[langtitle=fr]Identification[/langtitle]

[Hawken Rifle]

[lang=fr]Bonjour , je viens d'acheter cette arme (cal 32) pouvez vous me donner des renseignements (modéle , année de fabrication etc...) merci
(je suis français , voir ma présentation)
merci



[/lang]

[deadin]

To begin with, it's not a S&W. It is some sort of a European "look-alike". Probably either Spanish or Belgian.
Could you get a good, clear close up of the logo on the right side of the frame and any proofmarks you can find?

[Hawken Rifle]

[lang=fr]Merci de ces précisions , je n'ai pas encore reçu l'arme. quand je l'aurai je ferai des photos des poinçons et logos[/lang]

[twaits]

Yes like Deadin said, definitely a counterfeit. Interesting gun though.
I actually wouldn't mind having a counterfeit to add to my own collection.

[DCWilson]

Bienvenu. Interesting gun.

Even though it is not a Smith & Wesson, it clearly imitates the model called the .32 Double Action, which was manufactured from 1880 to about 1910. There were five different versions of that model. Your revolver has the grooved cylinder design of the earliest two versions, which were manufactured in 1880-1882. But that will not help date the actual production of your revolver, as the company which made it may have retained the earlier appearance as part of its own design.

[Hawken Rifle]

[lang=fr]pour deadin , voici une photo du logo sur le côté droit
(je ferai d'autres photos)
je suppose que les munitions sont des 32 court

[/lang]

[Hawken Rifle]

[lang=fr]pour deadin , voici une photo du logo sur le côté droit
(je ferai d'autres photos)
je suppose que les munitions sont des 32 court

[/lang]

[twaits]

They actually did a pretty good job of copying the logo

[Hawken Rifle]

[lang=fr]Après quelques recherches , d'après mon livre en français "Messieurs Smith & Wesson" de Michel Lespart ça devrait être un 32 double action troisième model (les deux premiers avaient un pontet carré), ce 32 fut fabriqué entre 1880 et 1912 à 327641 exemplaires pour l'ensemble des trois modèles, longueur de canon 76, 90, 150, 203 et 250 mm, finition bleui ou nickelée.

si vous avez d'autres informations , dites le moi
cordialement,
Hawken R.[/lang]

[deadin]

Hawken,
You have a true counterfit "S&W".
The markings are an outright forgery. Most look-alikes have logos that resemble the S&W, but aren't the same.( As Twaits said, "They did a pretty good job of copying the logo.") They also will mark the barrel with something like:
"for SMITH & WESSON cartridges" or such.

Check out pictures of a true S&W from that period and you will find that there are only three pins above the trigger, not four as on yours. The logo is in the wrong place, the hammer spur and sideplate are the wrong shape. The cylinder flutes are too short, the barrel marking should include patent dates, etc.

You didn't include the serial number. That in itself might offer further clues.

[opoefc]

Hawken, Dean's dead right on this one. It's a pure outright fake , with fake S&W logo and barrel stamping. Compare it closely with the pictures in the books you have of genuine S&W .32 DA revolvers - you will see the sutle differnces pointed out above, plus the odd shaped side plate on the fake. Actually, most of these European made copies try to look as much like a S&W as they can without the outright fakery of the logo, etc., so you seldom see real outright fakes, which makes them somewhat of a novelty to a S&W collector Are there any European proof marks on the cylinder of your gun. Possible French or Belgium? Ed. #15

[Hawken Rifle]

[lang=fr]je n'ai pas encore reçu l'arme , dès réception , je ferai des photos des logos et inscriptions. Je sais que c'est une copie et je vous dirai si l'arme est belge , espagnole , ou autre
Je sais seulement le calibre : 32 cal[/lang]