S&W 32

CowTowner · February 20, 2013, 10:15 PM

OK, I see this seem to be a current topic so here's mine.
I received this as a gift over the holidays and just got around to taking pictures. Any info on the gun is appreciated as I know nothing about it.

CowTowner · February 20, 2013, 10:16 PM

Here are the remaining pics I have. If someone needs another angle, I can provide.

James K · February 20, 2013, 11:46 PM

That is the S&W .32 Double Action, Fourth Model revolver. I cannot be certain, but I believe the engraving is factory. It is a beautiful little gun, and I envy you.

The Fourth Model had a production run of 239,600 from 1883 to 1909, with a serial number range from 43406 to about 282999. The entire production of the .32 Double Action breaktop was over 327,000. In general, they are a common gun. Most have been well used and have peeling nickel finishes. Yours is very much the exception.

FWIW, that gun is an antique as defined in federal law, made before 1 Jan 1899.

I have no basis for evaluating that gun, so I would prefer to leave that to someone else.

Jim

Pharm · February 21, 2013, 11:54 AM

I don't have any basis for judging if the engraving was factory or not, but that's a neat gun for sure. Most I see have finish problems and timing issues.

CowTowner · February 21, 2013, 12:58 PM

Thank you for the information and kudos. Guess I need get a little more oil on it and keep it locked up.

**Mike Irwin** · February 21, 2013, 01:37 PM

From what I can see, I don't believe that the engraving is factory, but is an emulation of fairly common factory engraving styles of the time.

To put it mildly, the engraving is a bit too.... crude... for it to be factory, espeically the lines of punch dots.

On factory engraving those are precisely lined up. They're not on this gun.

The floral motifs are also don't have the depth of detail or relief that factory engraving does.

To my mind, the engraving was done by someone with talent, but it was talent that was still being developed.

Also, many of the scroll lines in the centers of the leaves aren't precisely or smoothly curved.

James K · February 21, 2013, 04:30 PM

The only way to know for sure would be to get an S&W letter which would certainly note if the engraving and pearl grips are from the factory.

Jim

Remington74 · February 21, 2013, 04:55 PM

Either way, that little baby is a jewel.

All the other examples I have seen in the LGS have been "peeled nickel finish" at best.

**Mike Irwin** · February 21, 2013, 05:24 PM

The more I look at the engraved period guns in the Standard Catalog and online, the more I know that that it is NOT, by any stretch of the imagination, factory engraving.

I'd bet hard money on that.

The engraving appears to be somewhat patterned after Nimschke's work, but trust me, it's not close to being his work.

The Standard Catalog also has this to say about the punch dots (I had thought that some S&W engravers did employ punch dots)...

"This was not a S&W factory style, and is most commonly associated with Merwin Hulbert revolver engraving. However, it is sometimes found as aftermarket engraving on 19th century S&W revolvers...."

Look at the first two pictures that clearly show the punch dots around the top latch screw and boss.

Note how uneven it is. That, alone, is the biggest tell that this is not factory engraving.

CowTowner · February 22, 2013, 07:45 AM

Thanks for all the info! At least I know what it is and isn't and that's more than I had when I got it home.

SGreve32x · February 22, 2013, 08:40 AM

That has some pretty wicked engraving on it. Very nice piece in my eyes.

February 21, 2013, 12:58 PM	#5
CowTowner Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2007 Location: Cowtown of course! Posts: 1,747	Thank you for the information and kudos. Guess I need get a little more oil on it and keep it locked up. __________________ NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, Home Firearms Safety, Pistol and Rifle Instructor *“Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their daily life......”* President John F. Kennedy

February 21, 2013, 01:37 PM	#6
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,509	From what I can see, I don't believe that the engraving is factory, but is an emulation of fairly common factory engraving styles of the time. To put it mildly, the engraving is a bit too.... crude... for it to be factory, espeically the lines of punch dots. On factory engraving those are precisely lined up. They're not on this gun. The floral motifs are also don't have the depth of detail or relief that factory engraving does. To my mind, the engraving was done by someone with talent, but it was talent that was still being developed. Also, many of the scroll lines in the centers of the leaves aren't precisely or smoothly curved. __________________ "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.

February 21, 2013, 05:24 PM	#9
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,509	The more I look at the engraved period guns in the Standard Catalog and online, the more I know that that it is NOT, by any stretch of the imagination, factory engraving. I'd bet hard money on that. The engraving appears to be somewhat patterned after Nimschke's work, but trust me, it's not close to being his work. The Standard Catalog also has this to say about the punch dots (I had thought that some S&W engravers did employ punch dots)... "This was not a S&W factory style, and is most commonly associated with Merwin Hulbert revolver engraving. However, it is sometimes found as aftermarket engraving on 19th century S&W revolvers...." Look at the first two pictures that clearly show the punch dots around the top latch screw and boss. Note how uneven it is. That, alone, is the biggest tell that this is not factory engraving. __________________ "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.

February 22, 2013, 07:45 AM	#10
CowTowner Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2007 Location: Cowtown of course! Posts: 1,747	Thanks for all the info! At least I know what it is and isn't and that's more than I had when I got it home. __________________ NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, Home Firearms Safety, Pistol and Rifle Instructor *“Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their daily life......”* President John F. Kennedy

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February 20, 2013, 11:46 PM	#3
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	That is the S&W .32 Double Action, Fourth Model revolver. I cannot be certain, but I believe the engraving is factory. It is a beautiful little gun, and I envy you. The Fourth Model had a production run of 239,600 from 1883 to 1909, with a serial number range from 43406 to about 282999. The entire production of the .32 Double Action breaktop was over 327,000. In general, they are a common gun. Most have been well used and have peeling nickel finishes. Yours is very much the exception. FWIW, that gun is an antique as defined in federal law, made before 1 Jan 1899. I have no basis for evaluating that gun, so I would prefer to leave that to someone else. Jim

February 21, 2013, 11:54 AM	#4
Pharm Member Join Date: February 5, 2013 Posts: 38	I don't have any basis for judging if the engraving was factory or not, but that's a neat gun for sure. Most I see have finish problems and timing issues.

February 21, 2013, 04:30 PM	#7
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	The only way to know for sure would be to get an S&W letter which would certainly note if the engraving and pearl grips are from the factory. Jim

February 21, 2013, 04:55 PM	#8
Remington74 Senior Member Join Date: August 5, 2012 Location: Carthage, NY Posts: 231	Either way, that little baby is a jewel. All the other examples I have seen in the LGS have been "peeled nickel finish" at best.

February 22, 2013, 08:40 AM	#11
SGreve32x Member Join Date: January 30, 2013 Location: J'Ville, Iowa Posts: 27	That has some pretty wicked engraving on it. Very nice piece in my eyes.