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S&W revolver I.D. help needed

Mgderf
I have a recently acquired a small S&W .32Long CTG. 6-shot revolver w/ a 2" barrel.

I can not seem to find a model # on it, unless it is a model 5?

Serial # 575659.

Is there a web site that lists S&W manufacture dates? Thanks for your time.
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Comments

8 comments

Date Votes
  • ruger41
    A pic would help id it. S&W didn't put model numbers on their revolvers until the late 1950's. Could be an early Hand Ejector or Regulation Police with that barrel length and caliber.
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  • rufe-snow
    More then likely it was made in the 40's with that SN. It would be considered a postwar .32 Hand Ejector, built on the "I" frame. It would have been made years before the Model 30 marking was used by S & W.
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  • Mgderf
    No pics at this time, but I did find some examples on the auction side of what looks like my handgun.

    It is identical to the S&W Hand Ejector. It has the number 5 stamped into the swing arm frame for the cylinder.

    I also found a mention somewhere that said the model 5 was the precursor to the model 30.

    Anyone know of a site for looking up S&W serial numbers?
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  • Mgderf
    I can't believe my luck.

    I received this S&W revolver from the mother of a friend. Father died several years ago, and mom is just now dealing with the firearms.

    I just posted today that I wanted help identifying this revolver, and today, the friend shows up with the original box my revolver came in!

    I now know (from the box)it is a .32cal Regulation Police model 31-I.

    I'd still be interested to know when it was made.
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  • Hawk Carse
    Numbers inside the yoke (what S&W calls your "swing arm") are factory assembly numbers used to keep fitted parts together until the gun is complete. They have no meaning after the gun is finished and given a serial number.

    I know of no free internet site for tracking S&W serial numbers. There is a book, The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, with a good deal of such information, but the publisher does not give data away.
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  • 22hipower
    According to the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson (2nd Edition) post war production (1948-1991) has serial number range of 536685 to 826977. That would suggest your revolver was made in 1948 or 1949. However, I'm not sure that the box you have went with the gun as model numbers were not assigned until 1957 and I would think serial number 575659 would have been produced before that. If your revolver actually came in that box its serial number should be on the box and the 31-1 should be stamped on the frame where it can be seen when the cylinder is opened. And a question, does your gun have a screw in the front of the trigger guard?

    Edit: I noticed that you list the model number as 31-I not 31-1. The 32 Regulation Police, before 1961, was built on the I frame. I'm still confused by the model number being on the box as the serial number suggests it was manufactured before model numbers were assigned. Perhaps someone added the 31-I later. Not a big deal anyway. The screw in the front of the trigger guard is the "5th" screw of what is known as the "five screw" S&Ws. Today's guns have three but early guns had five (the one in front and four on the side plate) and then four and now three.
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  • Mgderf
    The serial number is hand written on the box. The only stampings on the inside of the frame arm is a single 5, and the series of numbers 13602. The 13602 is repeated on the arm itself, so I imagine that's the "assembly numbers". The box says model 31-I

    Yes, mine does have a screw on the front of the trigger guard. What is that for?
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  • Hawk Carse
    The screw in front of the trigger guard holds in the plunger and spring that tension the cylinder stop. On later guns they saved the cost of drilling and tapping the hole and making the screw and plunger. Nowadays, the cylinder stop and its spring are just kind of crammed into place.
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