Grampas pistols

Clay Baldwin · Apr 9, 2010

Hello, I'm brand new to this. Mostly a woodworker but like to check out old guns that I have inherited over the years. I just got two hand guns from what I think is from the 1870's to 1880s. The one has a patent reissue date of July 25, 1871 and on the bottom of the grip a no. 40188. Anyone have any info on these Thanks

kraigwy · Apr 9, 2010

Got Pictures, the number on the grip should be the serial number.

Look at the pictures in the post below showing model 3s,, break top revolvers and see if yours looks close.

Clay Baldwin · Apr 9, 2010

Here's two pics, hope this helps

murphydog · Apr 9, 2010

Hi, and welcome! This looks to be a Model 1 1/2 in .32 S & W short, made from 1878 to 1892, 97574 made. Presumably this would put your grandfather's gun from the mid-1880s.

Clay Baldwin · Apr 9, 2010

Murphydog, Thanks you have verified some info I just found on another gun collectors site. Should I restore it completely for display or leave it alone, what do you think?

hsguy · Apr 9, 2010

Clay, I would leave it as is, shows honest wear from your Grandfather's use of it.

DCWilson · Apr 9, 2010

Just one clarification to murphydog's post. The model 1 1/2 was a tip-up revolver. The gun discussed in this thread is a top-break revolver properly called the .32 Single Action. This gun was designed to have the same appearance and proportions as the model 1 1/2, but its engineering is completely different. Also, it handled a .32 centerfire cartridge rather than .32 rimfire.

Alan is completely correct about the serial numbers and the production timeline. I am just addressing the name of the model that he identified.

murphydog · Apr 9, 2010

David;

Right, named as a model 1 1/2 frame, but the later top-break version. I'd leave it as is too.

H Richard · Apr 9, 2010

S&W made two different revolvers called the 1 1/2. A tip up rim fire in .32 RF, and .32 Center-fire .32 S&W (short).
This is the Mod 1 1/2 Rimfire .32 shipped in 1873.

This is the .32 Center-Fire Top Break, shipped in 1879.

DCWilson · Apr 9, 2010

H Richard said:
S&W made two different revolvers called the 1 1/2. A tip up rim fire in .32 RF, and .32 Center-fire .32 S&W (short).

Then I just learned something. I thought only the tip-up gun was called the Model 1 1/2. Thanks for the additional knowledge.

Alan, I take back my "clarification," which I can see in retrospect was a kind of "mudification." Sorry 'bout that.

H. M. Pope · Apr 9, 2010

That number, 40188 was made in 1879, it is a Model 1 1/2 Top Break. The earlier Model 1 1/2 was a Tip Up.

I guess you could call it a Model 1 1/2 .32 Single Action but the earlier Model 1 1/2 was also a .32 Single Action so I always called it a Model 1 1/2 Top Break.
H. M. Pope

Clay Baldwin · Apr 13, 2010

Thanks to both of you, I'm starting to learn a lot. How do you get a shipment date?

H. M. Pope · Apr 13, 2010

To get the actual ship date by the day and month and the info as to where it was shipped you will probably have to pay the "man" his money. I think at this time it's $ 50.00 and the info you get may not be worth that to you.

The info I have is that number 20623 was shipped 3 of 1879, number 44230 was shipped 9 of 1879. So most likely it was shipped to a distributor in NY on a certain date of a certain month in 1879.
HMP

H Richard · Apr 13, 2010

If it helps, my top break 1 1/2 S/N 313400 (pictured above) shipped Apr. 1893.

H. M. Pope · Apr 13, 2010

H Richard said:
If it helps, my top break 1 1/2 S/N 313400 (pictured above) shipped Apr. 1893.

WOW,
That's a very high number, I didn't think they went that high.
HMP

Grampas pistols

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