Rechamber 32 S&W to Long?

[weekender823]

Hi All,

I have been lurking here for some time, this is my first post.

I have recently acquired an Iver Johnson Cadet in 32 S&W. The gun is in good condition, I believe 60's vintage. This model was also available in 38 S&W and I think briefly in 38 special. I would like to rechamber it to a 32 S&W Long. The cylinder appears to be long enough. Is this a bad idea?

Thanks in advance,

Greg

 

[rcmodel]

It would be possible, but not economically feasible.

At a minimum, it will probably cost you $20 bucks a hole to have a gunsmith re-chamber it, and probably more.
.32 S&W Long chamber reamers don't grow on tree's, and I doubt too many gunsmiths have one!

SO, you just sunk $120+ in a $50 - $75 gun.

The IJ has no collector value, and little value as a shooter.
I'd just accept it for what it is, and put the re-chambering money on a better gun.

rcmodel

 

[Old Fuff]

Double check the chamber length. The Cadet was made between 1955 and 1984, and while it is marked ".32 S&W" I believe it was actually chambered for the .32 S&W Long cartridge.

If I'm right I'll gladly accept the money you were going to spend on rechambering.

 

[weekender823]

Hey guys - thanks for the quick replies!

rcmodel - I hear you on the value, thats why I bought this gun. I have machine shop access and skills, but no gunsmithing experience. It is intended to be a learner.

Old Fuff - The caliber of the gun is not marked. I tried to chamber a Long, and nogo. A regular 32 S&W was just fine. With the length of the cylinder, I was really surprised (and dissappointed). Could I be missing something?

 

[Ron James]

By the way. if you find a Iver Johnson in .38 special buy it. They made one but you're not going to find it at a gun show; [they didn't manufacture the Cattleman]

 

[Old Fuff]

A regular 32 S&W was just fine. With the length of the cylinder, I was really surprised (and dissappointed). Could I be missing something?

I admit I'm surprised.

From a sales point of view it makes no sense to chamber a cylinder for the shorter cartridge when the cylinder is both long enough and strong enough to hold the longer one. Harrington & Richardson (H&R) made a line of blank "starter revolvers," chambered in .32 S&W after World War Two; but all of their regular models in that bore size were .32 S&W Long. As they're main competitor for these kind of handguns I would have expected Iver Johnson to do the same.

Of course anything is possible, and sometimes gun companies do strange things. Check: www.e-gunparts.com and see if they might have a cylinder chambered for the Cadet in .32 S&W Long. If they did it might cost less then rechambering the one you have.

One other thing. I would expect that sales would have been slow for this particular revolver in this chambering. It may have some modest collector value.