Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! When Smith & Wesson rolled out their first swing-out cylinder double-action back in 1896, that humble little .32 Hand Ejector probably didn’t seem so groundbreaking. Yet this revolver kicked off 60 years of tweaks and upgrades that made it one of S&W’s most influential models ever. The Hand Ejector got a redesign just 7 years in, streamlining it into a sleeker and easier shooting package. Over the following two decades, S&W’s tinkerers slowly transformed the trigger and internals from decent to downright buttery. The classic grip frame and smooth double-action feel stayed unchanged. The Hand Ejector wasn’t flashy, though it sure was dependable. And it still felt just right in the hand. After WWII, upgrades like new sights, a safety, and some flashy walnut grips followed. S&W kept subtly honing this wheel gun until its last breath in the late 1950s. The humble Hand Ejector laid solid foundations for every great Smith revolver that followed.
“Manufactured 1896-1903.
Manufacturer: Smith & Wesson
Model: 32 Hand Ejector
Type: Revolver
Gauge: 32 S&W Long
Barrel: 4 1/4 inch round
Finish: nickel
Grip: hard rubber”
Lot 4573: Four Smith & Wesson Double Action Revolvers – B) S&W .32 Hand Ejector 1st Model Revolver. (n.d.-bi). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved December 4, 2023, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/1034/4573/four-smith-and-wesson-double-action-revolvers.
