My Dad's .32 S&W

[Parabellus]

Hello again,

This was my father's revolver that he passed to my mother who passed it to my sister. It looks like a Smith & Wesson GTGE about which I am, of course, clueless except that it is likely to be older than I am. Can you help identify it beyond the obvious and give an idea if my sister has something of value here.
Thank you once again for your help.

Russell

[Ron Wood]

The "Owls Head" grips identify it as an Iver Johnson revolver. I am not sure but I think it is a Third Model made sometime between 1909 and 1941. The barrel marking is actually "32 S&W CTGE" which is of course the .32 Smith and Wesson cartridge. A nice gun but not terribly valuable, but in the condition of your dad's/sister's revolver it should attract a bit of collector interest. The nickle is in much better conditon than usually encountered in these old top breaks that were used with corrosive primers and powder and the holster is a treasure!

[RichSr]

Ron
I bow to your knowledge of early Lugers and treat all your postings as gospel (or nearly so ) However, I believe the "target" grips are indicative of a Harrington and Richardson revolver.

[Ron Wood]

You are absolutely correct, Sir. I looked at the first photo and thought I saw an owl's head, but obviously I should have been wearing my glasses. I am chagrined...but I will get over it. Thanks for your correction and kind words.

[Parabellus]

Thank you Ron and Rich,

Your responses are appreciated.
If this gun was produced before 1913 then it is older than our Dad. It should be pre-1940 at least. My guess is he may have gotten it in the mid-1930s.
Now I need to educate myself about Iver Johnson and Harrington and Richardson. Can they all peacefully co-exist in the same gun with Smith & Wesson? How does all this affect the timeframe?

Russell

[RichSr]

I find myself needing a pair of "cheaters" more and more these days. The eyes aren't what they used to be.
Russell,
The H&R Auto Ejecting revolver came in two models and a few calibers. Model 1 was manufactured 1887-1889 with the Mode 2 starting then (1889) and ceasing production in 1940. It was chambered in 32S&W, 32H&R Long 38S&W (five shot cylinder) and possibly other 32 centerfire cartridges popular at the time. Yours is most likely a 2nd model as they made well over one million of them. Sorry I can't narrow down when your revolver was made.

[Parabellus]

Rich,

Thanks again. You have given me a sense of the pedigree of this model S&W.

Tac,

You are absolutely right about the value in this piece. As Ron pointed out the holster IS a treasure. The holster is festooned in Dad's hand with states he and his dance band drove through from gig to gig during the late 1930s. It wasn't really HIS band; he played saxophone. I never knew the name of the band and nobody remembers it now. This pistol and a few sepia photographs are all that remain. I think I saw it one time as a very young child. He kept it, his .22 rifle, and 410 shotgun well hidden from the kids growing up.
After he died twenty years ago our Mom hid it away but took it with her to several residences. She was afraid of it but more afraid to let any of her kids have it. We all knew it was there somewhere but only younger Brother was interested. Sister cared for Mom until she died and inherited all the sentimental treasures, which she then shared with us, her three brothers. The S&W she kept hidden until after Brother died just last year. When she found out about my developing Luger and vintage firearm habit I guess she just figured 'what the heck'. Now she wants to let me have it. I want to let her know what she has before just handing it over. Since I don't know either but I have this marvelous resource I had her take these pictures to post here.
Anyway, I will ask her to find the sn so I can ask Mr. Goforth as you suggested. I suppose it is likely to be on the butt or under one of the grips?
It will not be for sale of course. It will have the special place in a small but growing collection of fine old firearms.
Thanks for your tu'pence.

Russell

[Parabellus]

Tac,

That is a great story about your father's Walther and your wife's expertise.
My wife (who easily out-shoots me) fancies the latest S&W contracted Walther PPK/S in 9mmk for her weapon-of-choice. I tried to interest her in a WWII era Walther PPK (I think it was K) we saw in the shop that sold us the first Luger. No, she wants the lighter modern model. She can't understand why I like these old, heavy, used guns.

It's a crying shame that in your country all those great old guns must meet with the fate you describe or worse.
If saner heads someday prevail in the UK is it possible to re-activate any?

Russell

[Parabellus]

And that is why we on this side of the puddle should never say, 'It can't happen here.'
At least we still have one major political party that supports our Second Amendment...usually....we hope. It is election season here and we are in danger of losing ground. As disenchanted as many of us are with our governing leadership we have to get off our duffs and vote anyway.

Consider yourself, Mrs. Tac, and Ig all formally invited to the USA to live after your stint in Japan. There may be a few lines to stand in, papers to fill out, and interviews to endure. You'll need to carry around a Green Card that is not green at all. If you commit no crimes, stay off controlled substances, and never admit to being crazy you should eventually have access to functional firearms and reasonably safe places to discharge them....for now anyway.

Best wishes to all,

Russell

[Parabellus]

Earliest memories of this life are of Oregon, a nine-acre patch of farmland at the base of a hill at the edge of a wooded area and a creek running through it with crawdads. Bean fields, strawberry patches, and hop yards interspersed with potato fields and pasturelands dotted with cattle, sheep, and horses. Small towns along country roads led to snowcapped peaks in whichever direction you pleased. Drive far enough east and find rugged high desert. Drive north to find a magnificent mountain and a mighty river filled with spawning salmon. Go south into the forested mountains to a volcanic caldera filled with ice-cold water in one of the most beautiful settings imaginable. There are bear, deer, pheasant, quail, and spotted owl. Or venture west across mountain ranges to the ragged windswept coast where sea lions gather on rocks in pouring rain. Descendents of native tribes long forgotten but for the names left behind must still be there. Devoted Mennonites quietly make their lives while loving and helping their not-so-devoted neighbors like us.
Yep, you certainly do have a place to go. I don't imagine our friend Dwight has anything to do with your discovery of one of this countryâ??s best-kept secrets?

See you there,
Russell

[Parabellus]

Tac,

Sounds like a plan to make.

Russell

PS: I'm still trying to process an image of a six-year-old kid firing a Colt 45. Two hands or one?

[Parabellus]

Good afternoon Tac,

It's past midnight here and Mrs. P. wants to go rabbit hunting in the morning. She wants something fat, cute, and fuzzy to cuddle. I'm only fat and fuzzy.

Good night,
Russell