S&W Pre J frame .32

C

Condition One

New member
I have purchased (pick it up Friday) a S&W .32. Gun is about J frame in size. It has a 4 inch barrel. Cal. is .32 S&W long. It is 100% blue and Case color hammer. This is a 5 screw Smith. Patent dates on top of the barrel go from late 1800's to very early 1900's. The ejector rod has an over size nob on the end, much bigger than current production.
The cylinder has been turned and three of the charge holes show signs of being fired. The gun is in new condition. Grips are original and checkered with diamond at grip screw. Serial number (258217) is on the grip frame, front strap. I guess what my questions are; Is this a .32 hand ejector? When was this gun made? What is the value of this piece? Any information at all? Thanks in advance for any help here. Shoot Safe..... Co

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S&W made a .32 Hand Ejector Model of 1896 (aka .32 Hand Ejector First Model) and a .32 Hand Ejector Model of 1903 (Second Model) [both are I-Frame]. The serial# you gave indicates your gun is a .32 Hand Ejector Model of 1903, Fifth Change (produced from 1910-1917, SN range 102,501 to 263,000). A Third Model was made from 1911-42 (SN range 263,001 to 536-684).

The above info courtesy of Roy Jinks' HISTORY OF SMITH & WESSON, 1977.
 
ConD1,

I've got one of those myself, if I recall correctly VERY close in range to yours.

As others have said, it's an I-frame. What many people don't know is that this frame was the ORIGINAL Hand Ejector frame series. The K-frame Military & Police frame-size didn't come along until several years later.

The VAST majority of these guns were made in .32 Long in this model.

However, there are a FEW "nirvana pieces" made as factory .32 S&W's. These are INCREDIBLY rare, and very valuable. It's thought that most made it off the floor in the first two or three years of production, and that they were really "case by case" guns in that they were never really intended for sale, but just as one-offs for someone who worked at the factory, or as a special order.
 
Thanks very much for all the information on the .32 hand ejector. Now the only decision I have to make is; do I shoot this piece or keep it in the gun safe. Shoot Safe.....CO

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TEXAS LAWMAN
Could you look in JINK's book and give me some info on the S&W I frame .22/32 Kit and .22/32 Target models. According to my info they were given a model of 34 and 35 in 1957. In 1961 the -1 model indicated a change to the J frame. I am looking for an I frame .22/32 and want to make sure when it changed to the J frame. Maybe serial number range.
 
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