Discard an old .32?

WiredAl

Inactive
My grandfather has an old .32 Smith and Wesson he's had since WWII (and I believe the gun was made in the 1930's).

He keeps it around and even used it to kill a skunk he accidentally trapped once, much to the consternation of my grandmother :eek:. My dad is afraid to let Grandad keep the thing and believes the only reason my grandfather wasn't picking pieces of .32 barrel out of his face was the ammo he shot the skunk with is as old as the gun. My dad believes if Grandad ever puts fresh ammo in it, there could be an accident.

Is this paranoia? I've never shot the thing, but it looks like it's in farily decent shape. I do not know the model number, unfortunately, but I know it's a break-open model like an old Webley.

I also don't know if my grandfather keeps it loaded. Is it reasonable for us to be concerned, or is it paranoia?
 
I inherited an old revolver from my dad 30+ years ago, just kept it in the safe. I was more into semi's, and didn't even care for revolvers. I had bought some ammo for it (.38 S&W, or so I thought) about 15 years ago, thinking I'd shoot it sometime.

I brought it out of the safe a number of months ago, and decided to do some research on the gun. Found out it was made prior to 1900, when the gunpowder was lower pressure and slower burning. This was prior to 'smokeless' gunpowder. Although the new .38 S&W cartridges fit perfectly, I'm told the gun would have blown apart. You can't get the correct ammo for it anymore.

I would do some homework, and have a competent gunsmith check it over before you fire it.
 
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If it's a 1930s manufacture Smith&Wesson and you put the proper ammo in it then in all likelihood it would be just fine BUT - those are a string of assumptions! You might try posting a question to the dedicated revolver forum with some detailed pictures to get more/better information, but honestly it should be taken to a gunsmith for a lookover.

As long as it's serviceable those break top Smiths are very collectible so bear this in mind.

Regards,
Oly
 
dont toss it, why would you want to get rid of a gun you actually cant replace because someone you met in a hardware store/walmasrt gun section says its not strong enough for modern ammo in the proper caliber?

the issue is that, factory ammo in 32 sw and 32 sw long is loaded to a pressure thats somewhat below the max allowed pressure for the cartridge. the saami pressures have been the same since the day the gun was made.
in fact in some calibers the saami pressure limits ahve gone down....

so if you arent sure find a good gunsmith to check it out for cylinder fatigue. most gunsmiths should be able to make you a new cylinder real fast if your not sure on it.
or you can simply load up plinking ammo for it and have fun with it now and then.

when did old guns in non tactical chambers become unsafe for use.
 
Take the gun to a smith and have it evaluated. If gramps doesn't have another gun, trade him a modern handgun for the break top.
 
Gramps gun

Whatever yawl do please don't take the ol boys gun away, put yourself in his place, the skunk "invaded" the homestead and Gramp's defended his home...a man has to do what a man has to do, as we get older the "kids" worry about the "Ol Man" having a loaded gun around, I think that's more the worry here then the age of the gun...

As stated above, trade him a newer gun or gift one to him, I'd give anything to be able to give my grandad a gun, but he died long ago... don't miss the chance offered here.

Good luck !!!!
 
Best case: get it to a qualified gunsmith or the manufacturer and have them evaluate it.

Worst case: trade it in to Sig and get yourself a couple hundred bucks towards a new gun.
 
First of all, find out a few things

For instance, is the gun an actual Smith&Wesson? Or is it a top break made by someone else (H&R, Iver Johnson, etc.) in .32 S&W caliber?

Then, examine the gun closely, look at the finish, and wear. IF the gun looks good, odds are it is. Having a competent gunsmith check it out is the best idea, and will give you a sound opinion to base your decision on. Rust, pitting, worn finish, looseness, these are things to make the gun suspect. Simple age is not.

There are several .32 caliber revolver cartridges that date from the blackpowder era, and those still loaded are loaded to pressures that keep them safe in the old guns (as long as the guns themselves are in good condition). Modern ammo will not harm an older gun, provided it is in the proper caliber. The .32 S&W cartridge was introduced in 1878, loaded with black powder, and has been loaded with smokeless powder (modern gunpowder) since 1940. There is also a .32 S&W Long, and .32 Colt (short and long, which are not interchangable with the S&W cartridges, as the cases are different).

Make sure of the proper ammo for the gun. Make sure of the make, and model of the gun. If you can get pictures to post, that would help alot. Otherwise, write down all the markings on the gun, and let us know, someone here should be able to make a fairly positive ID with that info.

