered.
If you're selling it yourself, I'm not sure what you would be offered.
Sistema1927
Member
I am also a .32 fan. Nice hand ejector, in very good condition for its age. Most factory .32 S&W Long ammo is pretty anemic, but you can handload decent rounds and your S&W will digest them just fine.
fireman 9731
Member
I think the near pristine condition of that uncommon model would easily bring $700, and maybe over $1,000 in a good auction.
Driftwood Johnson
Member
Howdy
I agree, it is a 32 Regulation Police, not a 32 Hand Ejector 3rd Model.
The grip style gives it away. Look at the bottom of the grip in the OP's photos.
This model is one of several that had an unusual grip design. The wooden grips were inletted to completely surround the bottom of the grip.
Like this:
Turn it over and you will see that Smith and Wesson patented this grip design in 1917.
The great majority of S&W revolvers had the Serial Number stamped on the bottom of the grip frame. Because the bottom of the grip frame of this model was covered by the grips, it had the Serial Number stamped on the front of the grip frame.
As has been stated, this model was built on the I frame, which was the forerunner of the modern J frame. Originally designed for the 32 S&W Long cartridge, the frame was not as large as a K frame 38 Military and Police. So the extended grip was designed to give the shooter a better hold on the relatively small grip of an I frame revolver.
Serial Numbers for this model ran concurrent with Serial Numbers for the 32 Hand Ejector 3rd Model, which can sometimes lead to confusion. This one fits into the Pre-War 32 Regulation Police serial number range, of about 120,000 to about 536,000. Produced from 1917 until 1942.
Because this model was made for such a long time, it is difficult to pin down exactly when it left the factory without a factory letter from Smith and Wesson.
For what it's worth, I have two of them. One has a Serial Number of 3712XX, which shipped in 1925, the other has a SN of 4083XX and it shipped in 1924. Yes, that's right, S&W did not always ship their revolvers by Serial Numbers. For various reasons sometimes a later SN shipped before an earlier SN. That should give some idea of when the SN 394331 shipped.
This is my pair of 32 Regulation Police revolvers.
Sorry, I do not see a record of exactly how much I paid for my 32 Regulation Police revolvers. This model is not all that rare, otherwise I would not have two of them. I probably only paid around $400 - $500 for them a few years ago.
Smith and Wesson made a 38 Regulation Police on the same frame with the same grip style. Chambered for 38 S&W, not the longer 38 Special. This revolver did not have a large enough cylinder to be a six shooter, the 38 Regulation Police was a five shot revolver. In this photo the 38 Regulation Police is at the top and a 32 Regulation Police is at the bottom. Notice the 38 has larger cylinder flutes than the 32, and notice the 'middle' flute is off center in the frame window, a dead give away that it is a five shooter. By the way, I see my 32 Regulation Police revolvers are marked 32 LONG CTG, not 32 S&W LONG CTG the way Smith and Wesson usually marked the chambering of a 32 S&W Long revolver. Probably what made the OP think his revolver was chambered for 32 Long Colt. CTG simply stands for Cartridge. A lot of folks not familiar with S&W marking conventions think that refers to a model, not the cartridge the revolve was chambered for.
This photo shows how much small the I frame 32 Regulation Police revolver was than a typical K frame S&W revolver. The K frame at the top of this photo happens to be a 32-20 Hand Ejector, but it is the same size as any K frame 38.
As to where this model was made, ever since 1857 Smith and Wesson has been in Springfield Massachusetts.
I agree, it is a 32 Regulation Police, not a 32 Hand Ejector 3rd Model.
The grip style gives it away. Look at the bottom of the grip in the OP's photos.
This model is one of several that had an unusual grip design. The wooden grips were inletted to completely surround the bottom of the grip.
Like this:
Turn it over and you will see that Smith and Wesson patented this grip design in 1917.
The great majority of S&W revolvers had the Serial Number stamped on the bottom of the grip frame. Because the bottom of the grip frame of this model was covered by the grips, it had the Serial Number stamped on the front of the grip frame.
As has been stated, this model was built on the I frame, which was the forerunner of the modern J frame. Originally designed for the 32 S&W Long cartridge, the frame was not as large as a K frame 38 Military and Police. So the extended grip was designed to give the shooter a better hold on the relatively small grip of an I frame revolver.
