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Post by pinkerton on Mar 26, 2023 20:01:39 GMT -5
Found a never fired in the box 8” HV stainless 32-20 DW at a gunshow this weekend for what I felt was an insanely good price. I don’t know much history of these other than they’re hard to come by so I grabbed it. Any history on the production years and numbers would be greatly appreciated.
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Post by oddshooter on Mar 27, 2023 10:54:21 GMT -5
Wow! Great find. I had to look for about 5 years to find a DW 32-20 for sale; on Gunbroker for $2250. That was a huge chunk of change; but after that long a wait, I simply had to have it. It's rarity and quality is what boasts that price up beyond reason. The bonus was that it was mint and came in a really nice DW case; with tools,papers, and an extra grip. It's one of my most prized possessions in my favorite caliber. I started with the 32-20 WCF when I was a youngster in a little Texas cowtown and still love it. These DW's are tough and I am a junky for these beasts shooting a football field away. I believe Mr. Taffin has one and has taken some nice pics. His recipes are available and a little on the warm side; but that DW is hell for stout. Please find a way to show us a pic. And I would be most appreciative if you could let us know what you paid. I need more grist for the mill. I embarrassed myself already revealing how my lust got the better of me. but i would still do it again  Sometimes if ya want to dance; you gotta pay the piper. Prescut |
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Post by bushog on Mar 27, 2023 11:05:13 GMT -5
Nice find!
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Post by pinkerton on Mar 27, 2023 13:23:41 GMT -5
Thanks for the info Prescut I really enjoy the 32’s with a single six, two single sevens, and a Henry 327, but have never had a 32-20. My first center fire revolver was a DW 715 so I’ve always been a fan of them.
I was at a small gunshow in Wyoming this weekend and glanced over at a table that had a rack of pistols and noticed there was a DW in it but a couple of guys were in front of it talking to the gentleman so I figured I’d circle back around when space opened up.
I figured it was a 357, it was pristine, and the tag had $800 on it which I didn’t think was bad at all for a 715 then I saw the 32-20 marking and I’m sure the shock on my face was evident. The guy smiled and pulled the box out from under the table. I told him how rare it was, and he could get more if he posted on GB, he said it belonged to his father-in-law, he never fired it as far as he knew and his mother in law found it in the attic after he had passed and asked him to sell it for her and didn’t want to go through the trouble of an auction site. I couldn’t get my money out fast enough, and was shaking like a 15 y/o boy touching his first boob passing over the cash. I told him I think I’d only ever seen one or two on gunbroker after years of scrolling Dan Wessons. He just said “I wish you’d been at the show last fall, I had $1000 on it then”
So here I sit, still in shock. Now I’m on the search for brass. I’ve always known the 32-20 was a rare DW chambering and never planned or expected to own one, had thought many times of a 32 mag DW but never took the leap when I came across them, now I’m glad I didn’t.
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Post by jfs on Mar 27, 2023 14:29:16 GMT -5
Great score..... If you paid less then what a DW 32-20 is selling for in today`s market, that`s an even bigger score.... Photo of my DW 32 Mag and 44....
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Post by oddshooter on Mar 28, 2023 11:11:54 GMT -5
Thanks for the info Prescut I really enjoy the 32’s with a single six, two single sevens, and a Henry 327, but have never had a 32-20. My first center fire revolver was a DW 715 so I’ve always been a fan of them. I was at a small gunshow in Wyoming this weekend and glanced over at a table that had a rack of pistols and noticed there was a DW in it but a couple of guys were in front of it talking to the gentleman so I figured I’d circle back around when space opened up. I figured it was a 357, it was pristine, and the tag had $800 on it which I didn’t think was bad at all for a 715 then I saw the 32-20 marking and I’m sure the shock on my face was evident. The guy smiled and pulled the box out from under the table. I told him how rare it was, and he could get more if he posted on GB, he said it belonged to his father-in-law, he never fired it as far as he knew and his mother in law found it in the attic after he had passed and asked him to sell it for her and didn’t want to go through the trouble of an auction site. I couldn’t get my money out fast enough, and was shaking like a 15 y/o boy touching his first boob passing over the cash. I told him I think I’d only ever seen one or two on gunbroker after years of scrolling Dan Wessons. He just said “I wish you’d been at the show last fall, I had $1000 on it then” So here I sit, still in shock. Now I’m on the search for brass. I’ve always known the 32-20 was a rare DW chambering and never planned or expected to own one, had thought many