I recently acquired a Smith & Wesson chromedn revolver. Thre is no model number. All I can find is a serial number The number is 21245, Can anyone help me finding more about his firearm. Model? Year manufactred? Approx Value??? ETC. Thank you s&w32, salisburyx@aol.com
s&w 32 long cartridge relover info
- Thread starter s&w32
- Start date
Mike Irwin
Staff
question.
Where did that number come from? The bottom of the grip?
S&W's usually have a second 5 digit number on them at various places that is NOT the serial number. It's an assembly number.
On older S&Ws, the serial number will come off the bottom of the grip.
Where did that number come from? The bottom of the grip?
S&W's usually have a second 5 digit number on them at various places that is NOT the serial number. It's an assembly number.
On older S&Ws, the serial number will come off the bottom of the grip.
Qwiks draw
Moderator
Next questions to answer besides the one above. Is this a single action revolver or double action? Does the revolver have a trigger guard or not?
S&W started out with a 1 1/2 .32 S&W centerfire revolver in 1878-1892.
The .32 Double- Acton 1st through 5th models started production in 1880 and concluded in 1919.
The .32 Safety Hammerless was started in 1888-1937. There was a manual safety on the back of the grip that had to be squeezed as the gun was fired. This was done when the gun was gripped.
That's why we need more info.
S&W started out with a 1 1/2 .32 S&W centerfire revolver in 1878-1892.
The .32 Double- Acton 1st through 5th models started production in 1880 and concluded in 1919.
The .32 Safety Hammerless was started in 1888-1937. There was a manual safety on the back of the grip that had to be squeezed as the gun was fired. This was done when the gun was gripped.
That's why we need more info.
Mike Irwin
Staff
He seems to indicate that it's chambered in .32 S&W Long, so that would make it a hand ejector.
As others have mentioned, if the number is taken from the grip frame then it is the serial number. If this is the case then you have a .32 Hand Ejector Model of 1903 1st Change manufactured between 1904 & 1906 in the serial range 19426 to 51126.
If original then the finish will be nickel, not chrome. It is rare to see these old guns with a chrome refinish, as that is a relatively modern approach. Quite a few blued guns were refinished in nickel though.
If the gun has been refinished the hammer and trigger are likely to be nickeled as well, which will drop it's value as few collectors are interested in refinished guns.
Other things to be aware of:
This gun predates heat treatment of cylinders. Modern factory ammunition is loaded to take the weakness of old guns into account. If you handload ammunition don't try any loads stronger than factory specifications.
It also predates the modern hammer block safety introduced during WWII. It would be prudent to leave the chamber under the hammer empty if you keep the gun loaded.
Value is not high as the .32 S&W long is an underpowered, obsolete caliber for self defence and relatively expensive. There were well over half a million .32 Hand Ejectors manufactured, so they are not scarce, so you are not likely to have a couple of collectors bidding up the price on the basis of rarity.
In 2006 the Standard Catalog of S&W gave the following values:
As new in box: $700, Excellent + $385, Very good $315, Good $275, Fair $165, Poor $90. If the gun has been refinished then expect it to value as 'good', even if the refinish is excellent.
If original then the finish will be nickel, not chrome. It is rare to see these old guns with a chrome refinish, as that is a relatively modern approach. Quite a few blued guns were refinished in nickel though.
If the gun has been refinished the hammer and trigger are likely to be nickeled as well, which will drop it's value as few collectors are interested in refinished guns.
Other things to be aware of:
This gun predates heat treatment of cylinders. Modern factory ammunition is loaded to take the weakness of old guns into account. If you handload ammunition don't try any loads stronger than factory specifications.
It also predates the modern hammer block safety introduced during WWII. It would be prudent to leave the chamber under the hammer empty if you keep the gun loaded.
Value is not high as the .32 S&W long is an underpowered, obsolete caliber for self defence and relatively expensive. There were well over half a million .32 Hand Ejectors manufactured, so they are not scarce, so you are not likely to have a couple of collectors bidding up the price on the basis of rarity.
In 2006 the Standard Catalog of S&W gave the following values:
As new in box: $700, Excellent + $385, Very good $315, Good $275, Fair $165, Poor $90. If the gun has been refinished then expect it to value as 'good', even if the refinish is excellent.
Bullseye Smith
New member
The first S&W hand ejector was made in 1898 and it was a 32 Long S&W. The top break was a 32 S&W. The 32 Long is one of the best target rounds you can shoot. Here is a picture of it:
32s&w. long cartrdge info
Thanks everyone for the info re my 32S&W Serial number 21245. Based on your input and further resaerch on my part, I believe that my 32 is a Hand Ejector model of 1903, First Change, Double action six round , manufactured some time in 1903. It has pearl grips and was chromed several years ago.
