.32 Caliber Revolvers

Gak,
Seriously, honestly, genuinely, and really- as of December of 2004 Ruger said ALL old model Vaqueros were out of production.
That came direct from Ruger's management during a phone conversation about the New Vaqs.
Denis
 
The old frame Vaqs are still out there but I believe that the supply will dry up soon. The custom pistolsmiths like Reeder,Linebaugh and Bowen use the larger frame for some excellent and beautiful custom jobs. I have heard it said that if Ruger was smart they would keep the tooling for the old Vaqs handy. The new Vaqs were built at the behest of the cowboy action shooting crowd. If Ruger was smart they would keep both frames in production. They MUST keep building the Bisley! and in the single six and med frame so I can fit a .32-20 cylider in there. I guess I am just gonna have to start saving for the Freedom Arms model 97.
 
Dpris. Thanks for the update. Very hard to get anything out of Ruger--very bad about news, clarifications, etc., on their website--so I applaud you. Makes me feel better about my having a 5.5" SS Vaquero .44M in my possession!
 
There was some confusion generated when they first said the .44 Mag was going to be continued, and I was surprised when he said all the old Vaqs were out of production. I specifically asked "What about the .44 Mags?", he again said "all old Vaqueros".
I try to correct it whenever I see it just so people won't think they've got forever to get one if they want one. Time is now.
Same source told me a couple weeks ago that the .32 single-actions are also out of production, but Ruger has a lot of them in stock, so people can still order them. They just weren't selling, the bird's-head I got from them a few months ago was dated 2002, which is a pretty good indicator.
Denis
 
Dpris, yes I and everyone else read reports of continuation early on. Makes you wonder what if anything will eventually come of the .44M -- i.e., if there is a future at Ruger for a fixed sight model. Essentially a Blackhawk underneath we all know, just the Vaq's are more charming to me in the "if you could only have one" department. But I've got mine so what am I worried about? :)
 
I've got two "old" .45 Vaqs, one New .45 Vaq & one "old" .44-40 Vaq. With three .45 Colt S&Ws, three .45 ACP S&Ws, two .45 Colt Peacemakers, one convertible .45 Colt/ACP Blackhawk, one USFA in .45 Colt, one Italian clone in .45 Colt, and one Bond derringer in .45 Colt, I ain't got enough time left on earth to wear all (or any) of 'em out. So, I'm pretty set for single-actions, and for .45s.
Denis
 
Tamara, very cool nickel Hand Ejector. I've been keepng my eye open for one for awhile. What did you have to give for that one if you don't mind me asking?

Also been looking for a K-32 in 32 S&W long. Missed a decent one on Smith-Wessonforum last summer. It was $300. Didn't last long.

Dang, then there's the dies for the Dillon, brass,..........
 
New shop in town. I stopped in today. He had a Colt Cobra (alloy frame Detective spl) with a 2" barrel in 32 Colt NP cal. Looked almost new. He wanted $425 for it. If anyone's interested, I'l let them know where it is.
 
Malamute,

Thanks for the offer, but Wyoming is a wee bit of a drive from San Francisco to examine a .32 colt. :p

Also thanks for dragging the thread back to .32 revolvers too!
 
By the way, Malamute, the last K-32 I saw here in kalifornia was a nice minty looking gun made in the early 1950's. Consignment sale for a mere $575 -- two years ago! Silly as it sounds, I debated it and when I went back to look again it had been purchased. *sigh*
 
He would probably send pictures of the Colt 32. I think he's a straight arrow as far as doing business.

Too bad that K-32 got away. I had no idea how much they were going for when I let that one get away for $300.
 
I became enamoured with the .32 H&R Magnum a few years ago, finally made the plunge. May be one of the best small game cartridges around. No recoil and kills far better than the .22 LR.

Freedom Arms 97, 4.25" bbl, micarta grips, express sights. Very sweet and very accurate.

FA1997.jpg


Ruger also made a limited run of Blackhawks in .32 H&R/.32-20 combination.

The neatest Ruger (IMO) is the Bisley, built on the Single Six frame. A very attractive revolver.

Regards,
JB
 
Nice pic JB, and a nice gun. I think there is a lot to be said for your philosophy ' I don't own many guns, just a few really nice ones.'
As they say ' a man cannot swallow the World.'
 
32 Revolvers

I only got four, An Eibar (Spanish) 32-20 (1905 S & W copy) Rest in 32 S&W , Hopkins and allen No 6, J N Scott all brass except Cylinder, about 1000-2000 made in 1890s It is odd and wished I could post a picture. And a American Bulldog by Iver Johnson.

I have a question about the Hopkins and Allen. It was made between 1898-to- about 1914. I have been told that consider it a black powder pistol in that they were going out of business and did not make any improvement in the steel used to make them. Has anyone heard any thing different? I got a box of 32 S&W (shorts) I am just itching to use.
 
Model 431

I had an SP101, too heavy. I tried a kel-tec, too unreliable. This one is just right.

100-0003_IMG.jpg


With belt-clip grips, it's a modern "bicycle gun"
100-0002_IMG.jpg
 
If anyone likes such things, another Colt 32 turned up at a shop in town, I think this one is an "official police"? It is a very small frame gun, (can I call it cute?) with about a 3 or 4" barrel. It's in excellent condition, maybe unfired (that may have been the 1903 auto)
 
rifleman article on 32S&W long

In the early '70s the American RifleMan printed a very good article on the 32S&W long in it was a load using OO buck; does this ring a bell with anybody? If so, please send the loading specs.
Tks Paul
 
I just couldn't stand not having a .32 H&R anymore so I went out and bought one. Came with Houge "Bantam" grips which end at the bottom of the grip frame. It feels like it weighs about the same as my Model 042 alloy .38. As soon as I get a chance to fire it, I'll provide a range report.

Meanwhile -- a photo of the new Model 432.

IMG_0976C.jpg
 
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