S & W 32 long CTG??

[Old Fuff]

Used a magnifying glass.

That is often necessary...

Having the assembly number match the serial number is unusual, because the assembly number was normally stamped on the yoke and frame before the serial number. But when dealing with Smith & Wesson's, never say never...

Occasionally a stamp was broken, and if CTG came out OTG they wouldn't scrap otherwise good barrels for that reason, but again... it's unusual.

 

[logden5751]

S & W 32 long ctg

I just bought one of these guns yeterday.Im trying to figure out how old it is.And what its worth. Its looks like nickle plate 3 1/2 in barrel .Hammerless, The handle looks like pearle and feels like plastic, it has an eagle and says framzite.Barrel says Smith & Wesson Springfield USA pat'd March 27 1894 August, 4 1896 December 17 1901 Febuary,6 1906.Left side of barrel says 32 long ctg and has the trade mark.Serial #s 835xx are all the same on the Butt,bottom of barrel and on the cylinder.It is in real good shape.I have a pic but didnt know how to attach it. Any help would be greatly appreate.

 

[CraigHartung]

32-20 S & W

Really appreciate your expert information, assesment, and advise. The revolver is from my Grandfather 1875-1949 through his son 1905 near death. Grandfather Ira Lee Winters, Nevada cattle rancher, State Assembyman and Senator, etc. Gun is very tight so it has been maintained properly. Have located proper ammunition.

 

[Old Fuff]

Really? How interesting…

Given the circumstances I strongly suggest that you contact Smith & Wesson’s historian, Roy G. Jinks. If you will provide him a full description of the gun, along with an ordinary snapshot to help confirm identification, and enclose a check made out to S&W in the amount of $30.00, he will “letter” the gun.

This means that he will research back through Smith & Wesson’s old shipping records, and then send you an official letter – containing a short history of the model, and then the specifics concerning your gun, with a full description of the gun as represented in the records, and the date and to what dealer or distributor it was originally shipped.

This will document the gun, as it was known at the factory. Be sure to tell Mr. Jinks the background, as you know it. He will be interested.

Go to: www.smith-wesson.com and then customer service.

 

[CraigHartung]

1905 32 Winchester CTG

Dear Old Fuff: Thanks for your guidance and good advise. I sent in the authentication documents and photo in to S & W yesterday.

 

[CraigHartung]

Smith & Wesson 32- 20

Dear Old Fuff:

I received my Smith & Wesson letter from Roy Jinks, as you had suggested I request. They corroborated your information on serial number 51263 as a Hand Ejector Model of 1905 Third Change. Shipped 01.19.1912 to Hibbard Spence Bartlett & Co., Chicago IL. with a 6 inch barrel, blue finish, and checkered walnut gold medallion grips. Thank you again for your advise.

 

[Old Fuff]

Hibbard Spence Bartlett & Co., Chicago IL. were a Smith & Wesson distributor that covered the mid-west and western states at the time. It would seem that the pieces fit.

 

[Grayrock]

I'll chime in for Old Fuff's assistance. This just came into my possession. It says 32 Winchester CTG on the barrel and has no under lug. The # on the frame (2 places when you open the cylinder ) does not match the one on the butt. Which one would you go by?

 

[Old Fuff]

The serial number is on the bottom of the butt, and it will be a low number. The number on the frame behind the yoke, and on the yoke, is an assembly number - put there to insure the right parts got back together before the frame was serial numbered. You may also find the serial number on the back face of the cylinder and on the inside on one of the two hard-rubber stocks.

The old girl has seen better days, but you have one of the very first K-frame revolvers. It is a .32-20 Hand Ejector, 1st. Model - made sometime between 1899 and 1902, within a serial number range running from 1 to 5,311.

The .32-20 cartridge, also known as the .32 WCF was originally introduced by Winchester for use in their models 1873 and 1892 rifles and carbines. The round became particularly popular around the turn of the 20th century, and Smith & Wesson took advantage of this by offering a revolver that could shoot the same cartridge. The .32-20 option remained in their catalog up until 1940, at which time some 144,684 had been made.

 

[Grayrock]

Man - you are fast. Serial # is 5175. Will that narrow down a "born on" date? Also, is there a precise model name or number associated with it? 32 Winchester is a .32-20? What type ammo do I look for? What is the purpose of the knurled screw at end of ejector? It is not long enough to poke out spent cases. Is there a source for a schematic for this gun

 

[Grayrock]

Is this it?

http://www.midwayusa.com/mediasvr.dll/highresimage?saleitemid=490856

 

[Old Fuff]

The only way to get an exact date is to send a copy of the photographs you posted, a full description (which you can do now) and a $30.00 check made out to S&W, to the factory. Thereafter their in-house historian, Roy G. Jinks will go through the old records until he finds it and then send you all of the information they have in an official S&W letter. The data should include the date it was shipped from the factory, and to what distributor or dealer. Additional information on factory letters will be found at (www.smith-wesson.com).

