Smith & Wesson I-frame 32-20 hand ejector

drwolf · January 26, 2012, 09:54 PM

I inherited what I think is a 1905 32cal Long CTG. Serial #204778. 3 1/4" barrel. I desperatly need a need pr of grips. Can anyone steer me in the right direction.

carguychris · January 26, 2012, 10:39 PM

First of all, if it's marked ".32 LONG", it's chambered in .32 S&W Long rather than .32-20 WCF aka .32-20 Winchester. The .32-20 Hand Ejector was built on the larger K frame rather than the compact I frame, and the barrel was marked ".32 WINCHESTER CTG.", ".32 WIN. CTG.", or ".32 W.C.F. CTG." depending on when the revolver was made.

If the gun is correctly identified as a .32 Long I frame, its serial number reveals it to be a .32 Hand Ejector Model of 1905, 5th Change.

I suspect your gun actually has a 3-1/4" barrel; revolver barrels are measured to the cylinder face, not to the barrel-frame interface. Novices commonly measure them incorrectly and under-report S&W barrel lengths by ~3/4".

2-1/2" was not a standard length; if it's truly this long measured to the cylinder face, it's likely that the barrel has been cut.

This gun most likely came with black gutta percha (hard rubber) checkered grips with molded S&W logos. It might have come with checkered walnut stocks with a convex circular area at the top, but this was not common on pre-1917 I frames. The top of the wood stocks would be tapered, not flared like the commonplace postwar "Magna" stocks.

The hard rubber stocks are difficult to find in good condition because they tend to disintegrate during removal from the gun; however, sets are out there if you watch GB long enough.

IIRC S&W offered genuine mother-of-pearl stocks as a factory special-order item during this time period, but genuine factory MOP stocks in good condition sell in the upper 3-figure range- more than most .32 Long I frames themselves will fetch.

If you're not looking for historically accurate replacements, this gun will accept any round-butt grips or stocks intended for the "short" grip frame used on I and J frames until 1952. Later I or J frame grips can be physically mounted on the gun, but they will overhang the butt by ~1/4".

carguychris · January 26, 2012, 10:46 PM

Almost forgot this!

Although all .32 Hand Ejectors have rebounding hammers, guns made prior to the introduction of the Third Model (serial #263001 and up) lack a positive hammer block. When the trigger is fully forward, hammer movement is normally blocked by a hump on the top of the rebound slide; however, if the gun is dropped hard enough on the hammer, the impact may shear off the hammer pivot pin and allow the firing pin to move forwards.

This gun should ALWAYS be carried "five up" with an empty chamber under the hammer. Like an old Colt SAA, you should NOT load all six chambers unless you intend to empty all of them right away!

madcratebuilder · January 27, 2012, 07:37 AM

+1 on everything Chris said.

You can find repro black rubber grips at Dixie Gun Works, cost about $20.

Does your .32 hand ejector look like this one?

carguychris · January 27, 2012, 11:03 AM

Madcrate, you're making me jealous, because I want one...

FWIW madcrate's gun appears to have the 4-1/4" barrel, the other commonplace barrel length. The 3-1/4" and 4-1/4" barrels seem to be about equally prevalent on early .32HE's. S&W also offered a 6" barrel which seems less common, although 6" guns don't seem to sell for significantly more.

**Mike Irwin** · January 27, 2012, 11:18 AM

Hum...

I've got one of those... but it's a bit later and has the wood grips...

I've always wanted a set of hard rubber grips for it.

I think I'll also see if I can find a set of hard rubber grips for my circa 1905 .32-20 Hand Ejector.

Yep, I've got one, and I love it!

**Mike Irwin** · January 27, 2012, 11:51 AM

Crap. Dixie doesn't have K frame round butt grips, (I know the .44 DA is a "close" match) but I'm not going to pay that much for a set of grips that may or may not work.

I found some K frame RBs in hard urethane, but they look like absolute CRAP.

It's pretty obvious that the mould was taken from a very worn set of original grips and there was absolutely no clean up done on the moulding blank.

Sorry, I'd rather start with pristine and break them in myself.

madcratebuilder · January 28, 2012, 07:41 AM

Mike, the grips that DGW sell are easy to fit to the frame. I sand to fit, finish with 600 grit and polish with a piece of burlap and Ballistol. The Ballistol (mineral oil) puts the color back in the sanded surface.

The grips on my hand ejector started about 1/4 inch to long. I had to shorten then radius the bottom.

mashaffer · January 30, 2012, 11:03 PM

Gotta love those classic .32s.

mike

January 26, 2012, 09:54 PM	#1
drwolf Junior Member Join Date: January 26, 2012 Posts: 1	Smith & Wesson I-frame 32-20 hand ejector I inherited what I think is a 1905 32cal Long CTG. Serial #204778. 3 1/4" barrel. I desperatly need a need pr of grips. Can anyone steer me in the right direction. Last edited by drwolf; January 30, 2012 at 12:09 PM.

