Info Needed

ph03n1xkny · June 29, 2011, 08:09 AM

Hi there,

Greetings from a sunny South Africa

I recently inherited a firearm from my late grandfather and was wondering if any body here on the forum could maybe give me a little bit of information on it, as in year produced etc.

On the barrel it states "Smith & Wesson .32 LONG CTG", it has a 6 inch barrel and the serial number is 258xx.

Can any body possibly let me know if this firearm is worth keeping seen as here in S.A we are currently having major issue with Fire arm registration.

Thanks and Regards,
Ph03n1xkny

**44 AMP** · June 29, 2011, 10:14 PM

Greetings from the (currently) sunny USA!

Pictures would be a huge help, and any other infomation marked on the gun.

The .32 Smith & Wesson Long cartridge was introduced in 1896, and many different revolvers and even some autoloaders have been made for it. With guns made in the US, Britain, and other places in Europe for many decades, its difficult to say what they are from the information provided.

Colt made an identical cartridge (with a differnt shape bullet) and called it the .32 Colt New Police. So your gun is not likely a Colt. Other than that, without more information, I can't say who made it with any certainty.

The .32 S&W Long is not a powerful cartridge, with velocity in the 750fps range. It is a very low pressure round. Slighly better for small game than a .22LR (due to a larger heaver bullet), but not thought of today as a good choice for self defense. Although many police carried them in the early 1900s, the .32 gave way to the .38 Special as better suited for police and self defense work.

IF your gun turns out to be something fairly rare or collectable, then it has some value. Otherwise, outside of sentimental value, its not worth much money. Ammo is not common or cheap in the US, but it can still be had.

One thing the .32s have going for them is a reputation for good accuracy, in general. Many were kept as match guns for years after being replaced on the streets with the more effective .38s.

Kodyo · June 29, 2011, 10:34 PM

I see no reason to NOT keep it, seeing as it has sentimental value.

ph03n1xkny · June 30, 2011, 02:04 AM

Thanks for the information Amp 44. I will post some pics later on today.

ph03n1xkny · June 30, 2011, 02:10 AM

Thanks for the reply Kodyo. I have the same feeling.

Unfortunately the SA government has changed our fire-arm laws to only allow an individual to be in possesion of 1 Hand Gun, unless you register as a dedicated sports person and attend shooting comps etc.

So, im caught between a Rock and a hard place in terms of, do i deactivate this beautiful weapon and just keep it as an ornament (Which will be a crime in my opinion) and get myself a .357 or .38 OR do i keep it and never own another handgun.

gyvel · June 30, 2011, 05:20 AM

Unfortunately, your question is along the lines of "I have this car that says "V8" on the sides. What kind of car is it?" Pictures are best, but, failing that, details of all markings that appear on the gun would be a big help. In other words, is there a manufacturer's name and address located on the gun? Are there odd proofs on the gun? Is it a solid frame or top break? Etc.

ClayInTx · June 30, 2011, 07:13 AM

If the gun is in good condition it is probably as reliable as anything on the market today and worth keeping as your “only” handgun.

ph03n1xkny · June 30, 2011, 07:31 AM

Here are some pictures. I am not very clued up on fire arms, so maybe they will help. I can tell you that it is a 6 shot.

ph03n1xkny · June 30, 2011, 07:35 AM

Some more pics

ph03n1xkny · June 30, 2011, 07:39 AM

Unfortunately the above images were taken with my mobile phone. Ill take some nice pics later of the writing on the top of the Barell and upload them later. Thanks for all the help this far.

gyvel · June 30, 2011, 07:15 PM

I should learn how to read. I had to completely re-edit since I thought you said you had a .38.

What you seem to have there is a ".32 hand Ejector Model of 1903 First Change." They were manufactured from 1904-1906, in the serial number range of 19426-51126.

I don't know what your laws are like in SA, but you have a revolver that is more than 100 years old, and is an antique.

Wildalaska · June 30, 2011, 07:35 PM

.32s rock!!!!! I just snagged five boxes of Remington factory ammo today for $100!!!

WildiruleAlaska ™©2002-2011

ph03n1xkny · July 1, 2011, 01:38 AM

Thanks for the info. We thought the fire arm was old, but not that old

Can you tell me if in your opinion if the fire arm is safe to shoot? Anybody know its possible value?

(I am mearly asking for peoples opinions, and understand that if i fire the weapon i do so at my own risk and hold no body but myself responsible if anything goes wrong)

**44 AMP** · July 1, 2011, 02:45 AM

The .32 is a very low pressure cartridge, that doesn't put a lot of strain on th gun. If your gun is in good shape mechanically, it is probably safe to shoot. A good gunsmith could check it and let you know for sure.

