Out shooting snub guns today and couldn't remember if I had mentioned this 32-20. This is a Colt Police Positive Special from 1921 and would have come from Colt's custom shop. The 2 inch barrel was not standard for this model at this time and the Detective Special would not be introduced until 1927 and then chambered in 38 special or 32 S&W.
The 32-20 started out life as a Winchester 1873 cartridge but was picked up in revolvers by both Colt and S&W. With the arrival of smokeless powder this cartridge picks up a lot of power around the turn of the century prompting ammunition manufactures to offer "rifle only" ammo for guns like the Winchester 1892. With the 357 magnum off in the future, not introduced until 1935, ambitious revolver owners experimented with this overpowered ammo in their guns providing what must have been the "poor man's magnum" of the 1920s and early 1930s. Perhaps Robert Johnson's song, "32-20 blues", reflects this in it's lyrics.
Today, it's a great cartridge for the hand loader. It surpasses the 327 magnum when loaded correctly and used in strong guns, but most of the old guns benefit from reduced loading.
While worn this example still has excellent timing and solid lockup, so I doubt it saw much shooting at all. It's the only 32-20 example I've seen, the other 2" was in 38 special. It's pictured here with a period EE Clark holster.
The 32-20 started out life as a Winchester 1873 cartridge but was picked up in revolvers by both Colt and S&W. With the arrival of smokeless powder this cartridge picks up a lot of power around the turn of the century prompting ammunition manufactures to offer "rifle only" ammo for guns like the Winchester 1892. With the 357 magnum off in the future, not introduced until 1935, ambitious revolver owners experimented with this overpowered ammo in their guns providing what must have been the "poor man's magnum" of the 1920s and early 1930s. Perhaps Robert Johnson's song, "32-20 blues", reflects this in it's lyrics.
Today, it's a great cartridge for the hand loader. It surpasses the 327 magnum when loaded correctly and used in strong guns, but most of the old guns benefit from reduced loading.
While worn this example still has excellent timing and solid lockup, so I doubt it saw much shooting at all. It's the only 32-20 example I've seen, the other 2" was in 38 special. It's pictured here with a period EE Clark holster.
