Hand Ejector

[alvin]

Tried five items in Amoskeag, only one came. Hand ejector, 6-shot .32 caliber, factory original, probably made in late 1930s.

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by alvin

Tried five items in Amoskeag, only one came. Hand ejector, 6-shot .32 caliber, factory original, probably made in late 1930s.

I have the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, if you have the serial, I can narrow down the year range...

[ithacaartist]

Wow, a beaut. Looks like it escaped from a Humphrey Bogart movie!

[alvin]

Originally Posted by sheepherder

I have the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, if you have the serial, I can narrow down the year range...

Great. s/n is 253012.

There is an array of patent dates on barrel in tiny fonts: March of (18)94, etc. But its making date is not stamped anywhere.

[alvin]

Originally Posted by ithacaartist

Wow, a beaut. Looks like it escaped from a Humphrey Bogart movie!

There are two nice ejectors in this session. Another one is #280727, nickle plated in perfect shape, but unlike other white guns in my memory, it has black grip panels. The description says it's factory modified from a blue gun in 1978, so everything makes sense. But that one was a little bit hotter, so only this one came.

[hayhugh]

I bought this gun back in 1957 and I probably have not shot more then a couple of boxes (50 rounds) thru it. What is it worth today?

[hayhugh]

Sorry, about the .45, I am only talking about the K .22

[alvin]

Originally Posted by hayhugh

I bought this gun back in 1957 and I probably have not shot more then a couple of boxes (50 rounds) thru it. What is it worth today?

This ejector? The estimate was $400-$600. But the auction house listed a bunch of revolvers as $400-$600 regardless of type and condition, so I am not sure their estimate being good or not. Anyway, I help them realizing $413.

Other items, Baby Nambu, FN 1905, Enfield reolver, and S&W Nickle, all went above or near their corresponding high estimate, only this one stays at low estimate so this one came. The market is hotter now, there are bidders competing.

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by alvin

Great. s/n is 253012.

There is an array of patent dates on barrel in tiny fonts: March of (18)94, etc. But its making date is not stamped anywhere.

Wow. Many variations, many changes. 3 or 4 pages in book on this model. I wonder if last patent date is indicative of last change???

(I can copy/email you scans of the pages).

[Douglas Jr.]

Great addition, Alvin.
Douglas.

[alvin]

Find a local store selling .30 Luger and .32 S&W ammo (both are Fiocchi made). They ran out of .30 Mauser, fortunately, I stored plentiful PPU .30 Mauser ammo in the past.

Will try these three handguns this weekend.

[sheepherder]

Is .32 S&W Fiocchi a target load? 2nd model/5th Change is last Hand Ejector to NOT have heat-treated cylinder.

[alvin]

Originally Posted by sheepherder

Is .32 S&W Fiocchi a target load? 2nd model/5th Change is last Hand Ejector to NOT have heat-treated cylinder.

I am not sure. The data printed on the box says "820 FPS, 97 GRS FMJ".

I heard early hand ejectors cannot fire smokeless cartridge, but looks like this one was 1917 based on your data, should be safe for this ammo ?

[Edward Tinker]

Nice finds I like Amoskeag - nice auction house - bought my simson vest pocket there.

[alvin]

Amoskeag is local, near downtown Manchester NH, that's a big advantage. The business is located in an old mills building, 3rd floor. There are numerous red brick mills buildings in this area built in 19th century. Americans preserve things well, including buildings. I bet its current appearance is not very different from 100 years ago, except traffic signs and parking lot changed.

Outside of the auction house and the bidding room:

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by alvin

I heard early hand ejectors cannot fire smokeless cartridge, but looks like this one was 1917 based on your data, should be safe for this ammo ?

I don't know.

But I have a 1948-51 era Model 10 w/2" bbl that I bought as a 'parts gun'. The cylinder had blown up and the top strap was warped. The PO had fitted a new cylinder & yoke assy, but could not get the cylinder to lock consistently. Neither can I.

No one would say why it blew; maybe magnum load, or double 38 Spl load, or other load [+P maybe?]. I don't trust it, even though I have the top strap back to the same specs as my M15.

It was educational to work on, but I don't count it as a success.

I would think there is a good reason that S&W went to the hardened cylinder on the Model 3 .32 Hand Ejector, even in 32 S&W caliber...

[alvin]

Came back from range. Fired 50 rounds from the ejector. No problem. The cartridge is weak, ejected cartridge case is hard to be called warm. After firing 50 rounds, the barrel is just a little bit warm.

Also fired 50 rounds from C96, no problem either.

Luger failed feeding on every round. I guess its magazine spring being too weak. Had an Interarms many years ago, in memory, that gun's magazine spring was so strong, loading 8 rounds hurt fingers. But this one's magazine spring is weak, it's effortless to load 8 rounds into magazine. It shots single round fine, fired 5 rounds in single shot style.

[kurusu]

Originally Posted by alvin

Luger failed feeding on every round. I guess its magazine spring being too weak. Had an Interarms many years ago, in memory, that gun's magazine spring was so strong, loading 8 rounds hurt fingers. But this one's magazine spring is weak, it's effortless to load 8 rounds into magazine. It shots single round fine, fired 5 rounds in single shot style.

Word of advice: Check the fired brass for punctured primers. If they appear in any quantity don't use those rounds anymore.