A high school friend (40 years this June) as all excited about their purchase of an antique S&W top break .32 S&W center fire revolver. When they sent me the info I hated to break it to them that it was a copy. S/N was over 50K, not 22K or lower, S/N was not on the butt or cylinder or barrel flat. SQ butt.

Patent dates on barrel read:
Springfield mass- USA, pat jan 17 & 24 65 11 65
AUGUST 24 69 July 25 1880.

Here are 2 pics. I am not at all an antique revolver guy. Just used the SCSW and my knowledge of S&Ws. Can any one determine who may have made this?




Any help is appreciated...
Mike

__________________
John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

The grips are an add on pair probably made from a pair of Iver Johnson Sealed 8 model .22 cal revolver. The gun is not a square butt, the grips cover up the round butt ( at least that's my guess from your two photos,) If you can post better pics of the back strap, cylinder, latch and top of the barrel, and the patent date stamps, we can be more specific. I'm not aware of any period S&W copies that are as close in design to a S&W as the gun you picture. Many other companies made .32 DAs, of course, including Marlin that had S&W make their frames for them, but the grooved cylinder was always a S&W design. What made your friend think it is a .32 S&W and not a .38 S&W ? ( Seller said so ? ) At the time this gun would have been made by S&W, employees were allowed to make their own guns from scrap parts, which resulted in guns with no, or few, serial numbers, or numbers way out of range. This could be one of those employee put together guns. Ed.

I want to update this and get feedback. My friends got the grips off and here are some pics. The S/Ns match on the butt, barrel flat and cylinder but...S/N is 52355. This is a nice Nickel S&W .32 DA 2nd Model. But the s/n is 30K higher than the SCSW says it should be.. It should be a 3rd model based on S/N. But it is not.
I assume, like modern S&W revolvers. you can never say anything definitive about a S/N range...

Here are pics ...comments please














Barrel Flat

__________________
John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

Well I was going to say that is a real poser until I realized what we are looking at isn't a .32 DA 2nd Model, but rather a .38 DA 2nd Model.
The serial is just about mid-range for the .38's.

(Compare the length of the cylinder flutes and you will see what I mean.)

__________________
Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

You are correct. I had nothing to reference the size against. That all makes sense now. Thanks.

__________________
John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

SCSW put these at a value/ sell price in low $200-$300. Is that still correct? What about finding a correct set of stocks? Are they readily available or very hard to come across?

__________________
John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

Sizing without a reference is interesting with this model. Grips shouldn't be too difficult as I believe any of the hard rubber .38 DA grips should fit.
I think the SCSW may be a little low on these today if they are in decent condition. (Yours looks to be in nice shape.)

Here's a example of the size differences of this family...(.44, .38 & .32)

__________________
Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

Yes they really look Identical at 1st glance without a reference, The cylinder grooves were a give away on the .32 to .38.."if" you know what to look for. I could see a pic of the .38 passing for the .44 if you didn't have a frame of reference. I am a Post War revolver guy mostly so this was out of my element. Thanks for the help. Any reason this cannot be fired if the lock up is good and barrel clear?
Mike

__________________
John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

If you look closely the .44 is a six shot while the .38 is five.....

As for firing it, I wouldn't make a habit of it but if everything is tight and timed, a cylinder full or two shouldn't hurt it. Just make sure you shoot mild ammo. (Preferably Cowboy Action loads...)

__________________
Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

Dean has a sharp eye and the 32 & 38 DA is often mis-identified, especially when the OP lists the caliber.

The stocks from late models of 38 SA, 38 Safety, and all models of 38 DA will fit your revolver and if ever considering selling it, I would certainly change to factory stocks. As it sits now, I would value it at $150, with proper stocks around $250.

__________________
Gary
SWCA 2515

With these small frame 32/38 S&W top breaks, the surest way to ID the caliber by picture alone is by the cylinder length. Works for DA and the safety hammer-less types.
38 DA cylinders extend beyond the front of the trigger guard. 32s don't. Easy peasey, japaneasy. Kind of like identifying a large mouth vs small mouth bass by it's jaw length.

John

Thanks all appreciate the feedback.. now I am a little smarter when it comes to Antique revolvers.. It always helps to expand your knowledge base! BTW this is not mine.. I have never seen it...yet. The .32 S&W CTG was what I was told.
I also now know what the 1st Model's are worth and will be looking under gun show junk for them..
Easy to spot as well.

__________________
John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor