S&W Model 32 no dash value??
- Thread starter Grant D
- Start date
aarondhgraham
New member
There is a problem,,,
There is a problem with the description of the gun.
S&W didn't start using model numbers until 1957.
Here is what the 2010 Standard catalogue of Firearms says about the Model 32:
Hope this helps,,,
Aarond
.
There is a problem with the description of the gun.
S&W didn't start using model numbers until 1957.
Here is what the 2010 Standard catalogue of Firearms says about the Model 32:
Hope this helps,,,
Aarond
.
Thanks Aarond!!
As I recall It said terrier on the card, but it was stamped 32, so it's a later model than 1955.
Then I guess it's a fair price,I'll see if I can talk them down a little ,they usually come down a bit on the price for cash.
I just have a soft spot for S&W snubbies!
As I recall It said terrier on the card, but it was stamped 32, so it's a later model than 1955.
Then I guess it's a fair price,I'll see if I can talk them down a little ,they usually come down a bit on the price for cash.
I just have a soft spot for S&W snubbies!
Winchester_73
New member
Despite being harder to find than say a round butt model 36 in 38 special, they are also less in demand and less valuable most often. Use that argument to talk them down a little. If the gun has the flat latch with diamond grips, it was probably made before 1968 when those features were dropped. It really doesn't make the gun any worse but it lessens the appeal.
For $500, I would keep looking. Check gunbroker, they were common and they are affordable. You might be able to find a boxed gun for that kind of money. If the gun is not marked "MOD 32" in the yoke, then its a different story than if its just a model 32.
For $500, I would keep looking. Check gunbroker, they were common and they are affordable. You might be able to find a boxed gun for that kind of money. If the gun is not marked "MOD 32" in the yoke, then its a different story than if its just a model 32.
In the S&W terminology, a gun made prior to 1957 typically is a "named" gun and often referred to as a "Pre-"[model number] gun.
The gun you're asking about is the .38/32 Terrier which was built on the I-Frame (which preceded the J-Frame). It can also be referred to as a Pre-Model 32. It is a .38 caliber revolver built on the S&W .32 caliber frame.
Postwar I-frame revolvers ("I-frame") saw a lot of design changes in a short period of time. Early specimens are (almost) look much like their prewar predecessors. The early configurations uses a flat mainspring. Soon after I-frame revolver production resumed in the postwar years, the company went to a coil mainspring, giving rise to the term Improved I-frames.
How do you tell which mainspring you have? Well, you can take off the grips and observe directly. You can also tell it's a flat mainspring if you have a screw and the front, bottom of the grip frame. That is the strain screw that tensions a flat spring. If there is no screw, you have a coil mainspring.
It's also important to note that the Terrier is NOT chambered for .38 Special. It uses the older, less potent .38 S&W cartridge (see photo below). The two cartridges are not interchangeable. That said, the .38 S&W is a fun cartridge to reload. It takes little powder and is mild shooting. But out of a 2-inch barrel performance is quite lackluster.
.38 S&W vs. .38 Special
$500 sounds a bit on the steep side, unless it's in nearly pristine condition with the original S&W box and tidbits that came in the box.
The gun you're asking about is the .38/32 Terrier which was built on the I-Frame (which preceded the J-Frame). It can also be referred to as a Pre-Model 32. It is a .38 caliber revolver built on the S&W .32 caliber frame.
Postwar I-frame revolvers ("I-frame") saw a lot of design changes in a short period of time. Early specimens are (almost) look much like their prewar predecessors. The early configurations uses a flat mainspring. Soon after I-frame revolver production resumed in the postwar years, the company went to a coil mainspring, giving rise to the term Improved I-frames.
How do you tell which mainspring you have? Well, you can take off the grips and observe directly. You can also tell it's a flat mainspring if you have a screw and the front, bottom of the grip frame. That is the strain screw that tensions a flat spring. If there is no screw, you have a coil mainspring.
It's also important to note that the Terrier is NOT chambered for .38 Special. It uses the older, less potent .38 S&W cartridge (see photo below). The two cartridges are not interchangeable. That said, the .38 S&W is a fun cartridge to reload. It takes little powder and is mild shooting. But out of a 2-inch barrel performance is quite lackluster.
.38 S&W vs. .38 Special
$500 sounds a bit on the steep side, unless it's in nearly pristine condition with the original S&W box and tidbits that came in the box.
Mike Irwin
Staff
The Improved I frame was also built on a larger frame, about 20% larger overall, with a bigger grip and frame window.
Wow! thanks guys for all the information. Y'all came through as usual.
I think I'll wait till next Monday and see if it's still there,cause they're used guns sell like hot cakes! If you don't buy it one day, it's gone the next!
So, if it's still there, I'll offer them less, and see what they do.
Again...thanks a lot.
I think I'll wait till next Monday and see if it's still there,cause they're used guns sell like hot cakes! If you don't buy it one day, it's gone the next!
So, if it's still there, I'll offer them less, and see what they do.
Again...thanks a lot.
The older .38 S&W revolvers, like the Regulation Police and the Terriers aren't terribly good sellers with the average gun buyer. That's due to the obsolete cartridge that's slightly more difficult to find. Thus their prices are usually lower than average.
The same can be said for the .32 caliber revolvers too. Most people end up buying a .38 Special for defensive use.
But you can have a tremendous amount of fun with .38 S&W and .32 revolvers, especially if you reload. They are mild shooting and easy on the powder budget. The .32 Long can be quite accurate and empty brass seems to last for years. Both cartridge work well for small game. One friend uses his father's old Regulation Police .38 to rid his property of possums and muskrats.
Look for good condition .32's and .38 S&W's in pawn shops or used gun displays. Often times you can find some late elderly person's "nightstand gun" with almost no trigger time for a song.
The same can be said for the .32 caliber revolvers too. Most people end up buying a .38 Special for defensive use.
But you can have a tremendous amount of fun with .38 S&W and .32 revolvers, especially if you reload. They are mild shooting and easy on the powder budget. The .32 Long can be quite accurate and empty brass seems to last for years. Both cartridge work well for small game. One friend uses his father's old Regulation Police .38 to rid his property of possums and muskrats.
Look for good condition .32's and .38 S&W's in pawn shops or used gun displays. Often times you can find some late elderly person's "nightstand gun" with almost no trigger time for a song.