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S&W HE in .32 Winchester

skicat
Recently bought a pistol and am trying to identify it.
I don't see many listed on the other side chambered for .32 Winchester, or with 6.5 inch barrels. Looking to narrow down the age and model and wondering if this would be worth getting a letter from S&W. Also looking for proper ammo to use safely.



Thanks gentlemen.
Still working on this photo stuff. It is clear I haven't figured out the resizing yet. Thanks Charlie. The picture is shinier than in person.

Still trying to figure out what I'm doing wrong getting the picture to show up directly but here is a link to the photo.

imghttp://www.hunt101.com/data/549/medium/IMG_041011.JPG

http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/thumbs/IMG_04021.jpg

http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/IMG_03988.JPG

http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/thumbs/IMG_041418.jpg
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Comments

7 comments

Date Votes
  • 11b6r
    Very likely you have a Model 1905. While .38 Special was the most popular, the 32-20 had its own fans. The 6.5 is possibly the most uncommon barrel length.

    I worked with a gent that retired from the force in 1971 who carried the same S&W 32-20 for 30 years. I would probably stick with the "Cowboy" loads, like the Ultramax ammo. If you slug the chambers, and handload the correct sized bullets, you may be very surprised at the accuracy those guns can achieve.
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  • rufe-snow
    Your revolver dates to 1905. If it can be established that the finish and grips are original, would have substantial collectors value.

    Nickel finish on older guns, tends to be very fragile though. On a 110 year old, got to wonder? Unless it's been stashed, in somebodies sock drawer for 100 years.

    Contact Smith see if it's possible to get a letter? To verify how it left the factory? Even then it's possible, that it's been renickeled and the grips are aftermarket?
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  • Hawk Carse
    If we had pictures of the actual gun, we might could answer some of those questions.
    There are some telltales for nickel plating, factory or aftermarket.
    Most factory pearls have medallions.
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  • charliemeyer007
    Be really careful with copper fouling bore cleaners that have ammonia, it will eat the copper flashing under the nickel and cause flaking.

    When I was a kid my buddy would take out gramp's pistol a S&W in 32-20. It was a good shooting pistol and survived a box or so of the rifle rounds marked HV.

    added hard to tell almost looks like chrome. I think you need to resize your pic's smaller.

    edit 2 So this is the free photo editor I used to do my avatar.
    http://www.sunlitgreen.com/

    I think it would sell quickly and easily as a shooter when listed here on GunBroker, dollar amount is the question.
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  • rufe-snow
    Looking at the smaller size photos, of the barrel legend and S & W marked sideplate. Looks like they have been buffed, prior to refinishing. Definitely doesn't appear to be Smith, high polish factory finish to me.
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  • skicat
    quote:Originally posted by rufe-snow
    Looking at the smaller size photos, of the barrel legend and S & W marked sideplate. Looks like they have been buffed, prior to refinishing. Definitely doesn't appear to be Smith, high polish factory finish to me.


    Not what I was hoping to hear. I guess they can't all be home runs. Any ideas on value of a refinished shooter?
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  • rufe-snow
    quote:Originally posted by skicat
    quote:Originally posted by rufe-snow
    Looking at the smaller size photos, of the barrel legend and S & W marked sideplate. Looks like they have been buffed, prior to refinishing. Definitely doesn't appear to be Smith, high polish factory finish to me.


    Not what I was hoping to hear. I guess they can't all be home runs. Any ideas on value of a refinished shooter?



    Refinished 32-20, shooter, not going to be easy to sell. Ammo is hard to come by, and expensive. Even the cowboy stuff. Best buyer, probably would be a reloader. Who could feed it reasonably.
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