The .32 S&W is a very low pressure round, firing an 85gr bullet at 705fps in original factory ammo. It is unlikely to dangerously stress an old revolver in proper functioning condition. Now, a seriously out of time revolver is another matter. If you have doubts about the gun (and not Grandpa) get it to a gunsmith. Then you will know for sure.
 
I have fired many, many of those old guns with modern ammo and have not blown one up - yet. The factories keep the pressure low enough that there is no problem with the old cast iron guns as long as they are in good shape.

One caveat. Do NOT fire .32 ACP in any old revolver. Its pressure level is 20,500 psi, in the .32 H&R Magnum range, and it could be dangerous in the old guns. It should be safe enough in a revolver chambered for .32 H&R Magnum or .327, but I really can't recommend using the wrong cartridge in any gun except in an emergency.

Jim
 
Good advice to have it checked out by a smith. I have an old top break Iver Johnson that I take out and shoot now and then and it has never caused me any concern. Make sure you have a knowledgable gunshop check out what ammo it takes and finding that ammo may be more difficult than you think. Mine shoots 32 S&W and not the 32 colt which looks almost identical. You may have a great shooter or maybe a great trade-in.
 
your paranoid, and your grandpa probably knows more about using that gun and whats safe for it then you do.

for chist sake leave the old man and his gun alone

If you are really worried, get him a good ruger blackhawk in 357. He'l be so tickled with a new gun and cartridge hel probably hurl that old . 32 in the river.
 
(and I believe the gun was made in the 1930's).

Made in the '30s? If it's in fact a S&W, I certainly wouldn't discard it. Should be fine as a shooter.

My dad believes if Grandad ever puts fresh ammo in it, there could be an accident.

How old is your Grandpa, and how is is mental state? If he's had it for this long, and he's still got his faculties, I wouldn't worry about him.
 
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Trade an old s&w on a sig!!! :slap: Never. The collector value is worth more than the sig if it's from the 1930s.

Send it to S&W or a good gunsmith.
 
I have a S&W 32 short made Before WWI I still shoot it ammo is getting expensive But a good little shooter I have a Iver Johnson from late 1920's in 38S&W another top break I bought it off a 83 year old man. He had just bought a newer S&W 38 spl . I have shot it also Just because their old doesn't mean bad. I bet he knows that pistol inside and out. Leave the man Alone. It his pistol and if he has had it all those years more power to him .
 
I'm going with the aformentioned advice....if there's concern about the condition of the pistol (and, if it's a S&W, I doubt you'll have much to worry about), then let a gunsmith give it a good checking-over. Maybe let the 'smith replace the springs. If it's OK, order him a case of ammo and call it good. If not, see if your granddad is ameniable toward using the S&W toward a newer gun...esp. something in the .22mag range (similar ballistics w/ easier to find ammo)....


...and leave Grandad alone....it sounds like Grandma is the one that needs some education (if not a psych evaluation).... :rolleyes:
 
Trade an old s&w on a sig!!! :slap: Never. The collector value is worth more than the sig if it's from the 1930s.

That's why I said "worst case scenario" before I made that suggestion. What I meant was that even if the gun is in horrible shape and a gunsmith deems it dangerous to shoot, at the very worst, it can be turned into a couple hundred bucks.

I made other suggestions too, you know. :)
 
How about talking to Grandpa and telling him your concerns. Then try to buy him the proper ammo for his gun.

Somewhere in this equation, grandpa has to be figured in to it. He might not like a new gun. My grandfather had arthritis and firing a newer handgun, like a .357, would have hurt like heck.

When I was in so much damn pain and started taking some serious pain medication, my family wanted to remove all my guns from my access. They are my guns, I will decide when it is time to get rid of them. Or someone better have a damn good argument before they try taking them from me.
 
If the gun is functional, new ammo won't blow it up as it's loaded down a bit from original specs for just that reason.

Reminder: I did say "if the gun is functional."

If you don't know enough to evaluate it yourself, take it to a gunsmith for a look-see. I have a bunch of old .32s and .38s and they've all done just fine with the new ammo. There's nothing wrong with having an old .32 around the house.
 
Let me echo some above comments.

Get your grandfather in the discussion, . . . tell him your concerns, . . . make the offer of something better or different. Unless he has succomed to alzheimers, dementia, or some other aging problem, . . . you will find he will most likely appreciate a genuine, warm concern from a grandson who loves him.

Then some day when you have his old gun laying in your gun safe, . . . you can pick it up and fondly remember both him and the conversation.

My first cousin in Minnesota has our grandfathers old Owl's Head .38 special that Grandpa Will Webb had there at the old home place. No, . . . I would not even think of shooting it, . . . but it is a tangible link to the past and to our family history, . . . well worth keeping.

May God bless,
Dwight
 
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