Old s&w 32 special

Ducksnbucks · September 10, 2013, 12:14 AM

Got this gun 20 years ago from my grandpa. Smith and wesson 32 special serial # 142xx the serial is only on the butt and the tumbler is in graved with dates from as early as 1884. I would love to get an idea of the year and value. Thanks for any help you can provide.

Jim Watson · September 10, 2013, 12:25 AM

Show pictures.
Especially where it says on the gun ".32 Special." (Hint, I don't think it does because there is no such thing as a .32 Special revolver.)

darkgael · September 10, 2013, 05:26 AM

As noted ".32 Special" is probably not correct - though it is possible that a gun manufactured outside the USA could be mislabeled.
The only .32 Special that I know of is the .32 Winchester Special - a rifle cartridge.
S&W makes two .32 cartridges....the .32 S&W and the .32 S&W Long.
A pic of the gun would be nice. Solid frame or break open?
Does it look like this:

Those are .32 S&W cartridges.
Pete

noelf2 · September 10, 2013, 07:54 AM

Probably .32 S&W. Value = invaluable (you got it from your grandpa).

PetahW · September 10, 2013, 09:19 AM

.

I can't help w/o a pic ot three, since the OP's revolver could also be a Colt .32 Police Special (so marked "Special" ).

There's more than a few folks who've looked at the chambering marked on the barrel (.32 S&W or .38 S&W, say) and thought the maker to be S&W, when it was actually another maker.

The OP's gun could also be a S&W, IJ, or a H&A top-break revolver.

.

**Mike Irwin** · September 10, 2013, 10:36 AM

"The OP's gun could also be a S&W, IJ, or a H&A top-break revolver."

Or one of a dozen or more other, smaller, makers that made guns for a few years and either went bust or were bought up.

James K · September 10, 2013, 01:15 PM

It sounds like an S&W Model 1896, also called the First Model Hand Ejector. It is the only S&W I know of with patent dates (including July 1, 1884) stamped into the cylinder. It is chambered for .32 S&W Long (not Special) but the caliber is not actually marked on it.

19,712 were made from 1896 to 1903; values range from over $1000 for near new condition down to around $300, with an average of $400-500.

Jim

**Mike Irwin** · September 10, 2013, 01:36 PM

Was the patent information engraved on the cylinder on the Model 1896?

I can't remember if it was or not...

carguychris · September 10, 2013, 01:42 PM

Quote:

It sounds like an S&W Model 1896, also called the First Model Hand Ejector. It is the only S&W I know of with patent dates (including July 1, 1884) stamped into the cylinder.

+1; good catch.

This revolver has several other unique features that distinguish it from every other S&W Hand Ejector (swing-out cylinder) revolver.

The cylinder stop engages the cylinder at the top rather than the bottom.
The barrel has a top rib with a convex cross section, and the front sight is attached with a round-headed pin driven through the convex rib. This type of barrel was used on all sorts of S&W top-break revolvers and numerous copies from other gunmakers, but was not used on any other standard-production S&W Hand Ejector.
The cylinder is released by pulling the ejector rod towards the muzzle, rather than pushing a thumb latch forward (almost all other Hand Ejectors), pushing a button inwards (Ladysmith 1st Model), or pulling a knob on the front barrel locking notch (Ladysmith 2nd and 3rd Models).

Of course, we're still fundamentally just guessing here.

James K · September 10, 2013, 02:08 PM

The Model 1896 cylinder is marked over the chambers 1) SMITH/&/WESSON in three lines, 2) SPRINGFIELD/MASS. in two lines, 3) U.S.A./PATENTED in two lines, 4) JULY 1, 84/APRIL 9, 89 in two lines, 5) MARCH 27, 94/MAY 29, 94 in two lines, and 6) MAY 21, 95/JULY 15, 95 in two lines. All the lettering is in a back slanting font that I have never seen on any other S&W. Other than the serial number on the butt and the S&W logo on the right side, there are no other markings. The cylinder stop is in the topstrap and is a slightly modified version of the ones used on the old tip-up revolvers.

Jim

Ducksnbucks · September 10, 2013, 08:50 PM

You all have been so helpful! Where is the best place to concider selling it?

**Mike Irwin** · September 10, 2013, 09:50 PM

Yep, that's a Smith & Wesson Model of 1896.

Unfortunately, it appears to be in VERY rough shape.

James K · September 11, 2013, 09:49 AM

Even though that gun is in poor condition, if it is functional it should bring about $250-300 at retail. They were S&W's first swing out cylinder revolver and are always of interest to collectors.

But note that I (and most others on these sites) will give retail prices; what you get from a dealer is naturally less. If your state allows direct sales between individuals, you can put an ad in the paper or sell it at a gun show. Alternatively, you can put it on consignment at a gun shop, which will usually get you more than a sale to the dealer, but you have to wait until the gun sells to get your money.