Thanks again for your valuable help. John Salisbury
.
Thanks everyone for the info re my 32S&W Serial number 21245. Based on your input and further resaerch on my part, I believe that my 32 is a Hand Ejector model of 1903, First Change, Double action six round , manufactured some time in 1903. It has pearl grips and was chromed several years ago.
Thanks again for your valuable help. John Salisbury
.
Magnum Wheel Man
New member
Are you sure it's even a S&W, & not another brand of revolver chambered in 32 S&W Long ???
I have a blued S&W in 32S&W long. Serial number 33140 if I copied the number correctly. The cartridge might be a great target round, but not in my gun. I don't have adjustable sights and the grip is to small. As far as personal protection, I would rather have something larger.
My reason for posting is to ask if anyone have tried any speed loaders with their guns.
And
I have lead rounds. I assume these are good enough for killing if I run a trap like. Is there anything better if they gun is used for personal protection?
My reason for posting is to ask if anyone have tried any speed loaders with their guns.
And
I have lead rounds. I assume these are good enough for killing if I run a trap like. Is there anything better if they gun is used for personal protection?
MagTech (Brazilian) offers a .32 S&W Long 95 gr. Jacketed Hollow Point. I've bought a couple boxes and shot a few. They are fairly mild when shot from the small frame (in this case a S&W Model 732 and a 1st Gen. Charter Arms Undercoverette), short barrelled guns. Ballistics are a bit better than a .22lr or .22mag fired from a similar handgun.
Postoffice82
Inactive
single action?
My .32 Hand Ejector 5th model is single action. Is it supposed to be? were some double action?
My .32 Hand Ejector 5th model is single action. Is it supposed to be? were some double action?
Mike Irwin
Staff
"My .32 Hand Ejector 5th model is single action. Is it supposed to be? were some double action?"
Say what now?
All Hand Ejectors are double action unless the gun has been altered or there is some mechanical problem.
How about posting a photograph of your gun?
Say what now?
All Hand Ejectors are double action unless the gun has been altered or there is some mechanical problem.
How about posting a photograph of your gun?
carguychris
New member
Zombie thread, but I'll answer anyway...
Purposefully rendering a S&W revolver SAO can involve modifying the hammer, trigger, or both. Restoring the double-action function can be done by replacing the affected part(s), but it's not always a "drop-in" project; sometimes this works, but sometimes it doesn't, in which case a qualified gunsmith's attention may be required to make everything fit properly.
Also, you are likely to have trouble finding the appropriate parts. The names "5th Change", "3rd Change", etc. were not factory designations; they were endowed by collectors to differentiate changes in the internal mechanism. IOW certain internal parts are different with each "Change", and I'm nowhere near knowledgeable enough about early .32HE's to know if a newer (and presumably more commonplace) hammer and/or trigger will work in a 5th Change.
AFAIK all standard-production .32 Hand Ejectors were double-action. If yours only functions as single-action only (SAO), it has either been specially modified to work that way, or it's broken.
Purposefully rendering a S&W revolver SAO can involve modifying the hammer, trigger, or both. Restoring the double-action function can be done by replacing the affected part(s), but it's not always a "drop-in" project; sometimes this works, but sometimes it doesn't, in which case a qualified gunsmith's attention may be required to make everything fit properly.
Also, you are likely to have trouble finding the appropriate parts. The names "5th Change", "3rd Change", etc. were not factory designations; they were endowed by collectors to differentiate changes in the internal mechanism. IOW certain internal parts are different with each "Change", and I'm nowhere near knowledgeable enough about early .32HE's to know if a newer (and presumably more commonplace) hammer and/or trigger will work in a 5th Change.
Postoffice82
Inactive
single action
It is single action. Don't know what could be wrong with it. An elderly woman gave it to my dad in 1950 and he never shot it so it was like this then. I've shot maybe 50 rounds through it. Very accurate and fun to shoot. Any ideas on what needs fixed?
It is single action. Don't know what could be wrong with it. An elderly woman gave it to my dad in 1950 and he never shot it so it was like this then. I've shot maybe 50 rounds through it. Very accurate and fun to shoot. Any ideas on what needs fixed?
Mike Irwin
Staff
How about posting some pictures first so we know exactly what we're dealing with.
Winchester_73
New member
Lets not forget that S&W made 3 different 32 cals models in SA: model 2 old army, model 1 1/2 32 RF and the 32 S&W new model 1 1/2. I wonder if the gun is actually one of those, and the person doesn't understand what "hand ejector" refers to.
Mike Irwin
Staff
Exactly the point of my previous post.