I have a S&W top break gun that i got from my Great Uncle. The barrel is 3", it has fixed sights and the serial # is 436@@. I believe that it is a .38 but not sure. Can anyone tell me the age, value or confirm the caliber? Thank you!

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It may well be a 38, but, a 38 S&W, not a 38 special. It is over 100 years old. Most of the the 32 and 38 caliber guns of this era seem to be worth about $200-500, unless it is pristine or one of the rarer configurations.
I am NOT an expert on these.

Many of them are still shootable, but ammo is a bit difficult, but not impossible to find. If you don't know how to check it for properer function I would have someone knowledgeable check it out.

Really they are far more an interesting piece of firearm history and conversation piece than actual shooters, but they are kind of fun to fire. In your case a neat piece of family history.

Welcome! The cylinder flutes and size make this a .32 Double Action. The SN puts it in about 1883. The chambering is .32 S & W (also called Short, because there is a .32 S & W Long that will not chamber). I agree with the low end of steelslaver's price range. Hope this is helpful.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

So glad I stopped in here. , I just picked one up for $50 . It's filthy and covered in rust and oil but it should clean up fine . I was wondering why it had the s&w grips and not the Iver Johnson owl grips. My ser #608**


Semper Fi

Just noticed the trigger is different , hmmmm

Semper Fi

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass, Drewby and captrick! These are fun shooters if the action is functioning and tight.

captrick, I don't think the gun you have is a S&W. It appears to be chambered for .38 S&W but the monogram on the grips and the trigger don't look right to me. Could be a Spanish or other US manufacturer copy. Is there any stamping on the top or sides of the barrel?

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

Welcome. As stated above, the OPs gun is a 32 S&W, while yours is a 38 S&W. I think you have either a 1st or 2nd Model 38 Double Action revolver made by S&W. The stocks are heavily worn, but still show the S&W logo. The difference between the two models is that the 1st has a straight cut sideplate and the 2nd has a rounded sideplate, but I cannot tell which it is from your picture. The 1st Model is rare with only 4000 made, but the 2nd had 115,000 made.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

I can make out Ivers Johnson and some other tiny text obscured by time and rust, when I clean it and find a magnifying glass I'll let you know or snap another photo. Thank you so much for your time. Rick


Semper Fi

Well that is interesting, since Iver Johnson never made a top break revolver with a double set of cylinder stop notches and no other copy that I have seen has either?? Please take a close-up of the top rib of barrel, as it may help us. Is there a serial number on the bottom of the butt-frame?

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Ser# from the butt


Semper Fi

Top of the barrel, now that's it's cleaned up a bit I can see smith and Wesson , anyone know anything about this gun? Kinda confused on the Ser number as well it looks as if it's stamped C0658. But my paperwork says 60658 my eyes stink .


Semper Fi

I saw the son in Wesson and filled in the blanks , sorry


Semper Fi

As Gary noted above, that is a .38 Double Action 2nd Model that shipped around 1882. The SN puts it around the middle of production which concluded in 1884. It chambers a .38 S&W cartridge - not .38 Special. You can fire modern smokeless ammo in it as long as you buy standard powder loads. That is, as long as the timing and lockup are good. Might want to have a gunsmith check it out before shooting it.

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

Thank you for your time sir, very much appreciated .


Semper Fi

Looks like 60658 to me. Definitely says Smith and Wesson Springfield, Mass on the top of the barrel.

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James Redfield
LM #497