At the time Smith & Wesson numbered frames, and then built them into guns later - sometime years later. However given the popularity of the model I suspect it was shipped fairly quickly. The serial number would suggest that it was was one of the last in the original production run, and made in 1902.

The pictured ammunition is correct for the gun, but keep in mind that it is around 105 years old! Also they didn't heat treat cylinders at the time.

The knob on the end of the extractor rod has to be unscrewed before the cylinder assembly can be removed from the yoke for cleaning or whatever.

Finding a schematic for that prticular gun would be difficult, and the lockwork is different in later versions made after 1902. However if there is such a thing Roy Jinks at Smith & Wesson will know. I would ask him.

Model name: .32-20 Hand Ejector, 1st. Model. It was sometimes called the .32 Military & Police Model.

 

[Richard Simmons]

Just saw this thread which is perfect since I recently ran across an auction ad for a Model 30, blue, 4" with box, literature and accessories. Haven't seen it in person but it looks to have diamond magnas so it should be 68 or earlier. From the photo I've seen it could be NIB or LNIB. What's a fair/going rate for one of these and where could a man get some decently priced ammo? TIA

 

[Old Fuff]

According to Jim Supica, "The man" when it comes to Smith & Wesson values, and a member of The High Road, a Model 30 NIB can be worth upwards toward $375.00. That number comes from his recent book, Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, 3rd. Edition. However some went for more then that at his recent auction on (www.armsbid.com). Visit the site and you can review the auction and realized prices.

 

[Richard Simmons]

Thank you.

 

[dtown240]

....

 

[copes1]

32 LONG CTG question

Hi Folks,

I'm new here, drawn in by the discussion of other peoples 32 LONG CTGs. I recently received my late father in law's Smith & Wesson 32 LONG CTG. I am trying to determine if it is worth hanging on to for my wife. I don't like the gun myself. I find it has poor balance in my hand, and the handgrip feels like a miniature in my hand. I have a hard time grasping the short rounded bottom handle. I am attaching 2 photos of the gun, one from each side. They aren't very good, but maybe they give you some idea of the shape.

On the butt of the gun is stamped - 543153
Same number on flat under barrel.
Same number on cylinder.

On the right side just above and in front of the trigger guard it says:
Made in U.S.A.
MARCAS REGISTRADAS
SMITH & WESSON
SPRINGFIELD, MASS

On the right side of the barrel it simply says:
32 LONG CTG

On the left side above and behind the trigger guard is the S&W stamp.

On the left side of the barrel it says:
SMITH & WESSON

On the top of the barrel it says:
SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD MASS. USA
PATENTED FEB.6.06.SEPT.14 09,DEC.=9.14 (I'm not sure about that equal sign... it looks more like a double ~ than an equal sign)

The barrel is 4 1/4".

I can't see any other markings on it. It is in very good shape with only minor scratches. Any idea of how old it is and the value would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Charles

 

[Old Fuff]

You have a very early S&W 1903 .32 Hand Ejector (Postwar) - Pre model 30.

It was introduced in 1903 at serial #1, and production was suspended in 1942 at serial number 536,684. Production resumed in 1946 or '48 at serial number 536,685 using previoously made prewar parts.

Most of these revolvers came with black, hard rubber stocks. If the walnut stocks on your revolver are original to it the serial number will be marked on one panel on the inside. In such a case it would slightly increase the value, which on the collector's market in around $400.00, perhaps slightly more.

Concerning the handle. Stocks made for the current model 36, which are offered by S&W as well as many aftermarket companies and surplus dealers, can be fitted to your revolver to give it more "holding area."

Should you, or you wife, decide to keep the piece and shoot it you will find the recoil to be mild, and its accuracy to be exceptional.

 

[copes1]

Thank you for the quick response. I checked and the number stamped inside the stock matches the serial number on the butt.

Also, thanks for the info on the stocks. With the current stocks it is an uncomfortable feel for me, but I think it might fit in my wife's hands much better. My pinky finger curls underneath the stock when I hold it and my fingers curl all the way around the stock and almost touch my palm. Maybe I just have big hands. With a mild recoil, good accuracy, and a new set of stocks, I just might want to keep it.