Sorry, I don't have any idea of the value, its not my area of interest. The collector market in the US would certainly be interesed in your revolver, but I have no idea what a good price would be.

ph03n1xkny · July 1, 2011, 02:51 AM

Thanks 44 Amp. Will take to my nearest gun smith and get him to check it out. The value of the revolver was mearly just for interest sake, wouldnt want to sell as seen as its sentimentallity is worth more than $

youngunz4life · July 1, 2011, 02:57 AM

44amp or others might no better, but I think it is in your best interest to not clean the weapon or try to refurnish it if I chose the right terminology. Again, I am not sure. It would be nice to shoot a cylinder if it was ok to. I am on the opposite end of the spectrum. I preserve things so they can be relics and collectibles long after I am gone. My great-grandfather preserved a lot of family history for me(back in the days when it wasn't as easy/actual had to write stuff down about some people just the best he could), but not the actual relics such that you have.

I'm not an expert on firearms, but my first impression was that you had an old one there.

ph03n1xkny · July 1, 2011, 03:12 AM

Thanks for the reply Youngunz4life. I wasn't planning on re-bluing or re-coating the gun, i love it the way it is, it has a certain authenticity to it and its the way i remember my grandfather having it.

I do however keep it well oiled and cleaned, seen as i live at the Coast and wouldnt want it to get any rust or corrosion, esp as it is soo old.

**44 AMP** · July 2, 2011, 03:09 PM

correct cleaning does no harm to any collector value. Refinishing invariably lowers the collector value, even if done by the original maker.

Incorrect cleaning can damage the remaining finish or even the metal itself (such as at the muzzle). Century plus old guns need the same basic care as any gun, whith more attention paid to making sure their condition does not deteriorate.

Living near the ocean means you have to keep a close eye on your guns, and keep them well protected from the salt air. Do that, and they will be fine, old or new. Don't, and they can rust badly in a short time.

I have a great deal of sympathy for your situation ph03n1xkny, if the law only allows you only one handgun, that fine family heirloom should be kept, unless your personal situation means you have a serious need for a better handgun. If it does, then you have a difficult choice.

I wish you the best, and hope you will be able to hang on to that .32, for family reasons if nothing else.
Good Luck.

ph03n1xkny · July 4, 2011, 07:43 AM

Thanks Amp 44, I appreciate all the information.

Kind Regards from a not so Sunny SA

**44 AMP** · July 6, 2011, 11:31 PM

my S&W guru tells me that there were 31,700 of that model made.

**44 AMP** · July 6, 2011, 11:42 PM

Also, my guru says that the grips on your gun are not the standard grips for that model. They are oversize target grips. They are of the era for the gun, and period correct, but were not the standard grips the gun was sold with.

Either the gun was ordered from S&W with those grips by your grandfather (or whomever he got the gun from), or the grips were ordered by themselves and put on the gun. Either way is period correct, and would not detract from the historical value of the gun. I know you aren't interested in selling it, just wanted to pass along that infomation.

My guru says it was fairly common to put oversize grips on those guns as the stock grips are rather small.

ph03n1xkny · July 7, 2011, 01:50 AM

Thanks 44 Amp, to the best of my knowledge the weapon was originally my great grandfathers, pass along down.

Even for Oversized grips they darn small

Guys from that era must've had tiny hands

**44 AMP** · July 7, 2011, 10:19 PM

They did have small hands, on average, 100 years ago, people tended to be smaller than today. And that .32 is a small gun, besides. Most of them had 3 or 4" barrels and round butt grip frames. The 6" length is uncommon, but not rare. Ususally found on the target guns, but not always.

The target grips were standard on the target model guns, and would also fit the regular guns as well. Your gun has the standard sights (fixed), so its not the full target model.

The most common reason for putting target stocks (grips) on a standard gun is that they usually feel better! And thats most likely why Grandpa got a gun with them, or got them put on.

ph03n1xkny · July 8, 2011, 01:52 AM

thanks Amp 44, interesting information coming out here. Way more than I expected when i first started this thread

June 29, 2011, 08:09 AM	#1
ph03n1xkny Junior Member Join Date: June 29, 2011 Posts: 12	Info Needed Hi there, Greetings from a sunny South Africa I recently inherited a firearm from my late grandfather and was wondering if any body here on the forum could maybe give me a little bit of information on it, as in year produced etc. On the barrel it states "Smith & Wesson .32 LONG CTG", it has a 6 inch barrel and the serial number is 258xx. Can any body possibly let me know if this firearm is worth keeping seen as here in S.A we are currently having major issue with Fire arm registration. Thanks and Regards, Ph03n1xkny