times of a 32 mag DW but never took the leap when I came across them, now I’m glad I didn’t. That was a great story Pinkerton. If I would have seen the DW on a table, I would have assumed 357mag as well. There seems to be a lot more of them. You've got more discipline than me; I wouldn't have been able to leave the table. Knowing how long it took me in an active search, it just doesn't compute that you happened onto it at a gun show. Like an eagle feather falling from the sky. It was your day !!! It sounds like you got a DW box with it. If you got one of the original barrel tools as well ($200), i suggest you get in touch with EWK for a replacement. He is a fine gentleman who supplies us with hard to find DW parts. I believe I've seen him on here, but I know he's on the DW forum. It is no longer a surprise to read that someone has gone over to the .32 camp. I too have been bitten by the .32 bug in the last 6 or 7 years. I started there as a boy, but just didn't see a 32-20 for years. A bottle-nose revolver cartridge is a rare thing. The 32 S&W long seemed anemic and the 32 ACP was about the same. I acquired a 1903 Colt ACP and then a 1910 Browning just because I loved the size and the way they fit my hand. Then about 7 years ago, a friend from Kingman offered me his Ruger Buckeye with both the 32 H&Rmag and a 32-20 cylinder. It is such a spectacular shooter I was hooked on .32 again. Of course the 327 federal magnum followed after that. Since I already had all the .32 handloading components, it was only logical to try that S&W long one more time. I discovered I loved shooting that little fun caliber even if it was a mouse fart. That 32-20 was the second caliber in the old Colt SAA's after the 45 Colt. The velocity was pretty slow compared to today's 32-20, swagging around 750fps. Today I shoot the Buckeye around 1330fps and it could go higher. I do believe Mr. Taffin's loads are hotter than that. I hope you handload if you hope to shoot that DW beauty. 32-20 is made from unobtanium and if they find any more from an asteriod, it will be expensive. Prescut |
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Post by pinkerton on Mar 28, 2023 13:24:45 GMT -5
Thanks for the info Prescut I really enjoy the 32’s with a single six, two single sevens, and a Henry 327, but have never had a 32-20. My first center fire revolver was a DW 715 so I’ve always been a fan of them. I was at a small gunshow in Wyoming this weekend and glanced over at a table that had a rack of pistols and noticed there was a DW in it but a couple of guys were in front of it talking to the gentleman so I figured I’d circle back around when space opened up. I figured it was a 357, it was pristine, and the tag had $800 on it which I didn’t think was bad at all for a 715 then I saw the 32-20 marking and I’m sure the shock on my face was evident. The guy smiled and pulled the box out from under the table. I told him how rare it was, and he could get more if he posted on GB, he said it belonged to his father-in-law, he never fired it as far as he knew and his mother in law found it in the attic after he had passed and asked him to sell it for her and didn’t want to go through the trouble of an auction site. I couldn’t get my money out fast enough, and was shaking like a 15 y/o boy touching his first boob passing over the cash. I told him I think I’d only ever seen one or two on gunbroker after years of scrolling Dan Wessons. He just said “I wish you’d been at the show last fall, I had $1000 on it then” So here I sit, still in shock. Now I’m on the search for brass. I’ve always known the 32-20 was a rare DW chambering and never planned or expected to own one, had thought many times of a 32 mag DW but never took the leap when I came across them, now I’m glad I didn’t. That was a great story Pinkerton. If I would have seen the DW on a table, I would have assumed 357mag as well. There seems to be a lot more of them. You've got more discipline than me; I wouldn't have been able to leave the table. Knowing how long it took me in an active search, it just doesn't compute that you happened onto it at a gun show. Like an eagle feather falling from the sky. It was your day !!! It sounds like you got a DW box with it. If you got one of the original barrel tools as well ($200), i suggest you get in touch with EWK for a replacement. He is a fine gentleman who supplies us with hard to find DW parts. I believe I've seen him on here, but I know he's on the DW forum. It is no longer a surprise to read that someone has gone over to the .32 camp. I too have been bitten by the .32 bug in the last 6 or 7 years. I started there as a boy, but just didn't see a 32-20 for years. A bottle-nose revolver cartridge is a rare thing. The 32 S&W long seemed anemic and the 32 ACP was about the same. I acquired a 1903 Colt ACP and then a 1910 Browning just because I loved the size and the way they fit my hand. Then about 7 years ago, a friend from Kingman offered me his Ruger Buckeye with both the 32 H&Rmag and a 32-20 cylinder. It is such a spectacular shooter I was hooked on .32 again. Of course the 327 federal magnum followed after that. Since I already had all the .32 handloading components, it was only logical to try that S&W long one more time. I discovered I loved shooting that little fun caliber even if it was a mouse fart. That 32-20 was the second caliber in the old Colt SAA's after the 45 Colt. The velocity was pretty slow compared to today's 32-20, swagging around 750fps. Today I shoot the Buckeye around 1330fps and it could go higher. I do believe Mr. Taffin's loads are hotter than that. I hope you handload if you hope to shoot that DW beauty. 