|
|
10-17-2015, 05:58 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: PNW
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
|
|
TOPBREAK .32 or .38 ?
Just purchased from a online auction. Advertised as a .32 cal. but size of cyl. looks like a .38, I have not received the revolver yet, perhaps next week. But my research of the web and 100's photos I looked at I'm convinced its a .38 and not a .32. What does the S&W Forum think? And is it 2nd or 3rd model?
(Serial No. 61552)
|
10-17-2015, 07:06 AM
|
|
Moderator
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 26,784
Likes: 938
Liked 18,877 Times in 9,241 Posts
|
|
Welcome! I believe you are correct; the proportions of the cylinder, its size relative to the frame and the two sets of cylinder notches with this SN make it a .38 Double Action 2nd model from about 1882.
If you looked at hundreds of photos for an ID you have the S & W obsession, and bad . Hope this is helpful.
__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220
|
10-17-2015, 03:29 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: PNW
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
|
|
Thanks for the info and welcome Alan. The seller had his LGS help ID the gun would a gun shop easily miss the true cal. ? Did the .32 have a cylinder length that would shoot long .32 as well as short .32 ? Its not the length but the diameter of the cylinder that determines the probably cal. and the extra notches on it?
Yes, I will obsess with a new gun model, the TopBreak is my 1st S&W I wanted a .32 but looks like I will be getting a .38. I hope the recoil isn't much different and .38 BP can be found or made ok, if I was to shoot the circa 1882 gun!
MinuteManMike.
Last edited by MinuteManMike; 10-17-2015 at 03:51 PM.
Reason: punc.
|
10-17-2015, 03:53 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: South Texas & San Antonio
Posts: 33,480
Likes: 236
Liked 28,943 Times in 14,013 Posts
|
|
It's easy to distinguish between a S&W .32 top break and a .38 top break as the proportions are considerably different. That one is a .38 DA, as earlier noted. S&W .32 top breaks cannot be used with .32 S&W Long ammunition, only .32 S&W. The .38 DA shown can use only .38 S&W ammo, not .38 S&W Special. Both .32 S&W and .38 S&W cartridges are usually a little difficult to come by.
|
10-17-2015, 04:09 PM
|
|
Moderator
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 26,784
Likes: 938
Liked 18,877 Times in 9,241 Posts
|
|
All these are currently available and 'should' be safe to use in your .38 DA - a thorough inspection prior to shooting is always wise.
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/produ...21&c=95&s=2991
__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220
|
10-17-2015, 04:25 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: PNW
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
|
|
Thanks S&W Forum members. I'm learning my lessons quickly with your help and knowledge.
MMM
|
10-20-2015, 08:10 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Midwest
Posts: 576
Likes: 375
Liked 678 Times in 247 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by MinuteManMike
Thanks for the info and welcome Alan. The seller had his LGS help ID the gun would a gun shop easily miss the true cal. ? Did the .32 have a cylinder length that would shoot long .32 as well as short .32 ? Its not the length but the diameter of the cylinder that determines the probably cal. and the extra notches on it?
Yes, I will obsess with a new gun model, the TopBreak is my 1st S&W I wanted a .32 but looks like I will be getting a .38. I hope the recoil isn't much different and .38 BP can be found or made ok, if I was to shoot the circa 1882 gun!
MinuteManMike.
|
Most gun store employees are knowledgable, but the ignorant few are capable of anything.
|
10-20-2015, 05:29 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 9
Likes: 1
Liked 7 Times in 4 Posts
|
|
Ok, I'm nosey. How much did you get it for at auction?
Last edited by Healeydays; 10-20-2015 at 07:31 PM.
|
10-20-2015, 06:47 PM
|
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Dallas, Texas
Posts: 8,389
Likes: 2,476
Liked 13,051 Times in 4,535 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Healeydays
Ok, I'm nosey. How much did you get it for at auction?
|
I'm nosey, too.
|
10-20-2015, 09:10 PM
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Arizona
Posts: 3,562
Likes: 4
Liked 2,494 Times in 1,296 Posts
|
|
"Most gun store employees are knowledgable, but the ignorant few are capable of anything." Add in the fact that the .38 S&W Cal. is actually a smaller .361 diameter and the caliber can be easily mistaken for a .32 Cal. fairly easily unless one is familiar with the frame/cylinder/trigger guard geometry.
