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 05-28-2022, 11:39 PM
ISCS Yoda's Avatar
ISCS Yoda ISCS Yoda is offline
US Veteran
S&W Top Break - what do I have here? S&W Top Break - what do I have here? S&W Top Break - what do I have here? S&W Top Break - what do I have here? S&W Top Break - what do I have here?  
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Dallas, Texas
Posts: 8,389
Likes: 2,476
Liked 13,050 Times in 4,535 Posts
Default S&W Top Break - what do I have here?

Guessing by the serial number of 17478 and the SCSW on page 95 indicates that the serial numbers of the .38 Double-Action 2nd Model run from 4001 to 119000, and it definitely a .38, my guess is as noted, a .38 Double-Action 2nd Model.

What confuses me are the patent dates on the top rib. After the company name, etc. there are 4 hard to read patent dates, the first appears to be Jan x 05 and the last appears to be May 11 05 followed by 1880. I don't quite get that if the gun was made between 1880-1884.

The gun is pretty beat up, as you can see, the right side hard rubber stock is badly broken but I think I have a replacement. It makes a nice decorative piece.

__________________
Come and take it!!
Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
  #2  
Old 05-29-2022, 01:14 PM
BMur BMur is offline
Member
S&W Top Break - what do I have here? S&W Top Break - what do I have here? S&W Top Break - what do I have here? S&W Top Break - what do I have here? S&W Top Break - what do I have here?  
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 2,845
Likes: 1,779
Liked 4,511 Times in 1,658 Posts
Default Patent reference

Patent reference is a wonderful thing. It helps us greatly to understand transitions in developing improvements in both design spec's and physical features of the antique firearm in question.

However, often features found on a firearm include very old patents and designs that have not been as yet improved upon.

See photo's. The specific designs are shown on the single action variation, yet they are also included on the double action model as well. In this case the 2nd model DA 38 TB.

There can also be "delay's" in application of the patent stamp on any given model. This is a source of confusion for many collectors who believe that a given firearm was manufactured earlier than it actually was. I get into this argument often with Merwin and Hulbert collectors who believe there example was manufactured in the 1870's because it has an 1877 patent date on the barrel?

Yet, if you actually "STUDY" Hopkins and Allen manufacturing? They are "WELL KNOWN" for developing a patent stamp much later than a feature was already in use. So patent stamps are not in anyway accurate from a stand point of "dating" manufacture. An 1877 patent date says nothing about when the gun was made. It only refers to an existing mechanical or design feature. It could have actually been made many years later and in the Merwin & Hulbert/Hopkins and Allen case? It very often was!!!!



Murph
Attached Images
File Type: jpg FCCC6BEA-866F-48BF-9B69-7D051BB135FB.jpg (42.8 KB, 23 views)
File Type: jpg 284CCE95-3AE5-47A7-A43E-4FC21A357833.jpg (50.6 KB, 17 views)

Last edited by BMur; 05-29-2022 at 01:19 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 05-29-2022, 01:15 PM
mmaher94087 mmaher94087 is offline
SWCA Member
S&W Top Break - what do I have here? S&W Top Break - what do I have here? S&W Top Break - what do I have here? S&W Top Break - what do I have here? S&W Top Break - what do I have here?  
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Arizona
Posts: 3,562
Likes: 4
Liked 2,494 Times in 1,296 Posts
Default

I believe the patent dates start with Jan. 17, 1865, and the last two are May. 11, 1880 and May. 25, 1880. (N&J Revised)
__________________
Mike Maher #283
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 05-29-2022, 01:59 PM
ISCS Yoda's Avatar
ISCS Yoda ISCS Yoda is offline
US Veteran
S&W Top Break - what do I have here? S&W Top Break - what do I have here? S&W Top Break - what do I have here? S&W Top Break - what do I have here? S&W Top Break - what do I have here?  
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Dallas, Texas
Posts: 8,389
Likes: 2,476
Liked 13,050 Times in 4,535 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by mmaher94087 View Post
I believe the patent dates start with Jan. 17, 1865, and the last two are May. 11, 1880 and May. 25, 1880. (N&J Revised)
Squinting, using a magnifying glass, I think that's correct.

So we agree it is a 2nd model DA 38 TB?
__________________
Come and take it!!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 05-29-2022, 02:04 PM
BMur BMur is offline
Member
S&W Top Break - what do I have here? S&W Top Break - what do I have here? S&W Top Break - what do I have here? S&W Top Break - what do I have here? S&W Top Break - what do I have here?  
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 2,845
Likes: 1,779
Liked 4,511 Times in 1,658 Posts
Default correct model

yep.

Murph
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #6  
Old 05-29-2022, 02:24 PM
ISCS Yoda's Avatar
ISCS Yoda ISCS Yoda is offline
US Veteran
S&W Top Break - what do I have here? S&W Top Break - what do I have here? S&W Top Break - what do I have here? S&W Top Break - what do I have here? S&W Top Break - what do I have here?  
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Dallas, Texas
Posts: 8,389
Likes: 2,476
Liked 13,050 Times in 4,535 Posts
Default

Cool! I'll rename the picture.
__________________
Come and take it!!
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Break Top lkabug S&W Antiques 18 12-12-2019 03:53 AM
Break down 38 help cscalise33 S&W Antiques 10 09-02-2014 05:02 PM
Need some help with ?'s @ .38 top break MarkRSims S&W Antiques 6 10-23-2013 10:50 PM
Help with Break Top BobB257 S&W Antiques 9 11-18-2012 08:17 PM
32 short top break break to shoot 45flint S&W Antiques 1 09-19-2009 09:07 PM

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 06:11 PM.


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