June 29, 2011, 10:14 PM	#2
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,843	Greetings from the (currently) sunny USA! Pictures would be a huge help, and any other infomation marked on the gun. The .32 Smith & Wesson Long cartridge was introduced in 1896, and many different revolvers and even some autoloaders have been made for it. With guns made in the US, Britain, and other places in Europe for many decades, its difficult to say what they are from the information provided. Colt made an identical cartridge (with a differnt shape bullet) and called it the .32 Colt New Police. So your gun is not likely a Colt. Other than that, without more information, I can't say who made it with any certainty. The .32 S&W Long is not a powerful cartridge, with velocity in the 750fps range. It is a very low pressure round. Slighly better for small game than a .22LR (due to a larger heaver bullet), but not thought of today as a good choice for self defense. Although many police carried them in the early 1900s, the .32 gave way to the .38 Special as better suited for police and self defense work. IF your gun turns out to be something fairly rare or collectable, then it has some value. Otherwise, outside of sentimental value, its not worth much money. Ammo is not common or cheap in the US, but it can still be had. One thing the .32s have going for them is a reputation for good accuracy, in general. Many were kept as match guns for years after being replaced on the streets with the more effective .38s. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

June 30, 2011, 07:15 PM	#11
gyvel Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2009 Location: Northern AZ Posts: 7,172	I should learn how to read. I had to completely re-edit since I thought you said you had a .38. What you seem to have there is a ".32 hand Ejector Model of 1903 First Change." They were manufactured from 1904-1906, in the serial number range of 19426-51126. I don't know what your laws are like in SA, but you have a revolver that is more than 100 years old, and is an antique. Last edited by gyvel; June 30, 2011 at 07:24 PM.

July 1, 2011, 02:45 AM	#14
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,843	The .32 is a very low pressure cartridge, that doesn't put a lot of strain on th gun. If your gun is in good shape mechanically, it is probably safe to shoot. A good gunsmith could check it and let you know for sure. Sorry, I don't have any idea of the value, its not my area of interest. The collector market in the US would certainly be interesed in your revolver, but I have no idea what a good price would be. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

July 1, 2011, 02:57 AM	#16
youngunz4life Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 2010 Location: United States of America Posts: 1,877	44amp or others might no better, but I think it is in your best interest to not clean the weapon or try to refurnish it if I chose the right terminology. Again, I am not sure. It would be nice to shoot a cylinder if it was ok to. I am on the opposite end of the spectrum. I preserve things so they can be relics and collectibles long after I am gone. My great-grandfather preserved a lot of family history for me(back in the days when it wasn't as easy/actual had to write stuff down about some people just the best he could), but not the actual relics such that you have. I'm not an expert on firearms, but my first impression was that you had an old one there. __________________ "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" -Admiral Farragut @ Battle of Mobile Bay 05AUG1864

June 29, 2011, 10:34 PM	#3
Kodyo Senior Member Join Date: February 6, 2011 Posts: 320	I see no reason to NOT keep it, seeing as it has sentimental value.

June 30, 2011, 02:04 AM	#4
ph03n1xkny Junior Member Join Date: June 29, 2011 Posts: 12	Thanks for the information Amp 44. I will post some pics later on today.

June 30, 2011, 02:10 AM	#5
ph03n1xkny Junior Member Join Date: June 29, 2011 Posts: 12	Thanks for the reply Kodyo. I have the same feeling. Unfortunately the SA government has changed our fire-arm laws to only allow an individual to be in possesion of 1 Hand Gun, unless you register as a dedicated sports person and attend shooting comps etc. So, im caught between a Rock and a hard place in terms of, do i deactivate this beautiful weapon and just keep it as an ornament (Which will be a crime in my opinion) and get myself a .357 or .38 OR do i keep it and never own another handgun.

June 30, 2011, 05:20 AM	#6
gyvel Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2009 Location: Northern AZ Posts: 7,172	Unfortunately, your question is along the lines of "I have this car that says "V8" on the sides. What kind of car is it?" Pictures are best, but, failing that, details of all markings that appear on the gun would be a big help. In other words, is there a manufacturer's name and address located on the gun? Are there odd proofs on the gun? Is it a solid frame or top break? Etc.

June 30, 2011, 07:13 AM	#7
ClayInTx Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 1,066	If the gun is in good condition it is probably as reliable as anything on the market today and worth keeping as your “only” handgun.