Serial Numbers for this model ran concurrent with Serial Numbers for the 32 Hand Ejector 3rd Model, which can sometimes lead to confusion. This one fits into the Pre-War 32 Regulation Police serial number range, of about 120,000 to about 536,000. Produced from 1917 until 1942.
Because this model was made for such a long time, it is difficult to pin down exactly when it left the factory without a factory letter from Smith and Wesson.
For what it's worth, I have two of them. One has a Serial Number of 3712XX, which shipped in 1925, the other has a SN of 4083XX and it shipped in 1924. Yes, that's right, S&W did not always ship their revolvers by Serial Numbers. For various reasons sometimes a later SN shipped before an earlier SN. That should give some idea of when the SN 394331 shipped.
This is my pair of 32 Regulation Police revolvers.
Sorry, I do not see a record of exactly how much I paid for my 32 Regulation Police revolvers. This model is not all that rare, otherwise I would not have two of them. I probably only paid around $400 - $500 for them a few years ago.
Smith and Wesson made a 38 Regulation Police on the same frame with the same grip style. Chambered for 38 S&W, not the longer 38 Special. This revolver did not have a large enough cylinder to be a six shooter, the 38 Regulation Police was a five shot revolver. In this photo the 38 Regulation Police is at the top and a 32 Regulation Police is at the bottom. Notice the 38 has larger cylinder flutes than the 32, and notice the 'middle' flute is off center in the frame window, a dead give away that it is a five shooter. By the way, I see my 32 Regulation Police revolvers are marked 32 LONG CTG, not 32 S&W LONG CTG the way Smith and Wesson usually marked the chambering of a 32 S&W Long revolver. Probably what made the OP think his revolver was chambered for 32 Long Colt. CTG simply stands for Cartridge. A lot of folks not familiar with S&W marking conventions think that refers to a model, not the cartridge the revolve was chambered for.
This photo shows how much small the I frame 32 Regulation Police revolver was than a typical K frame S&W revolver. The K frame at the top of this photo happens to be a 32-20 Hand Ejector, but it is the same size as any K frame 38.
As to where this model was made, ever since 1857 Smith and Wesson has been in Springfield Massachusetts.
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sparkyfender
Member
My father acquired the exact same model Smith after WW2, his carry gun for a lot of years until he traded it for a Model 15 S&W. His was nickel plated, though. I've kept an eye out for it through the years, but haven't run across it.
Nice revolver you have there, BTW.
Nice revolver you have there, BTW.
GooseGestapo
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- Jan 6, 2003
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- 6,153
Humph!
And here I thought they only came in nickel plated, with a rusty mottled finish.
At least that’s what my 1st Model Hand Ejector and Third model Police Regulation look like!
But, they both shoot well. The PR has more pit than rifling, but still hits POA/poi at 7-10yds.
Fun to plink with!
And here I thought they only came in nickel plated, with a rusty mottled finish.
At least that’s what my 1st Model Hand Ejector and Third model Police Regulation look like!
But, they both shoot well. The PR has more pit than rifling, but still hits POA/poi at 7-10yds.
Fun to plink with!
Phil from Kansas
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- Dec 18, 2019
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- 62
Are 32 s&w long and 32 long colt interchangeable? I thought that the only difference was the shape of the nose.
Driftwood Johnson
Member
No.
You are thinking of the Colt 32 New Police. Identical to the 32 S&W Long except for the flattened nose on the bullet and a couple of grains of bullet weight.
32 Long Colt originally used a heeled bullet, the same diameter as the cartridge case, .313. Just like modern 22 Rimfire ammunition, the bullet lubrication on any cartridge with a heeled bullet was on the outside of the bullet. The soft bullet lube on the outside of the bullet with Black Powder cartridges could cause the bullet to pick contamination. Later, the 32 Long Colt bullet was reduced in diameter to .299 and the lubrication was in lube grooves that fit inside the cartridge case.
32 S&W Long and 32 Colt New Police have always had inside lubricated .312 diameter bullets. Colt just did not want to but the S&W name on their revolvers.
This is the caliber marking on a 32 caliber Colt Police Positive. Notice the word police is part of the marking. CTG simply means cartridge.
Over the years S&W marked its 32 S&W Long revolvers a few ways. This is the caliber marking on a 32 Regulation Police. The word 'long' is prominent in this marking.
Later, S&W was even more specific. This is the caliber marking on a K-32 that left the factory in 1954.
tark
Member
I'm drooling.....
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