Hi there,
I came across an old S&W revolver. Could you point to its approximate value provided the gun is in original condition?

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Do you know the caliber
Is there anything marked on the barrel? If so what is it and how is it arranged.

I know almost nothing other than it is a very early model as it is a tip up and they were made during the cicil war era and for a period of time after.

Looks like it is in good shape.

Looks pretty nice to me. If it's a 22, it is likely a Number One second model. . .Civil War period gun. I don't know exactly what it's worth, but would drop $500 on it just to have one.

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Dr. B

Model 2 Army, cal .32 Rimfire. "3 pin' version. What's the serial number ? { serial numbers made during Civil War have slight value premium ). Condition looks very good, but I see signs of a nice refinish. Ed.

The caliber is .32CF. I have no other information on this gun.

Sorry, but Model 2 revolvers were all rimfire. They shot both 32 Long and 32 Short rimfire cartridges. Ed - you got to help me out here. I magnified the images as much as I could and cannot see what you see about a refinish. I am wondering about the possibility of it being original. I know there are probably only a handful of Model 2 revolvers out there with that amount of bluing, but the stocks are very sharp, the pins are as original, the hammer stud is raised as it should be, the edges are perfectly sharp and the trigger and hammer show case coloring.

I just don't see signs of refinish, so what am I missing? I do see an altered front sight though.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Hey Dad ... I don't have anything to use as a size comparison but it looks like there are 6 holes bored in the cylinder, then, yep.

One of the very first guns I allowed myself to experience a major disappointment was a #2 Army, freshly refinished, which the seller claimed original with a LONG story of how it remained so beautiful for the (then) last 130 years).

Yes, I was young, stupid and had pockets full of money. I learned fast.

Only by luck I bailed out of it for even money several years later, selling it for what it was, a "quality" refinished #2. ( I never did that again).

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ANTIQUESMITHS
LM1300 SWHF425

You're missing quality photographs. Only Mona Lisa Vitto could ascertain the correct analysis given a picture.
all joking aside, the side plate looks a little hokey and the bottom of the barrel the Octagonal barrel lines appear de-emphasized as if sanded or buffed.

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ANTIQUESMITHS
LM1300 SWHF425

It does have that 'Restored' look I have to agree.
The Collet around the Stock Screw; does that look right?

Sorry procol; we are not bagging your Gun; it's just the nature of the Collector to look for clues of 'changes' made to these pieces of History; I think a lot of us are amateur Historians (some a lot less amateurish than me!) Even if it's Refinished; it may well be of the 'Period of use' as we say and beautifully done. it's a very nice piece and thank you for sharing!

You are absolutely right Sal. As many members know, I am usually the first guy to guess refinish, but I have been lucky enough to see a pristine example of a Model 2 with original finish and was amazed that a 150 year old blued gun could still look new. I guess I would like it to be a pristine original, but more detailed photos would be needed. Screws also look good and that is unusual.

Brass escutcheons have been polished, but totally original for that period. Can't quite tell about the screw, but it has a brass color in those pictures, but the originals were steel. The Model 2 had a large head screw as compared to later stock screws.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

I would need larger images and better images before I could rate that as a refinish. It appears to be a very nice condition #2, and about 150 years old. Value could only be determined by closer inspection to determine if it actually a refinish, which would drastically reduce the value.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I'm with opoefc. Without more close-up photos or an in-hand inspection, it has the older, very professional refinish look to me. I'll add to the "suspicious" category to say the blue seems 'off', stock screw appears to be a replacement and the ejector rod appears blue; not case colored (coloured for the English speaking folks). I too see the wave at the bottom edge of the barrel flat.

Now that the "purist" bashing is over; the #2 Army is very nice and I hope it is original as they are hard to find in that condition.

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Mike Maher #283

Gary, Mike has pretty much covered the same defects I had noticed - Side plate edges have been over polished, barrel edges are not sharp, blued extractor, etc. It is what it is, a nice old refinished version of a Civil War era revolver. These appear at auctions and gun shows with sale prices around $500-$700 range giving the collector a lot of history for an affordable cost. Ed.

I would have to agree with the senior senator from California. Many times when something looks too good to be true we get suspicious. Finding a gun from the mid 1800's in what appears to be new condition is very rare. Folks back then didn't typically buy guns to put on a shelf and admire. They were tools and got used.

My first thought when I saw the photos enlarged was that is had been refinished. The rod appears to be blue and that was my first hmmmm.

Again, no one here is trying to bash your gun but merely trying to give you our best educated estimation without seeing it in hand and going only by two very small online photos.

If refinished it is probably a $500 gun. If in fact it IS original then add $1,000. This is why folks are being cautious with their evaluations as it can make a huge difference.

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James Redfield
LM #497

OK Procol, I am not giving up just yet. Extremely rare condition guns show up all the time on this Forum. Can you take a sharp photo of the front of the cylinder and rear of the barrel looking down the bore? Usually a used gun of this age will show a fair amount of rusting and pitting in those areas, but those guns kept in the drawer for a hundred years plus do not.

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Gary
SWCA 2515