I just picked up an EARLY 1-1/2 32 1st model - serial no. 3xx.

Fladermans says these were made from 1865 - 1868.

Could mine have been used in the tail end of the Civil War?

Also, the hand is broken - Anyone know where I could get a replacement hand.

thanks

Cool gun (although I do have a soft spot for 1st issue one-and-a-halfs). Always a possibility that this saw action in the conflict but unlikely. The Civil War ended April 9, 1865. Shipping of these is generally thought to have begun in May, but I have learned a long time ago that when dealing with S&W, never say never.

Try oldwestgunsmith.com for the hand. Good luck.

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Pace

I tried him, no luck.

Where did you get the info on May shipping of this model?

One of Roy Jinks' books. Don't recall which one at the moment. I'll look later.

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Pace

"Smith & Wesson 1857-1945" - Neal/Jinks

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Pace

As the Civil War ended in April of 1865, I would guess it is possible, though unlikely, that your firearm was used in the Civil War. I own one, serial number 6XX, that was shipped in June of 1865.

I guess these were either slow sellers or the gun market of the era was small for this kind of handgun, because I have one s/n 66XX that didn't ship until August, 1878.

Was it a first issue that shipped that late? I had a second issue that shipped in 1876. It doesn't seem likely they would have been shipping the 1st issues this late.

Yours is early enough it might be possible, but you never know. I had always understood the 1 1/2 was developed as a more commercial version of the #2 which was used in the war. I have S/N 13288 which was shipped Jan. 1866, and as far as I can tell is still unfired. The top strap above the B/C gap is pristine as is the bore and chambers. It's too bad the blue on the barrel faded so bad.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I too have one with pristine chambers and bore. These are really cool little guns.

Anyone else out there have a low serial number, and factory shipping information? I'm still trying to make a Civil War connection with my 3xx.

Mine also shows little if any use, but the barrel and cylinder have lost a lot of their blue. I suspect they were made of a different steel than the frame, or perhaps they loose their bluing because of the heat treating they received.

Whoops. I just looked at it. It's a .32 Single Action. Sorry.

As I said earlier, its possible but doubtful. S/N 86 shipped in June,1865.

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Pace