Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Smith & Wesson Revolvers > S&W Antiques
o

Notices

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


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 12-05-2016, 10:31 AM
Kochd79 Kochd79 is offline
Member
.38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model  
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Liked 26 Times in 11 Posts
Default .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model

Hello Everyone,

First post here. Just joined the forum.

Purchased my first S&W antique this past weekend at a gun show.

I must admit I had/have no idea what I was looking at, but it jumped out at me.

Did some quick research while standing there and decided to purchase it.

I believe I have a .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model. Can someone please confirm. The serial is #28XX.

It is mostly patina and appears to be in working order. Grips are mostly smooth but no damage to them.

Does the patina reduce its value?

I paid $150 for it. Is this within the range?

Seems like a cool gun! Want to buy another one.

Thanks for any feedback!
Attached Images
File Type: jpg image.jpg (89.4 KB, 84 views)
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #2  
Old 12-05-2016, 10:43 AM
glowe's Avatar
glowe glowe is offline
US Veteran

.38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model  
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Michigan Western UP
Posts: 12,916
Likes: 3,028
Liked 14,263 Times in 5,435 Posts
Default

Welcome to the Forum. You are correct in your ID. This model is also called a Z-bar and was made in 1887. This model production totaled 5250, so they are scarce and not often seen for sale.

Your revolver is worn and cold blued, so collector value is low, maybe $275 - $300. I would say if it functions properly, it was a good buy.
__________________
Gary
SWCA 2515
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 12-05-2016, 10:52 AM
Kochd79 Kochd79 is offline
Member
.38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model  
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Liked 26 Times in 11 Posts
Default

Thanks Gary.

Cylinder lockup and timing are good. Trigger appears to function properly.

Probably won't shoot it.

When you say it's "cold blue" does that mean it's been refinished at some point?

Thanks again.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 12-05-2016, 11:02 AM
quinn's Avatar
quinn quinn is offline
SWCA Member
.38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model  
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 3,500
Likes: 11,065
Liked 12,075 Times in 1,920 Posts
Default

The "Safety Hammerless" led to the 1952 model "Centennial" (pre model 40) Hand ejector which led to the model 340PD which is my carry gun today. That, sir, is one of my favorite pieces of history. Enjoy. And, welcome to the forum.
__________________
Randy
Provenance nerd

Last edited by quinn; 12-05-2016 at 11:03 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 12-05-2016, 11:03 AM
glowe's Avatar
glowe glowe is offline
US Veteran

.38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model  
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Michigan Western UP
Posts: 12,916
Likes: 3,028
Liked 14,263 Times in 5,435 Posts
Default

Cold bluing can be applied to a gun without buffing or removing the existing finish. It will darken areas of metal that are worn bare. Often leaves a gray (not blued) look and will be mottled. The gun shows lots of use and the finish was probably mostly gone at one time. Nothing wrong with what was done, but any firearm with enough use to dull the original polished surfaces should not have that much "bluing" showing. These guns left the factory with a high gloss bluing that would still show in some protected areas if it was not cold blued.
__________________
Gary
SWCA 2515
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 12-05-2016, 11:20 AM
gmborkovic gmborkovic is offline
SWCA Member
.38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model  
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: VA & SoFL
Posts: 8,644
Likes: 469
Liked 5,697 Times in 3,186 Posts
Default

For $150, you did very well, I would have jumped on it. "Cold Blue"
comes in a jar and is popular for touch up. Your finish is well pocket worn, very common. The grips look good. Can you remove the right grip and see if there is a number scribed on the inside that will match the Sn. on the butt. If the screw is to difficult to remove, just leave it alone. Best
__________________
Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 12-05-2016, 11:23 AM
Kochd79 Kochd79 is offline
Member
.38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model  
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Liked 26 Times in 11 Posts
Default

Thanks guys.

I was able to remove the grips and I can make out 3 of the 4 numbers that match the cylinder and frame, so I would say they are original, matching.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 12-05-2016, 11:45 AM
gmborkovic gmborkovic is offline
SWCA Member
.38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model  
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: VA & SoFL
Posts: 8,644
Likes: 469
Liked 5,697 Times in 3,186 Posts
Default

That just makes it better. Best
__________________
Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

Last edited by gmborkovic; 12-05-2016 at 01:53 PM. Reason: spelling
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 12-05-2016, 01:27 PM
kip595 kip595 is offline
Banned
.38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model .38 Safety Hammerless 1st Model  
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Southwest
Posts: 159
Likes: 309
Liked 251 Times in 67 Posts
Default

For $150, if it's in good mechanical order I'd say you did very well, even with the cold bluing. (Nothing really wrong with cold bluing for what it is; I've brought several pawn-shop-finds back to something resembling aesthetic respectability with it myself.) In any case, I passed on a similar .38 Hammerless tagged for $350 at the big show here over the weekend, so again congrats on a good find, and enjoy!
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Safety Hammerless 4th Model 04gtofan S&W Antiques 39 08-23-2016 09:03 PM
WTS 3rd Model Safety Hammerless 38 S&W (SPF) crazysccrmd1 GUNS - For Sale or Trade 0 01-20-2015 09:01 PM
First Model Safety Hammerless Value JimH. S&W Antiques 6 11-11-2012 08:26 PM
1st model .32 Safety Hammerless littlejake S&W Antiques 1 12-28-2011 08:33 PM
DOM and ?? on S&W .32 Safety Hammerless 1st Model rallison S&W Antiques 18 03-21-2009 07:03 AM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:35 AM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)