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


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Old 01-31-2015, 07:42 PM
explorer13421 explorer13421 is offline
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Default Help ID a family heirloom

I have what I think is a S&W first model hammerless top-break revolver, .32 S&W, blued finish, 3.5" barrel, pinned front sight, fixed rear sight, strain screw in front of grip, 2 screw left side plate, serial number 64XXX.

Can someone confirm the model number from the above information? Best estimate of ship date?

Background: One of my great-grandfathers was a railroad engineer, as was his brother. My grandfather, son of the engineer, had a first cousin who was very close in age, living nearby in the same Central New York city. As children of railroad engineers, the two youths had railroad passes. At or about the age of 16 each of the cousins told his parents he was going to stay at his cousin's house. After a couple of days the parents conferred and realized they did not know where the two cousins were. The railroad passes were canceled and the two cousins were "caught" in Denver. The cousins were told to come home, declined to do so and each found work as telegraphers. After a year, they went home, my grandfather bringing with him the above described revolver, which was in my father's possession for years, and now is in mine.

Hard to imagine in today's world that 16 year youths could take off on their own, much less come home to New York State with a handgun.

Remington shows a 32 S&W 88 grain load. Does anyone know if the modern load is suitable for my family heirloom? The revolver locks up tightly, no spitting of lead, and was shot in the past with some ammunition dating probably from late 1930s.

Thanks in advance for any information.
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Old 01-31-2015, 07:52 PM
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You are correct on the model ID. The accepted name for this revolver is 32 Safety, First Model. Yours was shipped from the factory around 1896, so is classified as an antique. These revolvers in good working order will easily handle standard 32 S&W ammunition made today by the major ammunition companies.
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Old 01-31-2015, 09:31 PM
explorer13421 explorer13421 is offline
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Thank you.

The date matches up just about right with my grandfather's age. I wonder if he bought it new.
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Old 01-31-2015, 10:43 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by explorer13421 View Post
Thank you.

The date matches up just about right with my grandfather's age. I wonder if he bought it new.
Unlikely. One would not purchase a firearm about the time one was born. Now if you mean that your grandfather was not born in 1896, but of the appropriate age to use or own a firearm in 1896 (12 to 14 years of age, perhaps [or 16, as related to the story above]), then maybe he did.

Last edited by mrcvs; 01-31-2015 at 10:45 PM.
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Old 02-01-2015, 12:14 PM
explorer13421 explorer13421 is offline
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My grandfather was born in 1881, so if he really did go to Denver when he was 16, he could have acquired the revolver not too long after it was shipped from S&W.
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Old 02-01-2015, 02:15 PM
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Originally Posted by explorer13421 View Post
My grandfather was born in 1881, so if he really did go to Denver when he was 16, he could have acquired the revolver not too long after it was shipped from S&W.
It would be very ineresting to obtain a factory letter for that gun. It will tell you where and exactly when the 32 SA was shipped. Most were shipped to distributors and dealers. Maybe you will find the gun went to a specific store in Denver, where your Great Grandfather would have probably bought it.
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Old 02-01-2015, 02:24 PM
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Could have been. There weren't any laws back then which required a purchaser to be 21 years old. I bought my first handgun at age 14.
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Old 02-14-2015, 10:16 PM
antlerhunters antlerhunters is offline
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how do you obtain a factory letter?
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Old 02-14-2015, 10:56 PM
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Use the attached link for ,ore information and the form for ordering a letter.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-han...uest-form.html
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