Hi guys. Total newbie here and I've never been accused of being real smart. So forgive any breach of forum protocol and any stupid questions.
My father-in-law recently past away and left the family with a large collection of, mostly military, "stuff". I've spent the last year or so trying to figure out what everything is.....and ultimately.....what it is worth. Most everything will be passed to family, but it's still nice to know what you have.
My main concern with this little revolver is if it is the real deal. It appears to me to be in almost new condition. The bore looks like it was never fired. It is a nickel 32 with a 3" barrel, fixed sights. The s/n is on the bottom of the grip frame, the face of the cylinder, and under the latch on the barrel. I didn't remove the grips.
I have researched the normal auctions sites but haven't been able to find one exactly like this. There always something that's a little different---and the prices are all over the place. Is this some sort of reproduction or a real 130 year old gun?

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Well, I'm no expert but there's nothing in your photos that looks like a re-finish to me. No flattened pins, no dished surfaces around its screws, tight plate lines, and vivid color casing, well matched by the condition of its grips and box. Looks to me like something that was purchased and put away for over a hundred years. SCSW-4 shows ANIB for .32 Safety Hammerless 1st Models at around $1000. Not too many of them around in that condition. -S2

Welcome to the Forum! That is super nice, and you have the
box to boot. Wow.

Welcome! Sorry for your father-in-law's passing. He obviously had a keen eye for collectible firearms if this one is representative of the rest of the collection. Probably not one in 1000 surviving examples of this gun remain in this condition, and I agree with the ID above and the estimate of about $1000; perhaps higher if the original box is pictured. You can sometimes see the serial number in regular or grease pencil on the bottom if so. Hope this is helpful.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

That is a little beauty, a First Model made not later than 1902.

Actually, my research suggests that the OP's pistol was probably shipped in the very late 1880's or very early 1890's. It's absolutely a legal "antique" as far as the feds are concerned.

My first model .32 has a serial number in the 303xx range and was probably shipped in the 1892 to 1893 time frame. I don't have a letter from S&W confirming the ship date but others that do and have been posted about give me the approximate time frame.

Could be.
No 1 in 1888, No 91417 in 1902.
SCSW does not break it down by year.

Thanks guys for all the info. I'm just glad it's the real deal.
Yes, the father-in-law was quite the character- a super nice guy and very much missed. He had a lot of old Colts, WWI and WWII military, and a slew of 40's and 50's shotguns and hunting rifles. But his passion was the little derringers and mini-revolvers.
I have a follow up question on the ammo for this revolver. I know some of the old colts require black powder loads. Not that I am going to shoot it, but if I did, what would I use?

It uses the .32 S & W round, which has been made recently by Remington. It is shorter than the .32 Long and deliberately loaded light in deference to older top-break guns. In the right light you can actually see the bullets go downrange, slowly . These are perfectly safe in a mechanically sound gun, which I would bet this one is.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Nice original .32 Departure! The ammo is .32 S&W (not 'LONG'). It can be shot with today's modern ammo like Remington and Winchester loadings. It is a little pricy. Some call the ammo ".32 Short"; a name never used by the ammo manufacturers for Smith & Wesson to describe the .32 Smith & Wesson round. There is a Colt loading that is called the .32 Short but it is not original to your revolver. The revolver can be shot (Disclaimer: If in good condition) but there is a risk of breaking a part and the revolver will need to be cleaned; too nice for me to shoot.

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Mike Maher #283

Nice 32 Safety Hammerless, 1st Model. Did you polish the gun? Just curious because it has no patina and looks very silvery in color. With your pictures alone, it is not possible to be sure about the finish, but I can't make out any pitting or buffing marks.

Some might value a 1st Model in excellent condition at $1000, but they are not selling anywhere near that. This is one of the cheapest S&W models out there today and the 1st Model comes up for sale often. Having made over 90,000 of this model alone does not help value, plus there were almost a quarter-million 32 Safeties total made. The fact that many are in great condition is another reason why I routinely see them struggle to get over $500 if perfect. The box brings a premium and if it has the serial number on the bottom, it helps even more. They are selling for $150 to $200 by themselves. I have a few in the condition shown and have paid $110 to $300 each for them within the last 4 years. Why so many in pristine condition out there?? First, the caliber was probably a disappointment to many buyers and, after shooting them, they were quickly forgotten. 32 S&W was very weak and would bounce off things you shoot at, so the lack power made them undesirable. Many more were bought for personal protection and placed in night stand drawers. Once there, most were not touched for decades.

They are fun at the range, with moderate accuracy at close range.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

No, I did not polish the gun. It is literally that nice. In fact, it looks much better in person than it shows in the pictures. That was my original concern with the authenticity. It appeared too good to be true.

The box has some pencil writing on the bottom but nothing I can relate to the gun.

I have to agree with the comments on value. Having spent too much time on forums and various auction sites, it seems prices vary widely and many of the guns for sale don't meet whatever the reserve is. People aren't buying them, but then people also aren't letting them go cheaper. In the end, people can ask whatever they want for anything, but it's worth what someone is willing to peel out of their wallet and hand you.

While the gun is small and would seemingly be useful as a carry weapon, it appears to be underpowered. I have a couple of early Model 1 Sharps Pepperboxes that suffer from the same dilemma. They are very intimidating looking, compact, and would be easy to carry. However, the reality is, that after shooting a bad guy, you would probably get beaten to death while trying to reload.

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Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! That's a beautiful gun and the box appears to be in excellent condition for 117 year old paper. I fear Gary is right on the value of these guns. We do routinely see them in excellent condition sell for peanuts. The .32 Double Actions are similar. You might get some perspective by checking the completed auctions at gunbroker.com. You have to register but it's free. The completed auctions are found with Advanced search.

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

Very nice New Departure and the box appears to be in outstanding condition. Gary's discourse on its value is a good one. I would think that it would bring somewhere in the $500 to $600 range at the right auction.
Presently, the prices on the old 32 and 38 caliber New Departures are just about the lowest of any S&W revolver model made, but they are bound to start going up someday. Personally, I would hold onto it and, because of its condition, not shoot it. If you need to scratch that itch, you should be able to find a well worn example for under $200.

John