1905? pre-10 - Page 2

Kev · August 1, 2014, 12:02 AM

Saw this on another forum seems to fit

32-20 Hand Ejector Model of 1902 1st Change SNs from 9812 to 18125 with 8,313 made from 1903 until 1905.

**Mike Irwin** · August 1, 2014, 01:45 PM

Kev,

Your gun is nowhere near as early as Tom first stated.

It's a Model of 1905 4th change, which started production in 1915 and ran to 1940.

Serial number started around 65,700 and ran to 144684.

I'd say yours was made probably mid to late 1920s.

Kev · August 1, 2014, 02:37 PM

Ok thanks there is sooo much out there
I will trust you and 7's

Now, just for giggles, I have been searching GB for an aprox value as I keep a spreadsheet of firearms, SN's, year and value for insurance as well as for when I'm gone and Diane can know a little so she doesn't get hosed

What would any of you ballpark her at?
I'm thinking 600 ish

**Mike Irwin** · August 1, 2014, 11:21 PM

I missed Sevens message. Didn't see that he caught the date issue.

As for value, given that it's in very good condition, and with what's been going on with gun prices lately, I'd not hesitate to value it at $750 these days.

nixterdemus · August 2, 2014, 06:01 AM

Nice. I suppose all K frame HE .38 spl could be considered pre-10s, but I've recently discovered that term is generally used for the post WWII to 1957 and required a lightning short throw action easily distinguished by differing hammer shape.

Then again I might have that wrong as well.

Driftwood Johnson · August 2, 2014, 10:22 AM

Howdy

Your gun is not a Model of 1902, it is a model of 1905.

As Mike Irwin said, you have a .32-20 Hand Ejector, Model of 1905, 4th Change, manufactured from 1915 until 1940.

I have .32-20 H. E. 4th Change SN 725XX. Roy says it shipped in November of 1916.

So yours is somewhat later than mine. Notice the difference in the grips on your gun and mine. Mine has the recessed gold medallions, used from about 1910 to about 1920. Yours has round top grips without medallions, used from about 1920 to about 1929. If your grips are original, that should help date it.

As always, if you letter the gun, S&W historian Roy Jinks only has data for when the gun shipped, not when it was actually manufactured.

Kev · August 2, 2014, 04:03 PM

Driftwood
Thank you for the excellent picture and info!

**Mike Irwin** · August 3, 2014, 11:04 AM

Finally got a decent picture of my S&W HE .32-20.

As you can see, the finish has gone plumb brown, but the lock up and mechanicals are excellent.

Mine is serial number 579XX, so that puts it as a Model of 1905 Third Change, probably made around 1910.

The caliber marking is on the left side of the barrel, and the S&W logo is on the right side. There's also no Marcas Registradas stamp.

And, a family picture with my I frame .32 Long Regulation Police. The serial on that one puts it just after World War I, I believe.

Kev · August 3, 2014, 12:11 PM

Mike, that's a great looking gun, it's got what collectors call "patina"!

**Mike Irwin** · August 3, 2014, 01:16 PM

It shoots like a champ but I would like to have some blue. My HE 38 from the same time is also all patina.

August 1, 2014, 12:02 AM	#26
Kev Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2013 Posts: 661	Saw this on another forum seems to fit 32-20 Hand Ejector Model of 1902 1st Change SNs from 9812 to 18125 with 8,313 made from 1903 until 1905. __________________ "Classic over Plastic"

August 1, 2014, 01:45 PM	#27
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,381	Kev, Your gun is nowhere near as early as Tom first stated. It's a Model of 1905 4th change, which started production in 1915 and ran to 1940. Serial number started around 65,700 and ran to 144684. I'd say yours was made probably mid to late 1920s. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

August 1, 2014, 02:37 PM	#28
Kev Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2013 Posts: 661	Ok thanks there is sooo much out there I will trust you and 7's Now, just for giggles, I have been searching GB for an aprox value as I keep a spreadsheet of firearms, SN's, year and value for insurance as well as for when I'm gone and Diane can know a little so she doesn't get hosed What would any of you ballpark her at? I'm thinking 600 ish __________________ "Classic over Plastic"

August 1, 2014, 11:21 PM	#29
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,381	I missed Sevens message. Didn't see that he caught the date issue. As for value, given that it's in very good condition, and with what's been going on with gun prices lately, I'd not hesitate to value it at $750 these days. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

August 2, 2014, 04:03 PM	#32
Kev Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2013 Posts: 661	Driftwood Thank you for the excellent picture and info! __________________ "Classic over Plastic"

August 2, 2014, 06:01 AM	#30
nixterdemus Member Join Date: April 14, 2010 Posts: 36	Nice. I suppose all K frame HE .38 spl could be considered pre-10s, but I've recently discovered that term is generally used for the post WWII to 1957 and required a lightning short throw action easily distinguished by differing hammer shape. Then again I might have that wrong as well.

August 2, 2014, 10:22 AM	#31
Driftwood Johnson Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2014 Location: Land of the Pilgrims Posts: 2,033	Howdy Your gun is not a Model of 1902, it is a model of 1905. As Mike Irwin said, you have a .32-20 Hand Ejector, Model of 1905, 4th Change, manufactured from 1915 until 1940. I have .32-20 H. E. 4th Change SN 725XX. Roy says it shipped in November of 1916. So yours is somewhat later than mine. Notice the difference in the grips on your gun and mine. Mine has the recessed gold medallions, used from about 1910 to about 1920. Yours has round top grips without medallions, used from about 1920 to about 1929. If your grips are original, that should help date it. As always, if you letter the gun, S&W historian Roy Jinks only has data for when the gun shipped, not when it was actually manufactured.

August 3, 2014, 11:04 AM	#33
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,381	Finally got a decent picture of my S&W HE .32-20. As you can see, the finish has gone plumb brown, but the lock up and mechanicals are excellent. Mine is serial number 579XX, so that puts it as a Model of 1905 Third Change, probably made around 1910. The caliber marking is on the left side of the barrel, and the S&W logo is on the right side. There's also no Marcas Registradas stamp. And, a family picture with my I frame .32 Long Regulation Police. The serial on that one puts it just after World War I, I believe. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

August 3, 2014, 12:11 PM	#34
Kev Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2013 Posts: 661	Mike, that's a great looking gun, it's got what collectors call "patina"! __________________ "Classic over Plastic"

August 3, 2014, 01:16 PM	#35
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,381	It shoots like a champ but I would like to have some blue. My HE 38 from the same time is also all patina.