Help from Colt collector
Picked up a Colt 32 DA 4" barrel, square butt, at Gun Show today.
The problem with some of these old Colts for me is there are so many
variations it's hard to sort them out.
This on is marked on the barrel Colt 32 DA and under the Rampart Colt
New Police. Ser # is 531X
The cal has to be 32 Long Colt even though it not marked that.
A 32 S&W is too big to chamber. Too small of bullet dia.
My guess is it's a New Police Double action 1896-1904
or Maybe a Positive 1st Issue. Bit all of those I have seen had Police Positive on the Barrel.
Any Ideas??
I Refuse to be a VictimGrumpy old man
Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of All Those that Threaten it
The problem with some of these old Colts for me is there are so many
variations it's hard to sort them out.
This on is marked on the barrel Colt 32 DA and under the Rampart Colt
New Police. Ser # is 531X
The cal has to be 32 Long Colt even though it not marked that.
A 32 S&W is too big to chamber. Too small of bullet dia.
My guess is it's a New Police Double action 1896-1904
or Maybe a Positive 1st Issue. Bit all of those I have seen had Police Positive on the Barrel.
Any Ideas??
I Refuse to be a VictimGrumpy old man
Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of All Those that Threaten it
0
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This gun was chambered for both the 32 Colt and the 32 New Police (32S&W Long).
I would find someone who can do a neat job and run a 32S&W Long cylinder chambering reamer in your chambers so you can use the gun.
The barrel dimensions are the same.0 -
If the revolver says it is a New Police, that is probably what it is. This model was adopted by the New York Police Department and was thought to be adequate in power for that purpose. Things have changed a mite since then!
I trust you did not buy this century-old revolver as a shooter. I therefore urge you not to rechamber this old gun because that will destroy any collector value it has, and it will cause confusion later, as well as being possibly dangerous when someone tries to fire it with .32 Colt ammunition. If you are wanting a shooter, perhaps I can trade you something to shoot for this old revolver.
It could be the Old Western Scrounger has ammunition for it, but the site was so slow that I did not wait to see if .32 Colt Long ammunition is available from Dangerous Dave. I suggest you check it out.0 -
Judge
It certinly on good enough condition to be a shooter, It looks like its been laying in a drawer for 50+ years as far as wear goes.
providing I can come up the with some 32 long or short colt, or some brass and dies for RCBS. I would probably never shoot it enough to make reloading pay though.
Anyway I got it for $120 thought that was a good buy as my book shows it a around $300
Thanks for the info
I Refuse to be a VictimGrumpy old man
Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of All Those that Threaten it0 -
I have never let practicality stop me from getting all that is necessary to shoot some of my old guns! If you were practical, you would not have bought it in the first place! Sounds like a good buy.
I have not researched the case dimensions so do not know if any other cases can be adapted. I think the problem will be that the original bullets were like a .22 LR bullet in that the heal fits in the case and the bullet is the same diameter as the case.
Check the OWS site for ammunition.0 -
At one time of my life I asked myself if a gun was more valuable to me altered to suit my needs or preserved as I got it. In the case of a valuable collectible the answer is easy. Dont alter the gun.
This isn't such a gun.
The 32S&W Long is a good, accurate, fun shooter. Handloading it is easy and inexpensive. On the other hand the 32Colt & Long Colt are obsolete dogs and impossible to handload because of the heel style bullets.
Since your gun was made in both calibers the conversion is easy. Either advertize for a cylinder in either caliber or ream your cylinder. Why preserve a gun for someone else that you could enjoy? You don't have much in it and it's your gun to do with as you please isn't it?
As far as mistakenly shooting the 32Colt cartridge in a 32S&W chamber goes, a shooter will quickly see the Colt cartridge swims in the S&W chamber.
Alternatively, a collector might trade you even for a 1903 32 S&W Long Hand Ejector in equal condition. These are more common and at least as well made.0 -
32 Long Colt is not that hard to find, I found 3 boxes on another auction site. a bit pricy at $20 but never will shoot it alot.
I Refuse to be a VictimGrumpy old man
Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of All Those that Threaten it0 -
v35
"Alternatively, a collector might trade you even for a 1903 32 S&W Long Hand Ejector in equal condition."
Never trade it just buy another in 32 S&W when I find a deal
I Refuse to be a VictimGrumpy old man
Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of All Those that Threaten it0 -
Yes, look for one of the S&W I-frame 32Longs or the later
Mod 34 in good shape. They're extremely well made and as I said
it's a great, economical fun cartridge to shoot.0 -
I still disagree with v35. No one should buy a gun like this old Colt to modify into something else, even if it is their right to do so.
If one wants to shoot .32 caliber revolvers, there are lots of them in the various chamberings. The Smith & Wesson Model 34, however, is a .22 rimfire and is not one of them. In the older .32 Smiths with assigned model numbers, look for a Model 30, 31, 32 or 33. There are also newer Smiths in .32 H&R chambering.0 -
Well, that depends on whether you primarily are a shooter, collector or a shooter/collector like the late Elmer Keith. He did some major modifications on a few of his guns whose primary purpose in life was to suit him and shoot most effectively. There were and are many like him.
I stated previously, I personally draw the line on altering valuable collectibles. As modifications go, I would rank my suggestion with the altering of a Stevens tip up from 22L to 22LR to make it more useful. This to a purist collector might make him lose sleep. To a shooter such a conversion to a $120 high quality gun is good economy.
We have different views: should the gun serve you or do you serve the gun?
Thanks for the S&W model correction. I meant the 1903 or later 32 J Frame Hand ejector having a similar frame size. Like the early Colt these early S&W's have better workmanship and finish than later models.0
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