On line sale is also a possibility, but that gun is probably not an antique (they were made up to 1903 and an antique had to have been made before 1 January, 1899) so you would have to ship only to an FFL dealer.

Jim

September 10, 2013, 12:14 AM	#1
Ducksnbucks Junior Member Join Date: September 9, 2013 Posts: 2	Old s&w 32 special Got this gun 20 years ago from my grandpa. Smith and wesson 32 special serial # 142xx the serial is only on the butt and the tumbler is in graved with dates from as early as 1884. I would love to get an idea of the year and value. Thanks for any help you can provide.

September 10, 2013, 05:26 AM	#3
darkgael Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2006 Location: Homes in Brooklyn, NY and in Pennsylvania. Posts: 5,473	nope As noted ".32 Special" is probably not correct - though it is possible that a gun manufactured outside the USA could be mislabeled. The only .32 Special that I know of is the .32 Winchester Special - a rifle cartridge. S&W makes two .32 cartridges....the .32 S&W and the .32 S&W Long. A pic of the gun would be nice. Solid frame or break open? Does it look like this: Those are .32 S&W cartridges. Pete __________________ “Auto racing, bull fighting, and mountain climbing are the only real sports ... all others are games.” Ernest Hemingway ... NRA Life Member Last edited by darkgael; September 10, 2013 at 05:39 AM.

September 10, 2013, 07:54 AM	#4
noelf2 Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2008 Location: Stuart, VA Posts: 2,473	Probably .32 S&W. Value = invaluable (you got it from your grandpa). __________________ Liberty and freedom often offends those who understand neither.

September 10, 2013, 10:36 AM	#6
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,383	"The OP's gun could also be a S&W, IJ, or a H&A top-break revolver." Or one of a dozen or more other, smaller, makers that made guns for a few years and either went bust or were bought up. __________________ "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.

September 10, 2013, 01:36 PM	#8
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,383	Was the patent information engraved on the cylinder on the Model 1896? I can't remember if it was or not... __________________ "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.

September 10, 2013, 12:25 AM	#2
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,540	Show pictures. Especially where it says on the gun ".32 Special." (Hint, I don't think it does because there is no such thing as a .32 Special revolver.)

September 10, 2013, 09:19 AM	#5
PetahW Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 4,678	. I can't help w/o a pic ot three, since the OP's revolver could also be a Colt .32 Police Special (so marked "Special" ). There's more than a few folks who've looked at the chambering marked on the barrel (.32 S&W or .38 S&W, say) and thought the maker to be S&W, when it was actually another maker. The OP's gun could also be a S&W, IJ, or a H&A top-break revolver. .

September 10, 2013, 01:15 PM	#7
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	It sounds like an S&W Model 1896, also called the First Model Hand Ejector. It is the only S&W I know of with patent dates (including July 1, 1884) stamped into the cylinder. It is chambered for .32 S&W Long (not Special) but the caliber is not actually marked on it. 19,712 were made from 1896 to 1903; values range from over $1000 for near new condition down to around $300, with an average of $400-500. Jim

September 10, 2013, 02:08 PM	#10
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	The Model 1896 cylinder is marked over the chambers 1) SMITH/&/WESSON in three lines, 2) SPRINGFIELD/MASS. in two lines, 3) U.S.A./PATENTED in two lines, 4) JULY 1, 84/APRIL 9, 89 in two lines, 5) MARCH 27, 94/MAY 29, 94 in two lines, and 6) MAY 21, 95/JULY 15, 95 in two lines. All the lettering is in a back slanting font that I have never seen on any other S&W. Other than the serial number on the butt and the S&W logo on the right side, there are no other markings. The cylinder stop is in the topstrap and is a slightly modified version of the ones used on the old tip-up revolvers. Jim

September 10, 2013, 09:50 PM	#12
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,383	Yep, that's a Smith & Wesson Model of 1896. Unfortunately, it appears to be in VERY rough shape. __________________ "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.

September 11, 2013, 09:49 AM	#13
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Even though that gun is in poor condition, if it is functional it should bring about $250-300 at retail. They were S&W's first swing out cylinder revolver and are always of interest to collectors. But note that I (and most others on these sites) will give retail prices; what you get from a dealer is naturally less. If your state allows direct sales between individuals, you can put an ad in the paper or sell it at a gun show. Alternatively, you can put it on consignment at a gun shop, which will usually get you more than a sale to the dealer, but you have to wait until the gun sells to get your money. On line sale is also a possibility, but that gun is probably not an antique (they were made up to 1903 and an antique had to have been made before 1 January, 1899) so you would have to ship only to an FFL dealer. Jim