Double Trouble:
S&W Hand Ejectors in .32-20
Circa 1915
What’s better than one vintage Smith & Wesson Hand Ejector in .32-20? Easy — two of them.
These near-sister revolvers, both produced around 1915, are nickel-finished factory guns chambered in the wonderfully versatile .32-20. One has been in the collection for years; the other was recently acquired after I spotted it on Turnbull Restoration’s website. Resistance was futile.
The Hand Ejector line is historically significant, serving as the evolutionary stepping stone to what eventually became the K-Frame Model 10 family. In other words, when you handle one of these early revolvers, you’re holding the blueprint for generations of Smith & Wesson service revolvers that followed.
Chambered in .32-20 — a cartridge also popular in Colt Single Action Armies — these revolvers typically push a 115-grain bullet around 850 fps from a barrel like this. Light recoil, good manners and surprising accuracy make it a delightful round even today.
On the range, both revolvers were fired with Black Hills Ammunition Cowboy .32-20 loads at five yards. The long, firm double-action pull characteristic of these early guns takes a little getting used to, and a couple of short strokes crept in. Still, the hits clustered convincingly — proof these century-old wheelguns remain serious shooters.
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