smith and wesson 32 revolver serial number lookup

38 except for the irregularly-shaped side plate, which had been restored when it was found that the straight-line type weakened the frame. 32 double-action was offered shooting the same cartridge as the. Twenty-five thousand were built in that caliber with the above specifications. Distinguishing the original from subsequent models is the side plate, in which the cuts run across the side of the frame, thus departing from the previous irregular shape.Īs the new double-action would do everything the single-action would do, along with a few tricks of its own, it attained popularity from the start. The front sear was joined to the trigger and held in that position by the hand pivot, giving extra leverage for an easy pull when used double-action. Half and full-cock notches permitted the hammer to be used single-action as well as double.ĭesign of the trigger was especially ingenious, with a flanged finger piece held in position by a V-shaped trigger spring operating on the rocker stop. The cylinder stop was of rocker type, requiring a double series of stop notches in the cylinder, with a free grove to accommodate its action. It was very similar in outline to the single-action of the same caliber, but carried a bow-shaped trigger guard in place of the spur guard. 38, shooting the cartridge previously designed for the single-action revolver. Colt did not produce a double-action hand gun for metallic cartridges until 1877, and Smith & Wesson lagged behind until February of 1880, when they brought out a double-action. Many good Adams and Tranter double-actions came to this country from England during the Civil War, along with a number of French and Belgian trigger-cocking hand guns which couldn’t be used single-action.

The system itself antedated the pepperboxes, for Ethan Allen made double-action, single-shot pistols under an earlier patent than Colonel Colt’s.ĭuring the percussion period, Cooper revolvers were produced with double-action, as were the hammerless Pettingill which came out in 1856, the Starr and the Remington Rider.

Smith & Wesson Hand Guns is also available to purchase in print.Įvolution of the revolver during the years just covered is remarkable for one manufacturing omission-the double-action principle. The following information on Smith & Wesson Double Action revolvers comes from Smith & Wesson Hand Guns by Roy C.

Smith and wesson 32 revolver serial number lookup