January 26, 2012, 10:46 PM	#3
carguychris Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2007 Location: Richardson, TX Posts: 7,523	Madatory safety notice! Almost forgot this! Although all .32 Hand Ejectors have rebounding hammers, guns made prior to the introduction of the Third Model (serial #263001 and up) lack a positive hammer block. When the trigger is fully forward, hammer movement is normally blocked by a hump on the top of the rebound slide; however, if the gun is dropped hard enough on the hammer, the impact may shear off the hammer pivot pin and allow the firing pin to move forwards. This gun should ALWAYS be carried "five up" with an empty chamber under the hammer. Like an old Colt SAA, you should NOT load all six chambers unless you intend to empty all of them right away!

January 27, 2012, 11:18 AM	#6
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 14, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,642	Hum... I've got one of those... but it's a bit later and has the wood grips... I've always wanted a set of hard rubber grips for it. I think I'll also see if I can find a set of hard rubber grips for my circa 1905 .32-20 Hand Ejector. Yep, I've got one, and I love it! __________________ "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.

January 27, 2012, 11:51 AM	#7
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 14, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,642	Crap. Dixie doesn't have K frame round butt grips, (I know the .44 DA is a "close" match) but I'm not going to pay that much for a set of grips that may or may not work. I found some K frame RBs in hard urethane, but they look like absolute CRAP. It's pretty obvious that the mould was taken from a very worn set of original grips and there was absolutely no clean up done on the moulding blank. Sorry, I'd rather start with pristine and break them in myself. __________________ "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.

January 26, 2012, 10:39 PM	#2
carguychris Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2007 Location: Richardson, TX Posts: 7,523	First of all, if it's marked ".32 LONG", it's chambered in .32 S&W Long rather than .32-20 WCF aka .32-20 Winchester. The .32-20 Hand Ejector was built on the larger K frame rather than the compact I frame, and the barrel was marked ".32 WINCHESTER CTG.", ".32 WIN. CTG.", or ".32 W.C.F. CTG." depending on when the revolver was made. If the gun is correctly identified as a .32 Long I frame, its serial number reveals it to be a .32 Hand Ejector Model of 1905, 5th Change. I suspect your gun actually has a 3-1/4" barrel; revolver barrels are measured to the cylinder face, not to the barrel-frame interface. Novices commonly measure them incorrectly and under-report S&W barrel lengths by ~3/4". 2-1/2" was not a standard length; if it's truly this long measured to the cylinder face, it's likely that the barrel has been cut. This gun most likely came with black gutta percha (hard rubber) checkered grips with molded S&W logos. It might have come with checkered walnut stocks with a convex circular area at the top, but this was not common on pre-1917 I frames. The top of the wood stocks would be tapered, not flared like the commonplace postwar "Magna" stocks. The hard rubber stocks are difficult to find in good condition because they tend to disintegrate during removal from the gun; however, sets are out there if you watch GB long enough. IIRC S&W offered genuine mother-of-pearl stocks as a factory special-order item during this time period, but genuine factory MOP stocks in good condition sell in the upper 3-figure range- more than most .32 Long I frames themselves will fetch. If you're not looking for historically accurate replacements, this gun will accept any round-butt grips or stocks intended for the "short" grip frame used on I and J frames until 1952. Later I or J frame grips can be physically mounted on the gun, but they will overhang the butt by ~1/4". Last edited by carguychris; January 26, 2012 at 10:51 PM.

January 27, 2012, 07:37 AM	#4
madcratebuilder Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2007 Location: Northern Orygun Posts: 4,923	+1 on everything Chris said. You can find repro black rubber grips at Dixie Gun Works, cost about $20. Does your .32 hand ejector look like this one?

January 27, 2012, 11:03 AM	#5
carguychris Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2007 Location: Richardson, TX Posts: 7,523	Madcrate, you're making me jealous, because I want one... FWIW madcrate's gun appears to have the 4-1/4" barrel, the other commonplace barrel length. The 3-1/4" and 4-1/4" barrels seem to be about equally prevalent on early .32HE's. S&W also offered a 6" barrel which seems less common, although 6" guns don't seem to sell for significantly more.

January 28, 2012, 07:41 AM	#8
madcratebuilder Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2007 Location: Northern Orygun Posts: 4,923	Mike, the grips that DGW sell are easy to fit to the frame. I sand to fit, finish with 600 grit and polish with a piece of burlap and Ballistol. The Ballistol (mineral oil) puts the color back in the sanded surface. The grips on my hand ejector started about 1/4 inch to long. I had to shorten then radius the bottom.

January 30, 2012, 11:03 PM	#9
mashaffer Member Join Date: May 10, 2007 Posts: 85	Gotta love those classic .32s. mike