Just picked up a Hammerless 38. Requesting Info!

[SW_TopBreak]

Hey guys,

I picked up a Smith and Wesson Top Break DA this weekend at a local gun show. It is chambered for 38 S&W.

I don't know much about this gun, so any info you can provide would be helpful. From a little research I've done so far, it appears to be a 3rd or 4th model circa 1890-1910ish. The serial number is 206XXX. Would like to know the date of manufacture if anyone has knowledge about that.

I love the concept of a top break, and this gun is in excellent condition for its age, so I couldn't pass it up as a collector's item. Pulled the trigger once just to see how it felt. It's pretty smooth but the DA pull has to be around 20 lbs! What a sweet little gun though. Thanks for any info you can provide.

[glowe]

Your 38 Safety Hammerless, Fourth Model is very close to another post just above yours, so the information shared is much the same for your example. You have a very nice condition Safety, but the value is probably lower than the 6", since you have a common barrel length.

.38 S&W Double action 3rd Model.

I always get in trouble here, but I think the gun may have been refinished. Very good job if that is the case, and the only sure way to tell is to inspect the gun in person.

[H Richard]

38 Safety Hammerless 4th Model. Welcome to the Forum! These little 38 S&W (not 38 Special) were made 1898 - 1907 with a s/n range of 116003 to 220000. This one seems to be in very nice condition and be a nice addition to anyone's collection. There were 5 different models of the 38 Safety Hammerless made between 1887 and 1940. Many of these are still in use today, but those manufactured prior to about 1925 did not have the cylinders heat treated so most ammo loaded in the 38 S&W are loaded light so as to not overstress these vintage guns. Values in the condition yours appears to be would range in the $400 to over $500 range. The 5th model was produced the longest, from 1907 until 1940 and would have heat treated cylinders in the later manufactured guns. Due to declining sales of this model, there were only about 41,500 5th Model guns made where there were about 104,000 of the 4th model that you have. The finish on yours appears to be original and would be a desirable collectors item.

Glowe types faster than I do.

[SW_TopBreak]

Hey guys,

Thanks so much for the quick and informative replies. There seems to be some discrepancy as to whether or not this gun has been refinished. I took some more pics, so that it might help you guys determine better if this is true or not. Sorry there's still some fuzzies left on the pistol from my cleaning patches.

[Göring's S&W]

I always get in trouble here, but I think the gun may have been refinished. Very good job if that is the case, and the only sure way to tell is to inspect the gun in person.

I doubt the gun is refinished. Check for a date stamp on the left grip frame, such as 3.25 or 10.27 referring to Mar 1925 or Oct 1927, respectively. If there is nothing stamped on the left grip frame, then its fine. I would bet its original, esp after seeing the new photos. Its a very nice specimen.

[glowe]

Thanks for the additional pictures - with those I would agree that the stampings are sharp, and it appears to be correct inside the cylinder frame, so most likely original finish. Keep it oiled or waxed, and I would exercise it at the range occasionally just for fun.