Old .32 cal SW information

[ar10]

I'm looking for information on what looks like an old S&W revolver. It's chrome plated, 5 shot with black grips, and breaks open to eject cartridges.
It has the S&W logo on the side, with very small printing on the ridge, "Smith & Wesson Springfield Mass.". the rest of the printing looks like patten numbers beginning with Feb 80.(I know it's not 1980 because the guy who owned died in 1979), and goes to Aug 4 85.
on the left side of the barrel is "32 S & W OTO and there is a small cartuoche(sp) four triangles stamped on it. The serial number is stamped on the butt, 105987.
I also have the box of Peters .32 S&W 88 gn lead bullets.

If someone could provide me with a link where I can get more info on the gun I'd appreciate it.

 

[Radagast]

Assuming it has an exposed hammer you have a S&W .32 Double Action 4th Model, manufactured between 1883 & 1909, guns made prior to serial number 209301 in 1898 are considered antiques.

If it has an enclosed hammer then it is a .32 Safety Hammerless 2nd Model manufactured between 1902 & 1909.

 

[ar10]

No, it does not have an exposed hammer. However the serial # is 105987 and considered as an antique???

 

[Old Fuff]

No, it does not have an exposed hammer. However the serial # is 105987 and considered as an antique???

No. Antiques are usually defined as those made during or before 1898. I have no idea how or why they picked that date, because it has no special meaning.

As your revolver has an enclosed hammer, and I presume a grip safety, it was made between 1902 and 1909, within a serial number range running from 91,418 to 170,000.

In my book a revolver 100-years old or older should be considered to be an antique, but the government - and the 1968 GCA don't see it that way. :banghead:

 

[Jim K]

The "OTO" by the way is really "CTG" standing for "cartridge".

Unfortunately, the GCA '68 set a fixed date for an antique, not a sliding one. BATFE has, though, set a sliding date of 50 years old for its Curio and Relic determination (some newer guns have also been designated as C&R, also).

Jim

 

[MICHAEL T]

Mine is nickle and hammerless with grip safety has serial number 190XXX I still shoot it and been known to carry to store now and then.

 

[ar10]

As your revolver has an enclosed hammer, and I presume a grip safety, it was made between 1902 and 1909, within a serial number range running from 91,418 to 170,000.

You're absolutely right. (I wondered what that thing was on the back of the grips)

Mine is nickle and hammerless with grip safety has serial number 190XXX I still shoot it and been known to carry to store now and then.

So I guess I can try shooting it, (after I clean it). I'm assuming it will shoot plain old .32cal ammo then??

 

[Old Fuff]

It's chambered to use .32 S&W cartridges (no "short" in the name.).

The grip safety was a unique feature on this S&W revolver. They advertised that it was absolutely safe to carry, as it wouldn't fire even if it was dropped on a hard surface. They also made a point that a small child couldn't shoot it because they couldn't squeeze the safety bar and pull the double-action trigger at the same time. It remained popular even after hand ejector revolvers with swing-out cylinders were introduced. Production ended in 1937.

 

[Radagast]

I'm pretty sure the 1898 date was picked due to the introduction of smokeless powder around that time.

MichaelT: if your gun is a .32 safety hammerless then it is a third model made between 1909 & 1937. Serial numbe range was 170001 to 242981.

 

[Old Fuff]

I'm pretty sure the 1898 date was picked due to the introduction of smokeless powder around that time.

Nope. By 1898 smokeless powder was well known. The U.S. Army had adopted a smokeless powder cartridge and rifle in 1892.

 

[Jim K]

In the drafting of GCA 68, "antique gun experts" were asked to define antiques and the 1898-1900 dates were the most common answers. So they settled on 1899.

I don't know if they could have gotten a sliding date or not if they had tried, but some folks thought that even the antique status was a reluctant concession by people who really wanted to ban all guns.

Jim

 

[Radagast]

Old Fuff, Jim Keenan, thanks for that. I assumed it was based on the introduction of the smokeless .38 special round in the Hand Ejector, I didn't even think of rifles.