Hello gentlemen, can someone help me identify this old gun that has been in the back of the safe for over 25 years. It was given to me.I started reading the antique section and thought I had one of these but after digging it out I know nothing about it. I read the whole picture thread --- all 19 pages and the only picture that I think is this gun does not have a model or name on it. And thanks in advance for any help. As you can see it is missing the side plate, it does function in double action but will not stay cocked in single action. The cylinder revolves as the trigger is pulled the grips almost look green. You can see maybe that it once was I believe nickel. It has a 5 digit ser. # starting with 548**. A 38 spl. will fit into the cylinder 2/3 of the way. So I think it is some 38 cal. No writing except the pat. dates on the top of the bbl.

It's a .38 Double Action top-break, by the serial number a second model, probably made around 1882. It is a .38 S & W, a shorter and fatter round than the .38 Special. Hope this is helpful.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

That would be a .38 Double Action, 2nd Model. This model was produced from 1880-1884 with serial numbers running from 4001 to 119000.

That gun would be called a top break rather than a tip-up. Smith did make some guns that were hinged at the top of the barrel early in their manufacturing career, but eventually they moved to the bottom hinge design you see here.

You might be able to find a side plate for that, but the fit is pretty precise and you might have to find a gunsmith to fit it properly for you. You would also need a little threaded cap to go over the hammer stud after the side plate is in place. That's what holds the side plate on.

The gun is chambered in.38 S&W, a round that is shorter and whose case is just a hair fatter than the standard .38 Special.

The gun looks a little rough. Whether you want to restore it to working condition or not, I would probably give it a good bath in penetrating oil followed by a toothbrush and toothpick cleaning to get as much stain and rust off it as you can. No reason to let it slide further from its original condition.

Just a word of advice: do NOT try to disassemble it unless you have a good exploded diagram and step-by-step guide in front of you.


EDITED TO ADD: Aha! And while I was typing Alan got there first again!

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David Wilson

David;

Sorry 'bout that...

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Thanks fellas, my area of interest is in the 60's 70's 80's swing out cyl. type S&W revolvers. Hence my only interest in value would be what could I expect it to be worth in trading for a revolver that I dont have. Would one or both of you care to venture a guess as to what that value might be. The number 100 bucks comes to mind. What do you guys think. And thanks for the good info and the ident. of the old gun.

Not that I know what I'm talking about, but $100 feels a little steep to me. If you want to sell it as is, it is a parts gun and might bring $50-75.

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David Wilson

I agree 100% with 99% of what David has to say, and that's only because I once paid $100 for a .32 DA for parts. But then I got more than $100 worth of parts that I needed out of it....

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Peter #2091

Well I posted this for trade for a 19-4 box with no luck, so anybody have a sorce for the side plate with the retainer nut, I'll start a project gun. Antbody know if S&W will do the work? Seems like I read somewhere that they will not work on these old guns. Ant body want to venture wether it is worth fixing up or just junk it. I supose there are a few good parts on it.

Please forgive the spelling above. I forgot to run spell-check. And I was in such a hurry I forgot to ask for other sources to repair the gun, so if anyone has any ideas I would like to hear them.