32-20 is made from unobtanium and if they find any more from an asteriod, it will be expensive. Prescut It was crazy finding this at a gunshow, and from what he said it was there once before last fall without being snatched up. I usually get to the gunshows in western SD and eastern WY, this was in Sheridan and I hadn’t been to one there since 2019, it had most of the usual guys I see at the others, but this was a local gentleman. Sometimes the stars align I guess. I felt a little guilty reading your post and the time and treasure you had to put out for one and I trip across a situation like this. He had the original box, manual but no barrel tool. I’ve been trying to find brass and it’s on short supply on the market, I’m gonna have to start bidding on what I can find on gunbroker as that seems to be the only option unless starline gets some back on the market. |
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Post by taffin on Mar 28, 2023 16:27:20 GMT -5
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Post by oddshooter on Mar 29, 2023 11:09:49 GMT -5
Great pics ! Thanks much, John. I had no idea there was a .327 from Dan Wesson. I've never even heard it mentioned. I assumed DW crashed before the .327fm. OK, off on another 5 year hunt for a unicorn. Life offers up another journey. Like Yogi Berra once said, "I came to a fork in the road, and I took it".  Prescut I'm waiting on a brass order as well from Starline. If you can't find any, let me know, and I may be able to break a few loose for you to get started. |
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Post by pinkerton on Mar 30, 2023 12:03:00 GMT -5
Thanks so much Prescut for the offer. I was able to win a bid for 50 Remington brass on GB to get me started, just out of curiosity I did a search on ammoseek, 1 place had 3 boxes of Winchester 32-20 for $185 a box😬 and that was all the loaded ammo I could find. I paid a high price for the brass but it’s a seller’s market.
Mr Taffin, thank you for posting the pictures. I’m guessing the 327 was a custom unflutted cylinder, please let us know who did this for you if you could. With the unavailability of 32-20 a second cylinder would be worth it for me.
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Post by taffin on Mar 30, 2023 13:03:33 GMT -5
Great pics ! Thanks much, John. I had no idea there was a .327 from Dan Wesson. I've never even heard it mentioned. I assumed DW crashed before the .327fm. OK, off on another 5 year hunt for a unicorn. Life offers up another journey. Like Yogi Berra once said, "I came to a fork in the road, and I took it". Prescut I'm waiting on a brass order as well from Starline. If you can't find any, let me know, and I may be able to break a few loose for you to get started. THERE WASN'T--RE-CHAMBERED .32 MAG. |
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Post by taffin on Mar 30, 2023 13:04:44 GMT -5
Thanks so much Prescut for the offer. I was able to win a bid for 50 Remington brass on GB to get me started, just out of curiosity I did a search on ammoseek, 1 place had 3 boxes of Winchester 32-20 for $185 a box😬 and that was all the loaded ammo I could find. I paid a high price for the brass but it’s a seller’s market. Mr Taffin, thank you for posting the pictures. I’m guessing the 327 was a custom unflutted cylinder, please let us know who did this for you if you could. With the unavailability of 32-20 a second cylinder would be worth it for me. I BELEIVE GARY REEDER RE-CHAMBERED IT FOR ME. |
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Post by oddshooter on Mar 30, 2023 13:15:01 GMT -5
John,
Re-chambered .32mag cylinder must have come with a DW 32 mag gun.
It's just not imaginable how you could have found a spare DW .32mag cylinder for sale by itself.
I have a S&W model 16 32mag that I have considered having reamed to 327fm, but I just can't seem to pull the trigger. I am so enamored of the 32H&Rmag's accuracy and sound levels that I don't know if I ever will.
Prescut
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Post by pinkerton on Mar 30, 2023 23:52:45 GMT -5
The S&W model 16 is on my short list of wants.
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Post by taffin on Mar 31, 2023 6:42:36 GMT -5
John, Re-chambered .32mag cylinder must have come with a DW 32 mag gun. It's just not imaginable how you could have found a spare DW .32mag cylinder for sale by itself. I have a S&W model 16 32mag that I have considered having reamed to 327fm, but I just can't seem to pull the trigger. I am so enamored of the 32H&Rmag's accuracy and sound levels that I don't know if I ever will. Prescut THESE THREE WERE PURCHASES WAAAAY BACK WHEN FIRST INTRODUCED SO IN THE 1980s/EARLY 1990s. |
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