Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Smith & Wesson Revolvers > S&W Antiques
o

Notices

S&W Antiques S&W Lever Action Pistols, Tip-Up Revolvers, ALL Top-Break Revolvers, and ALL Single Shots


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 08-05-2012, 07:15 PM
tford46292 tford46292 is offline
US Veteran
Early .32 bicycle gun question Early .32 bicycle gun question Early .32 bicycle gun question Early .32 bicycle gun question Early .32 bicycle gun question  
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Vacaville
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times in 3 Posts
Default Early .32 bicycle gun question

First time poster, history buff, gun lover and military enthusiast.

I bought this .32 S&W as a gift for my wife's promotion to SSgt. It is an early model one, serial number 39xxx.

The engraving is to one Col Lewis Black and says "to the Cleveland Grays". Originally called the Cleveland City Guards, the Grays where organized on 28 Aug 1837 as a border guard for the north, protecting the US from invasion from Canada. In 1838 they adopted the motto "Semper Paratus" (Always Prepared). His history came with the gun, a Civil War private, 150th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, who went on to form the Bailey Company (one of Cleveland's major department stores). The title Colonel may have been honorary, coming from his longtime membership with the Grays or his close affiliation with the Knights of Pythias fraternal society.

The gun itself is lacking a history, minus its attachment to Col Lewis Black, and I am interested in finding more out about it. Was it produced at the factory as a 3 1/4" or other style which was cut down? or was this a custom job by a gunsmith? The barrel length is under 2" and has a gold front sight. The barrel stampings are on top, much of the writing has been cutoff and partially obscured by the sight. Seems unfired. Can anyone here tell me more about the gun? My buddy owns a pawn shop, he did not think the gun had been refinished. Value$500-600. He said the price would keep going up if it could be shown that Col Black was a somebody and that the gun had been custom made at the factory. I will post more pics when I get it back, left it with my friend to get the other handle engraved for my wife. It will read SSgt Mindy Ford USAF. Beats buying jewelry. Sure is a nice piece of iron, pearl and gold!
Attached Images
File Type: jpg untitled 1.jpg (15.2 KB, 114 views)
File Type: jpg untitled3.jpg (18.4 KB, 87 views)

Last edited by tford46292; 08-05-2012 at 07:38 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 08-05-2012, 07:52 PM
H Richard's Avatar
H Richard H Richard is offline
US Veteran
Early .32 bicycle gun question Early .32 bicycle gun question Early .32 bicycle gun question Early .32 bicycle gun question Early .32 bicycle gun question  
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: West Central IL
Posts: 22,758
Likes: 18,437
Liked 22,313 Times in 8,245 Posts
Default

That's a very nice looking gun, but if the writing on the top of the barrel is "obscured" by the front sight, that indicates it was a longer barrel originally that has been cut down. From what I can see, it was done by a skilled gunsmith. The value would not be greater than a standard 3 1/4" barreled gun, and probably less as it has been cut down. The only way to verify a factory job is by a Historical letter from Roy Jinks.
__________________
H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 08-07-2012, 12:30 AM
opoefc opoefc is offline
Absent Comrade
US Veteran
SWCA Founding Member
Early .32 bicycle gun question Early .32 bicycle gun question Early .32 bicycle gun question Early .32 bicycle gun question Early .32 bicycle gun question  
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: San Diego, CA. USA
Posts: 10,536
Likes: 3,529
Liked 6,883 Times in 2,796 Posts
Default

The barrel has been cut and the front sight altered, whether by S&W or ??, only a factory historical letter will tell if it is a special order for a 1 3/4 inch barrel. There are no original 2 inch barreled guns in the 39,000 serial number range. There are 1 3/4 inch barrels S&Ws done by the factory as special orders, in that serial range area. The stampings on top of the barrel may not be "cut off" you may be reading it wrong. Factory stampings on these short barreled guns begin just back of the front sight and run up over the top strap and do not have the complete stamping as there is not enough room, so they seem cut off. The stamping is the same die as used on the standard 3 1/4 in. barrels. The gun originally left S&W in the early 1890s. Ed.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 08-23-2012, 11:24 AM
tford46292 tford46292 is offline
US Veteran
Early .32 bicycle gun question Early .32 bicycle gun question Early .32 bicycle gun question Early .32 bicycle gun question Early .32 bicycle gun question  
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Vacaville
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times in 3 Posts
Default

Thanks! I posted new pictures of the gun, with serial number visible etc, thread is "vintage bicycle gun"
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Question re: .38 Top Break 2" Bicycle? P9S45 S&W Antiques 9 12-05-2015 11:59 AM
Early K-22 question JP@AK S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 24 01-23-2015 04:06 PM
Mod 60 early 70's question 2h3 S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 4 02-22-2014 02:33 AM
Another early M&P Question Kinman S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 5 04-09-2012 10:57 PM
Question re early 22/32 H.E. deadin S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 11 12-22-2010 11:30 AM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:11 AM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)