I know little about handguns--mostly I've dealt with rifles.

A friend inherited a H&R Auto Ejector. It is stamped 32 S&W Ctge. I'm aware that there are several(?) 32 handgun cartridges. Was this a black powder version? If smokeless, how hard is it to find ammo these days?

It is also stamped: "Patent May 14&August 6, 89 April 2, 95 April 7, 96." Can approximate date of manufacture be determined from this?

Any other information?

32 S&W ammo is commercially available in two variations of smokeless powder:
32 S&W Long
32 S&W Short

Date of S&W mfg can be determined, generally, by serial number. The patent dates tell you it was made sometime after April 7, 1896.

Go to the S&W forum
smith-wessonforum.com
to get further info.

Thanks. I asked the owner for the serial number--asked her to check the bottom of the grip. The only number she could find (312) was on the rear of the cylinder.

It sounds to me like it is a H@R handgun not a S@W.

It is chambered in 32S@W

Most of the time these old top break revolvers are not worth fooling around with.

If it is in really really good shape it is worth something.

Is it safe to shoot may be may be not.

I have a couple of them I wish there was a "gun buy back" close by I would unload them for a 100 dollars each in a heart beat.

It is an H&R.

The H&R top-breaks were not bad pistols for their time. Most were either .22lr or .32 S&W short(not long); some were .38S&W(not special). Fun to fool around with; most are not worth much more than $100-$150.