Old .32S&W Revolver

Air,Land&Sea · August 4, 2006, 08:55 PM

Can anyone tell me about this S&W revolver in .32S&W? It was just handed down to me and has been in the family for a long, long time. Thanks.

Richard Simmons · August 4, 2006, 09:33 PM

I believe it to be either a .32 Double Action 3rd or perhaps 4rd model. If the serial number is below 43405 it is a 3rd, above it is a 4th. A 3rd model would put it between 1882-83 while a 4th model would be 1883-1909. The barrel might be a 6" but kind of looks like 5"?

johnbt · August 5, 2006, 05:33 PM

I vote for 4th Model - round trigger guard and pinned front sight. The 2nd &
3rd Models had squared-off trigger guards on the rear and the 5th Model had a machined one-piece front sight & barrel rib.

I had a 4th Model that belonged to my great uncle. Not a bad little gun, except for the discolored nickel on part of one side from riding in his hip pocket for many years. Shot pretty well, too.

John

skeeter1 · August 5, 2006, 06:46 PM

That's a nifty little revolver. Please don't sell it -- it should stay in the family.

If you want to try shooting it, you can still get some ammo here:

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/32sw_bdc.htm

although it's probably going to be harder to come by some day.

johnbt · August 5, 2006, 09:10 PM

Too many blooming guns.

I said my great uncle had a .32. My grandfather had a .32, my great uncle had a .38.

John

Air,Land&Sea · August 7, 2006, 09:32 PM

Thanks. It's a .32 DA 3rd Model made in 1884.

johnbt · August 8, 2006, 10:28 AM

I'm curious how you arrived at 3rd Model. It looks like a 4th and I thought the 1884 guns were 4th Model.

The 3rd model has a different triggerguard:

John

August 7, 2006, 09:32 PM	#6
Air,Land&Sea Member Join Date: June 12, 2005 Posts: 52	Thanks. It's a .32 DA 3rd Model made in 1884. __________________ Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women. When it dies there; no constitution, no law, no court can save it.

August 4, 2006, 09:33 PM	#2
Richard Simmons Senior Member Join Date: August 5, 2005 Location: Roanoke, VA Posts: 161	I believe it to be either a .32 Double Action 3rd or perhaps 4rd model. If the serial number is below 43405 it is a 3rd, above it is a 4th. A 3rd model would put it between 1882-83 while a 4th model would be 1883-1909. The barrel might be a 6" but kind of looks like 5"?

August 5, 2006, 05:33 PM	#3
johnbt Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 1999 Location: Richmond, Virginia USA Posts: 6,004	I vote for 4th Model - round trigger guard and pinned front sight. The 2nd & 3rd Models had squared-off trigger guards on the rear and the 5th Model had a machined one-piece front sight & barrel rib. I had a 4th Model that belonged to my great uncle. Not a bad little gun, except for the discolored nickel on part of one side from riding in his hip pocket for many years. Shot pretty well, too. John

August 5, 2006, 06:46 PM	#4
skeeter1 Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 2006 Location: Northeast Ohio Posts: 3,403	That's a nifty little revolver. Please don't sell it -- it should stay in the family. If you want to try shooting it, you can still get some ammo here: http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/32sw_bdc.htm although it's probably going to be harder to come by some day.

August 5, 2006, 09:10 PM	#5
johnbt Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 1999 Location: Richmond, Virginia USA Posts: 6,004	Too many blooming guns. I said my great uncle had a .32. My grandfather had a .32, my great uncle had a .38. John

August 8, 2006, 10:28 AM	#7
johnbt Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 1999 Location: Richmond, Virginia USA Posts: 6,004	I'm curious how you arrived at 3rd Model. It looks like a 4th and I thought the 1884 guns were 4th Model. The 3rd model has a different triggerguard: John