Discard an old .32?

Thank you for the advice!

I'm certainly not intending to disarm my grand father (though grandma may feel that's the proper response :rolleyes:). I'll speak to grandad next time we go up to visit, and perhaps he'll let us take the gun in to the gun store my dad and I always visit when we're in town for an evaluation.

My concern is merely that he's a rather strong-headed fellow, and if he runs out of antique ammo he may try running a fresh cartridge in it.

He's had a couple of highly rare collectible guns he brought back from Germany destroyed because improper ammo was fired through them :eek:
 
really?

Me? of all people, a young gun?... I am the ONLY one who wants to see some pics???!!!! lets see this piece of artwork!
 
and perhaps he'll let us take the gun in to the gun store
Click to expand...

Gun store or gunsmith? They are not the same thing. The dudes at your average gun store would tell you it's a piece of junk in hopes of getting you to trade it to them at a price much less than it is worth. A gunsmith, on the other hand, would (usually) have the brains and skill to inspect it and give you an honest rundown on its mechanical condition.

But he just shot a skunk with it, so you know it works. The skunk is dead and the gun is still in one piece.:)

Tell your pop to ease off making rash judgments about things he doesn't understand, and leave the old man alone.
 
If it were me...

1) I would buy him a new/used gun that I think he would like.
2) I would take a portrait of him with the old gun and one with the new gun. (But, I am a photographer and that is just what I do... I love portraits that will be treasured)
3) I would talk him into letting me have a gunsmith check out the old revolver.
4) If the gun is in condition to shoot buy him some proper ammo, or reload some that is safe to shoot in that particular gun.
5) If you don't know the story behind his gun, have him tell you and always keep the thing in the family.

* Would you want some youngin come and take your guns when you get old?
 
One thing to watch out for from that time period is the Spanish imported copies. Quality on those was all over the map, often residing in the part that says "oh crap, don't fire that unless a bench vice and 100yds of string is involved".

:)

Seriously, if it's an old Spanish critter, be very wary.

If it's a real S&W and seems tight'n'right, with the right ammo it'll probably be fine. Ditto most of the lesser American brands, including Iver Johnson, Harrington&Richardson, some others.
 
Leave the old man's gun alone,

Neither you nor your father have the right to mess with it until he's gone.

Get over it... go buy your own gun.
 
With that attitude, if I was Grandpop, you could have my gun only when you can pry it out of my cold dead hands. Darn whippersnappers.

More seriously, unless you have evidence Grandpa has a mentally unstable aging disease...like sworn statements by three psychiatrists, you and your Dad should treat him with a bit more respect. Seems to me that if he had the sense to shoot the skunk he's one up on the rest of you, including grandma.
 
You've gotten good advice, have a gunsmith or such person that knows these guns well, etc..... to check it out and what "exact" ammo should be used in it. I know of a couple of guns over 140 yrs old that are shot, with special ammo only.
 
The S&W as well as the H&R and Iver Johnson top breaks have a common weakness but won't "blow up" with correct ammunition -- black powder only in revolvers made prior to 1902 or so. The common weakness is the screw pin in the top strap latch. With long use this pin will bend and stretch. Then some sunny Sunday afternoon the gun will fire, the latch will let go and throw cartridges all over the picnic blanket. A new screw pin will fix 'er up for a while, but she'll let go more and more often until she's too sloppy to stay latched at all. Then just replace the latch itself and peen the frame posts backward until lockup is firm and you're good to go for a while longer.

But they won't "blow up" unless grossly wrong ammo is used.

Just ask my grampa... when ya see him up there...
 
Last edited:
My concern is merely that he's a rather strong-headed fellow, and if he runs out of antique ammo he may try running a fresh cartridge in it.
Click to expand...

WiredAl: The new .32 S&W ammo is loaded to milder specs than was the older stuff. Fresh cartridges are weaker.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top