__________________
Mike Maher #283
|
10-20-2015, 10:01 PM
|
Absent Comrade
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Louisville, KY, USA
Posts: 19,336
Likes: 53,737
Liked 38,386 Times in 11,801 Posts
|
|
By the way, welcome to the best gun forum around.
__________________
Oh well, what the hell.
|
10-23-2015, 04:06 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: PNW
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
|
|
Thank you for the warm welcome S&W Forum members...
Those asking about the sale was 255.00 to much?
Its still in the shipping box in my safe. I'll open it this weekend and inspect it more closely. The seller got the caliber wrong (bad LGS advice) but, hopefully the good working condition advertised on the gun site auction is correct and the bore is good.
MMM
|
10-23-2015, 07:13 AM
|
|
Moderator
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 26,784
Likes: 938
Liked 18,877 Times in 9,241 Posts
|
|
"Did the .32 have a cylinder length that would shoot long .32 as well as short .32 ? Its not the length but the diameter of the cylinder that determines the probably cal. and the extra notches on it?"
The S & W top-break .32 only used .32 S & W, also called Short; the cylinder is too short to chamber the .32 S & W Long. Certain variations of the top-breaks have the double cylinder notches, and as noted above the cylinder size difference between the .32 and .38 are fairly clear especially side to side - the .32 is small.
__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220
|
10-23-2015, 10:01 AM
|
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Michigan Western UP
Posts: 12,916
Likes: 3,028
Liked 14,261 Times in 5,435 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by MinuteManMike
. . . Those asking about the sale was 255.00 to much? . . .
MMM
|
Quick answer is yes, but not by much. Prices are low on these models in shooter condition, mainly because most are purchased by collectors who often strive for the highest condition they can afford. There are many high quality/nearly new 32 & 38 DAs out there, since they were put in the bedroom dresser drawers for decades and never used. Also, there were almost 900,000 total made so are very common. Looking at it another way, you can't get a quality made reliable revolver in good shooting condition for much less anywhere and S&W are on the top of the quality list of that era.
__________________
Gary
SWCA 2515
|
10-23-2015, 04:11 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: PNW
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
|
|
Thanks again S&W Forum. I completely understand "condition" when collecting most things. Its reassuring Gary if I am to buy vintage guns you do well to at least have the quality of S&W! I did but a "condition" gun, a Colt (from all places a Cabela's Library)! A 1925 .32 Police Positive and paid nearly 4 times the price of the circa 1882 Top Break. I am very happy to add a S&W to my small collection of guns. I wanted the Top Break design to add to my "wheel guns" I suppose a Tip Up might be next? But I want S&W not a copy.
And I hope I have not sinned by mentioning a Colt on the S&W Forum causing me shunning and banishment.
Mike
Last edited by MinuteManMike; 10-24-2015 at 03:45 AM.
Reason: punc.
|
10-23-2015, 05:11 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Florence, Alabama, USA
Posts: 2,333
Likes: 40
Liked 1,381 Times in 766 Posts
|
|
I once bought a rifle that the seller did not know the caliber for.
I didn't mind, I liked the caliber I got better than the one I thought I was getting, but it did not improve my opinion of the dealer's expertise.
|
10-25-2015, 01:34 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: PNW
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
|
|
Well, I have inspected my new .38 (not.32) S&W Top Break and it is as advertised on the gun auction, it works well in SA & DA. The bore is much better than I hoped for. The only anomaly I experienced was, in SA if the trigger is slowly pressed the hammer does not drop precisely. But if the trigger is pressed firmly the hammer drops cleanly. DA and lock-up works perfect. All 3 serial numbers match (61352) last patent date May 11 & 25 1880 so this S&W is a " 2nd model from about 1882" as stated earlier?
Overall I'm quite happy with my first classic S&W.
MMM
Last edited by MinuteManMike; 10-25-2015 at 03:20 AM.
Reason: clarification
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
|
|
|
|