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


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Old 08-20-2017, 01:30 PM
George Mydland George Mydland is offline
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Trying to figure out what I have hear.
Printed on Barrel: Smith and Wesson Springfield Mass. U.S.A. Pat's Jan 17 24 65, July 11 65, Aug 24 69, July 25 71, Dec 2 79, May 11 25, 1880

Matching serial # 31769
Fixed Sites
4" Barrel
Strain Screw

Do not know caliber or anything.

DSC01823.jpg

DSC01817.jpg

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Old 08-20-2017, 01:55 PM
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It appears to be a .44 Russian, Double Action 1st Model from around the turn of the 20th Century.

Oh, forgot to say Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass!
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Old 08-20-2017, 09:40 PM
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Welcome to the Forum. Your S&W is a .44 Double Action, as Guy describes. Also called a New Model Navy by S&W. It was made June 4, 1895, and is probably chambered for the .44 Russian round, although a few of these were chambered for the .44-40 Winchester Center Fire round and called the Frontier Model. If you look down the chambers and see a ring 2/3rd the way down, it's a .44 Russian. If it's straight through, it's a 44-40. The frames for this model were all made before 1899 so the gun is classified as an antique by the ATF, however many were not assembled until after 12/30/1898 due to slow sales, and ship dates will show up as late as WW1 era. Ed.

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Old 08-21-2017, 08:37 AM
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Ed, I thought those made in 44-40 were the Frontier model?????
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Old 08-21-2017, 09:18 AM
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All 44-40s were Frontier revolvers, but some 44 Russian DAs had the same long cylinder as the Frontiers. With the OP's serial number, it cannot be a Frontier, since that model ended at just over sn 15,000. As I had mentioned in a different thread, the earliest long cylinder 44 Russian DA would have occurred somewhere around 15,000 (1886) in the Russian serial number range so there is, at best, a very small overlap of these two models out there.

The 44 Frontier DA was made from 1886 to 1913, in serial numbers from 1 - 15,340. The 44 Frontier SA started a year earlier, so the earliest long cylinder 44 Russian possible would have most likely been around 1886 or 1887.

The earliest serial number for the 44 Russian DA, found in the SWCA database, that shipped in 1886 is 14,229. If we assume that there were no long cylinder 44 Russians until at least 15,000 serial number, there could basically be no overlap of serial numbers for the two calibers. Bottom line is that there should be no 44 Russian DA with a serial number in the same range as the Frontier DA, so any 44 DA above 15,340 is a Russian no matter what the cylinder length.
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Old 08-21-2017, 11:42 AM
George Mydland George Mydland is offline
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Thank you so much for your response and helping me identify. Looking at the chamber, it is a Russian.

Is there a way to find out who the original owner was. I found it in my father in law's closet.

Also, any idea on worth for something like this and is it a good idea to have restored?

Thank you and I am glad to be here.
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Old 08-21-2017, 12:19 PM
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The valuations provided in the Standard Catalog of S&W, 4th Edition are:

Exc+ ..Exc ...Fine ..VG Good Fair Poor
5,000 4,000 1700 1000 850 600 400

(Page 122).

An historian's letter will tell you when and to whom it shipped, and how it was configured as shipped. However, unless it went directly to the purchaser (unlikely), you may never know who the original owner was. If you father is still alive, you may want to ask him.

As far as restoration goes, a true "restoration" is a lot of work and will cost accordingly. Google "vintage handgun restoration" for some ideas. Keep in mind it will not add significant value to the gun since restoration is just a high quality refinish.
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Old 08-21-2017, 01:42 PM
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The rule of thumb for restoration/refinish is that the gun will be rated at no better than Very Good no matter how nice a job is done. Most books and guides place refinished guns in the Very Good category. Personally, I would not do it, since you already have a gun worth near a $1000, so why destroy the 130 year old patina to sell it for the same price.

Are there refinishes that add value, sure, but it is a gamble and the process is mostly considered for a cosmetically challenged rare model or highly sought after gun. I have seen, for example, Registered Magnums restored that bring big money, and due to the rarity and the fact that many were used as daily carry-guns by law enforcement restoration seems to be accepted by collectors.
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Old 08-22-2017, 09:49 PM
George Mydland George Mydland is offline
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Thank you both for your comments, it is sincerely appreciated.
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