How old is this SW pistol?

I have an old S&W .32long revolver pistol. I think it's a 4' barrel. It has a stamp on the grip heel, 'pat.june 5,1917'. I can't find a model on it except it has CTC stamped on the barrel. It's got the same serial # on the barrel and on the wheel,(where the rounds are loaded). There is another number on the inside frame where the wheel folds out. What is this second number. Any help?

Elflan, many revolvers were made for the .32 S&W long cartridge. It was common to find revolvers marked with the cartridge designation in a way that might lead the consumer to believe the revolver was made by S&W, not just for that cartridge (CTG).

If you gun is a Smith and Wesson, it is most likely a hand ejector: six shot, I or J frame, although it could be a K frame.

If an S&W product, the same serial number should appear on the butt of the grip frame, on the back of the cylinder (your 'wheel' and on the bottom flat of the barrel. You'll have to swing out the cylinder to see it there. The same number should appear in those three places if the main parts of your S&W revolver are original.

With enough descriptive information, anyone can look up the approximate age of an S&W revolver. The serial number is one important datum.

On S&W revolvers, the numbers on the frame inside the cylinder yoke are assembly and/or model numbers.

A revolver has multiple chambers in a cylinder which revolves. The chambers line up with (usually) a single barrel. Pistols have a single chamber for each barrel. Thus, pistols may be single shot, multiple barreled, or fed from a magazine. I believe the alternative noun for your revolver is 'handgun', rather than 'pistol'.

Derek V.

Thanks Derek for the info. I have confirmed what you said about the S&W cartridge type designation. I read the FAQ on the S&W website and found out that my 'handgun' is probably not a real S&W as it does not have the S&W city and state of manufacture on my barrel. (see below). Somebody told me the gun was probably in the style of a 'detectives sidearm ' from a bygone era. I can sort of picture that. :

this is excerpted from the S&W website, '...Prior to requesting the history of your handgun, first determine that you have an authentic Smith & Wesson handgun. If the barrel is not stamped Smith & Wesson, Springfield, Massachusetts or Smith & Wesson, Houlton, ME your handgun is not a Smith & Wesson. Many handguns are stamped with the caliber, i.e., .38 S&W. This indicates the caliber and does not necessarily mean that it is a Smith & Wesson manufactured handgun.'

Elflan, take a strong magnifying glass and a bright light and thoroughly scan (means 'search intently' in this useage) all surfaces of the revolver.

Describe what you see, and maybe someone will be able to tell you more about wht you have.

Derek V.