I'm assuming cartridges are readily available for this gun, right? Will any 32 caliber shells work, or should I be looking for something special? The "long" on the end of 32 concerns me. Thanks again for your expert guidance.

 

[Old Fuff]

CDNN (www.cdnnsports.com) have checkered walnut stocks that convert the round-butt to a larger (but not too large) square butt. Some fitting may be necessary, but no alterations to the revolver. The stocks are relatively inexpensive, but notice a flat $9.99 handling and shipping fee. As this covers your whole order you may want too do some shopping around. S&W has much the same, but for more money.

The revolver is chambered to use the .32 S&W Long cartridge, and it will shoot the shorter .32 S&W. Both are available, but often not stocked by many dealers. Bullets (.312") are available and it's an easy round to reload. Prior to World War Two the little gun was considered acceptable by many police departments for concealed carry. It was also a favored bedside table gun.

If you use this forumn's search feature you will find a considerable number of past threads on both the revolver and .32 S&W Long Ammunition. Around here the little gun has a following...

 

[copes1]

I think I'm going to order those checkered walnut stocks from CDNN. Hopefully they will fit without too much alteration required.

This revolver was owned by my father in law, who purchased it in 1950. He was stationed at Barksdale AFB in Shreveport, LA and was being tranfered to Alaska. His wife wasn't going to go with him so he bought it for her for protection while he was away. I think it has only been fired maybe 4 or 5 times. He was in non-commissioned officer in the Air Force until he retired in the late 60s. We'll keep it for nostalgia even if not for use.

Thanks again for all your help.

 

[Old Fuff]

I don't think you'll find much fitting is necessary. The J-frame handle is identical to the I-frame (on which your revolver is built) except it is about 1/8" longer. You may have to relocate a pin hole at the bottom of the grip panels but not much else. The gap doesn't show because wood covers it - the stocks being oversized and all.

Since wood covers about half of the backstrap, and all of the butt and forestrap, any inletting you do on the inside doesn't have to be perfect because it won't show.

 

[copes1]

I meant to mention in my last post that my mother in law said they paid $50 for it in 1950 in Shreveport, LA. After thinking about it for a minute I realized this gun was purchased the year I was born. In fact, it is likely a bit older than me. You said they started back production in '46 or '48 with serial # 536,685. There are only 6,473 between that startup and this gun's Serial # 543,158. I don't know how many they made per year, but it seems likely to me that this was probably made very close to the startup. Since this one was purchased in 1950, I'm thinking the 1948 startup is probably the better date. Of course it could have sat around for a few years before being purchased.

Now that I've learned a bit more about the gun I'm looking forward to getting some ammo and trying it out.

 

[Old Fuff]

Given the gun's history you might want to get it "lettered." To do so you send the following to Smith & Wesson:

1. A copy of at least one picture that you posted here. The purpose is to help confirm identification.

2. A copy of your first post, that contains an excellent description.

3. A check in the amount of $30.00, made out to Smith & Wesson.

In exchange their in-house historian, Mr. Roy G. Jinks, will research and examine the old records (which are not computerized - a search isn't always easy) and find where your revolver was logged. A official letter from S&W will follow, that contains a short overview of the model, and then specific information about your gun, usually including but not limited to:

1. The original caliber, barrel length, finish and type of stocks.

2. The date it was shipped, and to what distributor or dealer.

3. Any special features or circumstances that might be listed in their records.

Additional information will be found at: www.smith-wesson.com

Expect at least 8 to 10 weeks for a reply, as they are getting a lot of requests for this service.

Early on their production was limited, because they were for the most part using pre-war parts. However they did introduce a new and improved hammer block that was developed during the war, and made the gun safer to carry. If you cock the hammer you may notice a square notch in the hammer face, just under the firing pin. That was for the additional safety. I also suspect that the 1948 date is correct, and a letter from Mr. Jinks would confirm this.

 

[luckywdw]

32 S&W CTG on right side of barrel

Greetings all, need help with garage find pistol at father-in-laws. Left side of barrel says Smith & Wesson, right side says 32 S&W CTG, top of barrel says Smith & Wesson Springfield MASS U.S.A. No patent dates anywhere. Right side of frame above trigger MADE IN U.S.A. Right side frame above pistol grip is the S&W trade mark logo. Serial number on bottom of butt and on back of cylinder 231181, no other numbers or markings, pistol is blued with a small rounded butt, grips are white mother of pearl, this is a five shot cylinder hammerless double action, any help ??? Thanks !!