First I frame

[SouthNarc]

Got my first I frame with this .32 Hand Ejector 3rd Model with a 3 1/4” barrel, that shipped somewhere between 1937 and 1939 from what I can gather.

Super elegant little wheel gun that’s perfectly miniaturized. I’m shocked at how much smaller it is than a J frame and I’ve included a comparison pic next to a 31-1 also in .32 Long. Note the difference in the size of the trigger guards.

Also posted is a nightstand pic with a 1931 Gruen Curvex doctor’s watch.

Quite chuffed with this little gun and I guess I frames are my next venture in collecting.

[Wondering Beard]

On top of my "like" for the beautiful revolvers, I wanted to add a "like" for your Gruen watch, but I can't do that, thus this post.

Maybe you already know this, but in case you don't: Gruen has a website and is trying to catalog all of its past watches; maybe you'd like to add yours to their list?

Gruen Watch

[Joe in PNG]

I'm not a watch guy, but that Gruen is rather appealing. As is that .32's.

[mtnbkr]

Got my first I frame with this .32 Hand Ejector 3rd Model with a 3 1/4” barrel, that shipped somewhere between 1937 and 1939 from what I can gather.

I had a nickel 4" version of your HE for several years, but sold it when my eyes got to the point I couldn't see through the tiny rear sight anymore. Fun gun to shoot at the range. They're beautiful guns and nicely balanced with the cartridge. Mine went to a buddy who is REALLY into 32s.

The lockwork is interesting compared to modern J-frames. There's no rebound slide for one thing.

Pics:




Chris

[Joe in PNG]

"He's gotta 32 gun in his pocket full of fun..."

[nate89]

I had to pass on a 32 I Frame at a local shop and it sold right after I left, one of a few I really regret not being able to pick up. I was also surprised how much smaller it was than my 432, would have been an excellent pocket gun.

[gato naranja]

My maternal grandfather had a similar watch, and after he passed away, mom gave it to my dad. Unfortunately, it was stolen from a country club locker room while dad was cleaning up. "G__ d___ rich b_______!" was the last thing I ever heard him say about the incident.

Anyway...

I was the work "gun guy" for the 40 years I was in harness, and I was shown a lot of older guns that had wound up with co-workers in one way or another. "Do you know what this is? Is it safe to shoot? Where can I get bullets for it? What's it worth?" In that time, I got to look over a surprising number of small to tiny handguns that belonged to some elderly or already departed family member. I don't know where all the "big iron" was hiding, but I sure got to see a plethora of diminutive pocket guns for every full size one.

There were lots and lots of .32 revolvers... but relatively few really good ones like this I-frame.

[gato naranja]

FTA...

When I was younger, there were a lot of men - a good many of whom kinda looked/dressed like Fred Mertz - who had seen a bit of the world and yet carried dinky .32 revolvers. Now that I am as old or older than they were at the time, I am no longer so dismissive of such choices.

Despite the ubiquitous "smartphone," I still habitually wear a "railroad approved" wristwatch. It is an object of curiosity to many people, and is sort of like a secret handshake between some of us dinosaurs.

[Stephanie B]

I would not sneeze at having a six-shot .32 I-frame-sized gun. (Because I don't use ATMs, nor do I need to gas up after the Sun goes down.)

[R89074]

S&W in 38 S&W caliber around out side a 32 hand ejector in the middle. All I frames.