Need help with a Smith and Wesson

[Todd 68]

I have a double action Smith and Wesson 44 Special and I was wondering if anyone can tell me what model it is and how old it is . The gun does not have a model number on it , it is a 6 shot revolver with stag handles , the bluing is gone . It has the Smith and Wesson trademark on the side plate , Smith and Wesson stamped on the barrel on the other side of the barrel it is has a stamp that looks somithing like this >-x then says 44 s&w Special CTG then has that same stamp >-x . There are serial numbers on the bottom of the handle , on the cylinder , on the cylinder swing arm if that is what it is called and on the frame behind the swing arm . The serial number on the frame behind the the swing arm has the serial number than a eagles head stamped on it with S2 stamped under the Eagles head . I would appreciate any help you guys can give me .

[RJay]

A serial number from the butt of the gun would would help in identifying it and the year. The other numbers are assembly numbers and mean nothing

[Alpo]

The number on the bottom of the grip should agree with the number on the face of the cylinder. If it is old enough, there should also be a flat spot on the bottom of the barrel, right up next to the frame. The SN will be there, also.

[Todd 68]

There is no flat spot on the bottom of the barrel with a serial number on it , the serial number on the bottom of the grip is 19246 . If you guys could give me the model of the gun and age I would really appreciate it .

[RJay]

That serial number shows to be 1926 on the S&W 44 Hand Ejector. just a WAG with out pictures

[Todd 68]

Any idea of the model ? What does WAG mean ?

[RJay]

The Model is S&W 44 Hand Ejector. WAG means Wild A** Guess. S&W made so many different models, it is difficult to pin point a certain model just by a serial number, there may be 10- completely different guns with the same number.. However, 44 Special, no letter in the serials numbers, should be the .44 Hand Ejector, it should also be a "N" frame. Model numbers were not used until, I believe 1956 - 57 or thereabouts.

[Alpo]

Originally Posted by RJay

That serial number shows to be 1926 on the S&W 44 Hand Ejector. just a WAG with out pictures

RJay, where did you get your information? My copy of SCSW, 3rd Edition, says 44 HE SNs started, in 1922, with 18400, and in 1923 with 19600. That would seem to put 19246 in 1922. My book says 1926 numbers started with 25000.

[RJay]

You're right, 1922 ended with 18,400 and 1923 ended with 19,600, so if it is a 44 Hand Ejector it is three years older than first stated. Sometimes my mind works faster than my fingers.

[Todd 68]

Thanks RJAY and ALPO for your help , I really appreciate it . I was wondering if you guys have any idea of the value of this gun ? If you need pictures I can try to post some .

[Alpo]

Definitely post pictures.

[phoenix82839]

i've got a hand ejector from my granfather in 32 long how can i tell how old it is?

[Alpo]

Serial number will narrow it down.

[phoenix82839]

311 396 is the number at the bottom of the handle

[Alpo]

With some guns, the reference books can narrow it down to a year, or maybe a two or three year stretch. With others they don't do so good. Unfortunately, this is one of the others. A 32 HE, SN 311396 is a 3rd Model, and was made between 1911 (SN 263001) and 1942 (SN 536684). That's as close as the book narrows it down. That's, approximately, 300 thousand in thirty years, so average of 10 thousand a year. With yours being 50 thousand after the start of the run, guesstimation puts it at around 1916 or 17. If you want closer, I believe you'll have to spend the 50 bucks and get a letter from S&W.
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/w...ectionId=10504

[phoenix82839]

is their any thing special about the model 3's
and is the 32 long a centerfire or rimfire

[Alpo]

3rd model, not Model 3. Model 3 is a totally different gun. It's a centerfire. The last Smith and Wesson gun in 32 rimfire was made in 1874.

When you use the word "model" in front of the number, you are talking about a specific gun. Model 1, Model 1 1/2, Model 3, Model 10, Model 29, Model 625, etc. When you put the number first, you are talking about a variation on a specific gun.

When they first started making Smiths, they gave them model numbers. They did that up to about 1881, when they started giving them names (Double Action, New Departure, Hand Ejector, Outdoorsman, Heavy Duty, etc). Then in 1957 they went back to model numbers. With the guns with model numbers, if they made a slight design change they added a dash number. So you have the Model 19, which was the original gun, and then after a minor change the 19-1, and then after another change the 19-2, etc. The guns with names got their modifications listed as part of the name. These changes could be big (like going from the I frame to the J frame) or small (like changing the S&W Trademark stamp from the right side of the gun to the left side).

So we have the 32 Hand Ejector, 1st model (also called the Model of 1896). Made between 1896 and 1903.
Then the 32 HE, model of 1903 (also called the 2nd model). Design change, made in 1903 and 1904
Model of 1903, 1st change - made between 1904 and 1906.
Model of 1903, 2nd change - made between 1906 and 1909.
Model of 1903, 3rd change - 1909 and 1910.
Model of 1904, 4th change - 1910.
Model of 1903, 5th change - 1910 to 1917.
32 HE, 3rd model (the one you have) - made for 25 years. They seem to have gotten it right. Then came the war, and they quit making that model.
32 HE (Postwar) - started up again in 1946. Became the Model 30 in 1957.
Model 30 - 1957 to 1961.
Model 30-1, changed from the I frame to the J frame. Made from 1961 until the gun was discontinued in 1976.

The small S&W, now, is the J frame. When your gun was made, there was no J frame. Your gun is made on the I frame, and it is slightly smaller than a J. If you go to buy a holster for your gun, the closest you can get is for a J frame, and your gun will be a little loose in it.

[phoenix82839]

ok today i found a otg after 32 long

[phoenix82839]

there is rust on the otg or ctg