Tell me about these three revolvers

[masraum]

OK, I've got 3 guns (actually two are gifts for the kids that they'll get eventually) and don't know jack about them. These are filthy. I can see crud in lots of places, and

#1 Colt Army Special 32-20 WCF. Bluing is wearing off and there is some light pitting that I assume was maybe rust at some point on the right side.

#2 Police Positive NP 38 S&W on one side of the barrel and Colt on the other side. The back of the handgrip says RHKP 6193
It's in better shape than the one above. The gun is also really dirty.

#3 says Smith & Wesson on one side and says 38 S&W Special on the other.
This is in the best shape of all, but again, very dirty.




So are any of these worth a darn as a gun? Reliable, decent shooting, worth while home protection?

Thanks from the gun clueless.

[m21sniper]

#2 or #3 are just fine for defense if you're comfortable with .38spl. #3 is the most modern.

I'd reccomend 158gr +P+ LHP's for either, assuming they're in serviceable shape.

[masraum]

Apparently, according to the Internet, #2 is an old "Royal Hong Kong Police" revolver. It's got a lanyard ring on the bottom of the handle.

Sniper, thanks. Is there a good write-up someplace to tell me what I need to do to get them cleaned up/serviceable. I'm comfy cleaning them myself unless for some reason I need to take them someplace. Is there anything that I need to check on them?

My dad was a cop, used to have a S&W Nickle 6" barrel 357 Magnum that was his old cop gun, but that was stolen years ago when our house was robbed. At some point he also had a 9mm semi-auto something, but I think when he got older he traded it to my uncle for a shotgun for home protection. He did some reloading at one point, and taught me gun safety, but we never went shooting. I'd never fired a handgun until I had the opportunity about 13 years ago with some of the guns that were owned by the same people that gave us these three.

[legion]

Seriously dude!?

Seriously???

I pretty much inherited the same exact revolvers from my grandpa:

More Wheel Guns



Is the top one in 32 S&W Long?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by legion

Seriously dude!?

Seriously???

I pretty much inherited the same exact revolvers from my grandpa:


Is the top one in 32 S&W Long?

Wow, cool. These came in a paper bag, but it was one of those decorative paper bags with the colored tissue paper with a gun in the bottom, hahaha. I think yours were better cared for.

I don't know, how would I tell if it was 32 S&W Long?

[red-beard]

Maybe we need to meet out at the range this weekend. I'm a member of the American Shooting Center at Bush park. The guys in the shop can take a look at them and see if they are able to be fired safely.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Maybe we need to meet out at the range this weekend. I'm a member of the American Shooting Center at Bush park. The guys in the shop can take a look at them and see if they are able to be fired safely.

The wifey has plans for me for this weekend, but I'll check with you when I get one free. I don't have any ammo for any of them, and wouldn't consider firing them without having them checked out.

[red-beard]

The range store has plenty of ammo of all different kinds. I know a couple of the store people are gun smiths. I had one do some accuracy work on my 1911.

[real550A]

#3 looks like a K-frame Model 15. Open the cylinder and look by the hinge.
Nice personal defense/carry weapon.

[tabs]

Those guns are fine to shoot. Cleaning go on down to Wally world and buy some cleaning supplies.. a cleaning rod with a couple of good bore brushes some Breakfree and some patches...

The third gun appears to be a Smith model 10..

All are great guns...

The Colt Army special was named that until 1926 when they changed the name to The Offical Police. The 32/20 is an oboslete cartridge.

None of the the guns are especially collectable in the condition they are in Even if they were in collectable condition (As NEW) they are only worth a minor amount of money.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by real550A

#3 looks like a K-frame Model 15. Open the cylinder and look by the hinge.
Nice personal defense/carry weapon.

On the gun side it says "MOD 36-1", and on the cylinder side it says "F15" and what I assume is the SN.

Based on that, I assume it's a Model 36?

Thanks

[masraum]

ok, according to wikipedia...

The Smith & Wesson Model 36 is a revolver chambered for .38 Special. Like nearly all other "J-frame" Smith & Wesson revolvers, it has a 5-round capacity in a swing-out cylinder, and features an exposed hammer. It features a blued finish and either wood or rubber grips. It is also offered in special Lady Smith and Chief's Special Models.[2]

Thanks all for the info.

[juanbenae]

ive got a republic of hong kong police S&W .38. got it from a gun shop years ago & from what i recall he had a few like surplus stuff. i got it fer a song.

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by masraum

Apparently, according to the Internet, #2 is an old "Royal Hong Kong Police" revolver. It's got a lanyard ring on the bottom of the handle.

Sniper, thanks. Is there a good write-up someplace to tell me what I need to do to get them cleaned up/serviceable. I'm comfy cleaning them myself unless for some reason I need to take them someplace. Is there anything that I need to check on them?

Drop em off at a competent local gunsmith and ask him to do a thorough cleaning and inspection of them.

If there are any major problems he'll spot them.

Both #2 and #3 should be OK to fire +P+ rounds as long as they're in good shape and you restrict their usage to actual defensive purposes. They sell the hot +P+ rounds in 110, 125 and 158 gr i think. I haven't checked in a while, but i think the 158gr is ranked the highest by Sanow/marshall and they would definitely be Fackler's top pick in that caliber.

Use cheap-o ammo for range use.

#3 is actually a fully modern revolver.

The .32-20(#1) is quite obsolete, i wouldn't mess with that one other than to have it cleaned up and then put it in a drawer somewhere for your kids when they grow up. I reckon at some point it will have some collectors value.

[tabs]

P+ rounds not in that that Police Positive. nor would I think in the mdl 36...tooo hot to handle in those small frame revolvers.

[m21sniper]

+P+ would be perfectly fine for defensive use.

The gun is not going to blow up after 5 or 10 shots.

Regular stuff for practice at the range, +P for blasting bad guys.

[targa911S]

Originally Posted by tabs

Those guns are fine to shoot. Cleaning go on down to Wally world and buy some cleaning supplies.. a cleaning rod with a couple of good bore brushes some Breakfree and some patches...

The third gun appears to be a Smith model 10..

All are great guns...

The Colt Army special was named that until 1926 when they changed the name to The Offical Police. The 32/20 is an oboslete cartridge.

None of the the guns are especially collectable in the condition they are in Even if they were in collectable condition (As NEW) they are only worth a minor amount of money.

What he said +1.

[on2wheels52]

"On the gun side it says "MOD 36-1"

Unless you did some photo trick #3 is the biggest j-frame I've ever seen.
It is a 5 shot cylinder?
Jim

[masraum]

Originally Posted by on2wheels52

"On the gun side it says "MOD 36-1"

Unless you did some photo trick #3 is the biggest j-frame I've ever seen.
It is a 5 shot cylinder?
Jim

Yes sir, 5 shots. No photo tricks. I do have a tiny little pair of wooden hand-grips with the S&W logo. I assume they're for that gun. I was trying to figure out why that one seemed so hefty and realized it's the big rubber handgrips. Maybe that's it?

[on2wheels52]

Then your 36 has a somewhat unusual barrell. Typically they have a 1 7/8".
I guess the Colt's must be smaller than I'm used to seeing. All I have here to compare to my j-frame is a Python, and it's considerably larger than the Smith.