June 30, 2011, 07:39 AM	#10
ph03n1xkny Junior Member Join Date: June 29, 2011 Posts: 12	Unfortunately the above images were taken with my mobile phone. Ill take some nice pics later of the writing on the top of the Barell and upload them later. Thanks for all the help this far.

June 30, 2011, 07:35 PM	#12
Wildalaska Junior member Join Date: November 25, 2002 Location: In my own little weird world in Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 14,172	.32s rock!!!!! I just snagged five boxes of Remington factory ammo today for $100!!! WildiruleAlaska ™©2002-2011

July 1, 2011, 01:38 AM	#13
ph03n1xkny Junior Member Join Date: June 29, 2011 Posts: 12	Thanks for the info. We thought the fire arm was old, but not that old Can you tell me if in your opinion if the fire arm is safe to shoot? Anybody know its possible value? (I am mearly asking for peoples opinions, and understand that if i fire the weapon i do so at my own risk and hold no body but myself responsible if anything goes wrong)

July 1, 2011, 02:51 AM	#15
ph03n1xkny Junior Member Join Date: June 29, 2011 Posts: 12	Thanks 44 Amp. Will take to my nearest gun smith and get him to check it out. The value of the revolver was mearly just for interest sake, wouldnt want to sell as seen as its sentimentallity is worth more than $

July 1, 2011, 03:12 AM	#17
ph03n1xkny Junior Member Join Date: June 29, 2011 Posts: 12	Thanks for the reply Youngunz4life. I wasn't planning on re-bluing or re-coating the gun, i love it the way it is, it has a certain authenticity to it and its the way i remember my grandfather having it. I do however keep it well oiled and cleaned, seen as i live at the Coast and wouldnt want it to get any rust or corrosion, esp as it is soo old.

July 2, 2011, 03:09 PM	#18
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,843	correct cleaning does no harm to any collector value. Refinishing invariably lowers the collector value, even if done by the original maker. Incorrect cleaning can damage the remaining finish or even the metal itself (such as at the muzzle). Century plus old guns need the same basic care as any gun, whith more attention paid to making sure their condition does not deteriorate. Living near the ocean means you have to keep a close eye on your guns, and keep them well protected from the salt air. Do that, and they will be fine, old or new. Don't, and they can rust badly in a short time. I have a great deal of sympathy for your situation ph03n1xkny, if the law only allows you only one handgun, that fine family heirloom should be kept, unless your personal situation means you have a serious need for a better handgun. If it does, then you have a difficult choice. I wish you the best, and hope you will be able to hang on to that .32, for family reasons if nothing else. Good Luck. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

July 4, 2011, 07:43 AM	#19
ph03n1xkny Junior Member Join Date: June 29, 2011 Posts: 12	Thanks Amp 44, I appreciate all the information. Kind Regards from a not so Sunny SA

July 6, 2011, 11:31 PM	#20
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,843	my S&W guru tells me that there were 31,700 of that model made. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

July 6, 2011, 11:42 PM	#21
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,843	Also, my guru says that the grips on your gun are not the standard grips for that model. They are oversize target grips. They are of the era for the gun, and period correct, but were not the standard grips the gun was sold with. Either the gun was ordered from S&W with those grips by your grandfather (or whomever he got the gun from), or the grips were ordered by themselves and put on the gun. Either way is period correct, and would not detract from the historical value of the gun. I know you aren't interested in selling it, just wanted to pass along that infomation. My guru says it was fairly common to put oversize grips on those guns as the stock grips are rather small. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

July 7, 2011, 01:50 AM	#22
ph03n1xkny Junior Member Join Date: June 29, 2011 Posts: 12	Thanks 44 Amp, to the best of my knowledge the weapon was originally my great grandfathers, pass along down. Even for Oversized grips they darn small Guys from that era must've had tiny hands

July 7, 2011, 10:19 PM	#23
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,843	They did have small hands, on average, 100 years ago, people tended to be smaller than today. And that .32 is a small gun, besides. Most of them had 3 or 4" barrels and round butt grip frames. The 6" length is uncommon, but not rare. Ususally found on the target guns, but not always. The target grips were standard on the target model guns, and would also fit the regular guns as well. Your gun has the standard sights (fixed), so its not the full target model. The most common reason for putting target stocks (grips) on a standard gun is that they usually feel better! And thats most likely why Grandpa got a gun with them, or got them put on. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

July 8, 2011, 01:52 AM	#24
ph03n1xkny Junior Member Join Date: June 29, 2011 Posts: 12	thanks Amp 44, interesting information coming out here. Way more than I expected when i first started this thread