Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Handgun info needed: S&W 32-20 Revolver

Hey guys,

Just talked to my dad so I don't know anything about the gun other than what he has shared with me.
He said it was a Smith&Wesson revolver in 32-20 winchester. Said its a 5 digit serial number.
Said he paid $50 for it.

What can you guys tell me about this gun? Is it worth the $50 he paid for it? Any info appreciated.

Kique

Any functioning and safe S&W hand ejector is worth way more than $50. (Don't shoot hot modern rifle ammo in a 32-20.)

32-20s were made from 1899 to 1940. Pretty sure they had their own SN range. Five digit SNs would have run from (guessing) 1903 to maybe the 1920s?

Kique;

With any condition, it's worth 5x to 5x what he paid for it.

Get pics and an SN, and post them. TLEE is THE man re values.

Thanks Guys. I'm gonna try to make a trip down today and get it from him. I might be able to call and get a SN from him.

By the way.....those are really general great for carry and pretty neat too. The .32-20, in my experience, is equal to (if not just a touch better) than the .38 Spl in most uses.....and very near as effective as the .357 Mag. for field use against game smaller than deer-size.

For self defense, it is very near the equal of a .38 Spl. (but far below the .357) and because of the compact size and low weight of the typical revolver, makes a great CCW. There are BETTER choices, but you are hardly "un-armed" with a .32-20 revolver.

The Colt version of this revolver (Police Positive) was my mother's choice for a truck gun/carry weapon both in town and in the woods for more than 20 years. Never had to use it against a human, but many a squirrel, rabbit, armadillo, varmit.....and even a few smallish hogs as well as one young deer, found the .32-20 was NOT a good thing (for them).

Many of these revolvers have been hard used and show it (not surprising after more than 80 years of use), but most still function fine and will do the job. If you find one in really good condition....you have found a "treasure" that is typically worth a much as $275-350 (truely light used examples can go MUCH higher).

Serial number is 480xx and is on the bottom of the grip ,the cylinder serial reads 480xx

On the barrel it reads 32 winchester CTG

He also mentioned that at the front of the gun where the cylinder closes it reads 1208. Not quite sure where, but thats what he said.

I'll have to go pick up the gun to get any other numbers or model on it and take pics. Dad says the barrel is 6 inches or better long.


To Be continued......

That SN would correspond to a Model of 1905 3rd change made between 1909 and 1915.

Could be either a square or round butt and 6" would be right. Longer would be unusual. Fixed sights are what you would expect, target sights would bring a premium.

A super nice find, should be a really nice small game revolver.

Thanks for the info guys. If it shoots decent I might have to use it on javelina or jack rabbit plinking.

32-20 WCF Hand Ejector (Model of 1905 - 3rd Change)
4 or 6 in. barrel, 20,499 mfg. 1909-15. Serial number range approx. 45,201-65,700.
Grading
100% 98% 95% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10%
N/A $1,850 $1,625 $1,375 $1,100 $875 $625 $425 $300 $250 $200 $175

(Don't shoot hot modern rifle ammo in a 32-20.)

I had the same revolver. Current .32-20 factory loads should be safe in your
Smith & Wesson.

Agreed as they are loaded to then factory levels because of all the old revolvers still out there in use. It is a low pressure round at any rate.

To be perfectly honest, I don't know anything about it, but there was a warning listed in the Standard Catalog of S&W, so I figured it was worth repeating. If current factory ammo is no longer loaded hot, I guess it would no longer apply, unless you found some older, hotter ammo laying around.

For awhile in the 40's and 50's they were souping up the 32-20 to make it something it wasn't. You could buy the equivalent of a Super-Vel loading for it. The Spanish made guns were getting blown up and the powers that be, figured they needed to lower things back down. Current ammo is fine in your gun.

Hello

Was doing a search on the S&W 32-20's and happend upon this thread. I have one of these also that belonged to my Grandfather and was used as his Forest Service Pistol. He was stationed in Western Montana.

The serial # on mine is 697** and is in excellent condition, all the numbers match and has all the bluing on it. Also has the orginal holster. The grips are a little wore down at the bottom. I don't think its been fired very much. I"m sure if the records are still around it would show up as registered in his name. It has a 6" barrel and says 32 w.c.f. CTG on it

So can I use this same grading scale. I am looking to sell it as I have no real use for it. I think theres a couple of boxes of the original bullets for it too.

Thanks for any info