We recently discovered a S&W 2nd Model Hammerless 32 with a 3 1/2" barrel in the bottom of a box. Trying to estimate value on this gun. Finish is 98% and it is perfectly functional. There is one minor spot of pitting in the barrel about 1" from the cylinder. Cylindar ejector star is in great shape and shows very minor use marks on the cylinder from loading. Serial number is 494**. I've attached pics below. We're trying to get any information possible on this gun. Age? Date of manufacture? Value?

I'm also in the process of considering the "lettering" process via Roy Jinks.

Welcome to the Forum!!
I'm pretty new here, but I've recently gotten interested in the
Safety Hammerless revolvers. According to my copy of the Standard
Catalog of S&W, that S/N should make it a first model. If so,
there should be a latch button about where the hammer would be.
I couldn't tell from your pic. 1st Model S/N's range from 1-91417, mfr. between 1888-1902.
That looks like a fine example; I'll get out of the way for the people
who know these guns well. TACC1

Hello Weaver1032,
Welcome to the forum, nice gun. Your old 32 Safety is a first model shipped most likely in early to mid 1894. It is a standard cataloged gun and therefore with the pitting not of interest to the super serious collector. Having said that there are a lot of guys out there looking for a nice representative gun like this. With that in mind I would place the value between $250 and $400. A couple of years ago it would have been slightly higher on the low end, but the economy has been hard on these guns.
A factory letter would tell you the exact shiping date and most probably not much more. At the time this gun was shipped 99% were shipped to one on a few large distributers in NY. Most went to the MW Robinson Co. or the Hartley Graham Co.. You can spend the $50 for a factory letter, but chances are that that's what you will find out.
cflier

__________________
Mark Connot