Author Topic: .32 S&W CTGE  (Read 3819 times)

0 Members and 3 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline acunn1

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Posts: 4
.32 S&W CTGE
« on: October 23, 2011, 05:35:12 PM »
I have aquired a revolver that I know nothing about. It is a H&R  .32 S&W with "HARRINGTON & RICHARDSON ARMS CO. WORCESTER, MASS. USA" on the top strap. It is a top break 6 shot revolver with the designation "32 S&W. CTGE. "on the left side of the barrel. It is a 3" barrel. the serial number on the bottom of the grip is "317XXX." Any info would be greatly appreciated. 

Offline mcwoodduck

  • Trade Count: (11)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7983
  • Gender: Male
Re: .32 S&W CTGE
« Reply #1 on: October 23, 2011, 07:20:29 PM »
32S&W is still made.
It is a short CTG and the top break revolvers were popular in the late 1880's to the 1915, when the Solid frame hand ejector took over.
I have a little S&W that my Grandfather said belonged to his aunt that kept it in her apron.  She ran a boarding house.
The gun makes more of a POP than a bang.
The factory rounds I have found are made by Remington and fuire an 88 grain round nose lead slug at about 700 FPS.  It is expensive but you are not going to shoot a lot of it.  Both of my 32's and my 38 S&W are short range plinkers only.  Maybe small game if you are a really good shot but the tiny sights are a handicap. 
There is also a long version of the same CTG.  If the Cylinder is about an inch its the shorts if it is about 1.4" it is the long.  I do not know if any top breaks makde for it but anything is possible.  Later H&R took the long case and added .1 of an inch and made the 32H&R Mag, later Federal made the 327 by adding length to the case again.
There is also a 38 version of it.  (I know too much Information.) 

Offline Old Fart

  • Intergalactic Moderator
  • Moderator
  • Trade Count: (77)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3851
  • Gender: Male
Re: .32 S&W CTGE
« Reply #2 on: October 24, 2011, 04:01:11 AM »
If you can it would probably help a couple of the guys here if you could post a picture.
 
Also I recently picked up a box of 32 S&W from Magtech. ;)
"All my life I've had a bad case of the Fred's. Fredrick Vanderbilt taste on a Fred Sanford budget." CR
Lifetime/Endowment/Patron NRA Member.
Second Amendment Foundation, www.saf.org - Life Member

Offline 32 Magnum

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 269
  • Gender: Male
Re: .32 S&W CTGE
« Reply #3 on: October 24, 2011, 05:27:43 AM »
Acunn1,
You have an H&R 3rd Model AUTOMATIC EJECTING 3rd Variation made between 1913 and 1915 (this from the spelling of the state as 'MASS.').  It was made to handle smokeless/Nitro powder .32 S&W or .32 S&W long cartridges.  That serial number would put it late in the series - so probably 1915 is the year of production.
A picture or a more complete description of the finish, barrel length, condition of finish and grip panels would help provide a bit more info, as well as an estimated RETAIL value.
Jim Hauff,  H&R Collector

RIP Jim, passed away on October 12th, 2012

Offline acunn1

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Posts: 4
Re: .32 S&W CTGE
« Reply #4 on: October 25, 2011, 06:54:24 PM »
It needs repair. The trigger does not actuate the hammer, I believe a spring is missing. There is no trigger guard. I am working on pictures.


Offline geek4u86

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Posts: 1
Re: .32 S&W CTGE
« Reply #5 on: November 17, 2011, 10:44:48 PM »
any like this ser # 270xxx

Offline 32 Magnum

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 269
  • Gender: Male
Re: .32 S&W CTGE
« Reply #6 on: November 18, 2011, 11:35:20 AM »
Geek,
Welcome to the forum.  Your gun is not a member of the AUTOMATIC EJECTION series.
To properly ID your gun, I'll need to know if it is a SMALL FRAME HAMMERLESS chambered for 5 rounds of .32 S&W or LARGE FRAME HAMMERLESS chambered for 5 rounds of .38 S&W.  I can't read the cartridge stamp on the left side of the barrel in your pictures.  Both the large and small frames shared a common manufacturer's stamp on the top of the barrel rib - at different times.  Also serial number could be either.
Jim Hauff,  H&R Collector

RIP Jim, passed away on October 12th, 2012

Offline steven54321

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Posts: 1
Re: .32 S&W CTGE
« Reply #7 on: November 21, 2011, 06:37:37 PM »
32S&W is still made.
It is a short CTG and the top break revolvers were popular in the late 1880's to the 1915, when the Solid frame hand ejector took over.
I have a little S&W that my Grandfather said belonged to his aunt that kept it in her apron.  She ran a boarding house.
The gun makes more of a POP than a bang.
The factory rounds I have found are made by Remington and fuire an 88 grain round nose lead slug at about 700 FPS.  It is expensive but you are not going to shoot a lot of it.  Both of my 32's and my 38 S&W are short range plinkers only.  Maybe small game if you are a really good shot but the tiny sights are a handicap. 
There is also a long version of the same CTG.  If the Cylinder is about an inch its the shorts if it is about 1.4" it is the long.  I do not know if any top breaks makde for it but anything is possible.  Later H&R took the long case and added .1 of an inch and made the 32H&R Mag, later Federal made the 327 by adding length to the case again.
There is also a 38 version of it.  (I know too much Information.)

Offline mcwoodduck

  • Trade Count: (11)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7983
  • Gender: Male
Re: .32 S&W CTGE
« Reply #8 on: November 22, 2011, 05:43:37 AM »
Steven,
You quoted me but no comments?  Are you just agreeing with me?

Offline Old Fart

  • Intergalactic Moderator
  • Moderator
  • Trade Count: (77)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3851
  • Gender: Male
Re: .32 S&W CTGE
« Reply #9 on: November 22, 2011, 07:37:51 AM »
Steven,
Are you just agreeing with me?

Appears to be a fly-by posting....  ???
 
As a general rule we try not to agree with anyone.  :o   ;D
"All my life I've had a bad case of the Fred's. Fredrick Vanderbilt taste on a Fred Sanford budget." CR
Lifetime/Endowment/Patron NRA Member.
Second Amendment Foundation, www.saf.org - Life Member

Offline darkgael

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1655
  • The readiness is all. 4049 posts from the “old” gb
Re: .32 S&W CTGE
« Reply #10 on: November 29, 2011, 06:19:24 AM »
Interesting> I  was just shooting a .32 S&W revolver last night. It is a solid frame Forehand and Wadsworth. I'd loaded some brass with the 80 grain RN bullet and 8 grains of FFFg Swiss BP. Makes more than a "pop". I also had a few rounds of smokeless .32s....those make a pop.
Fun gun to shoot.

Pete