I got this little jewel off GunBroker for $330, which I thought was a pretty fair price. I seem to have a knack for acquiring odd serial numbers, this one is 66996 which I think places it about 1892 or '93. The bore and chambers are very good. I haven't fired it yet but it seems to function fine, the latch is tight and there is very little cylinder wobble when the trigger is held to the rear. Operating the latch takes some getting used to since you have to push the button down to unlatch while at the same time allowing it to rise up as the barrel pivots. I hope to get it to the range next week.

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These are neat little guns. I managed to pick up a decent one myself a while back and put some rounds thru it. Shoots decently considering the original intent of a short-range protection weapon.

Yes, I have a bad habit of expecting a snubby to be accurate enough to head shoot bunnies at 25 yards. Occasionally I have actually gotten that kind of accuracy but it isn't reasonable to expect it, nor have I ever actually shot bunnies with any handgun. LOL

You got a deal. The grips are worth that much. Gun appears to be in really excellent condition.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Im not throwing a fly in the pudding but, one pic aint enough.
To me it looks buffed and re-nic.

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

They appear not to have moved very fast. Yours likely places a bit later than that. I have 45135, identical configuration as yours except standard grips, which shipped mid-1892.

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If so I'd still have no complaint, I'm not a collector, I just like to handle and shoot old guns.

So maybe '94-'95? It's still older than I am though in better shape. LOL

Here's the other side showing plating loss from the cylinder with what looks like a thumb print etched into the steel.

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I got to my loading bench right away and made up 7 different loads using three different bullets plus some factory loads by "Precission Cartridge Co". I finally got to the range yesterday.
I was surprised that the factory loads chronographed an average of 719 fps, I expected they would be way under loaded.
None of my handloads reached 700 fps, the "hottest" was a 141 grain wadcutter over 3.2 grains of Unique which clocked 674fps. Next fastest was a 127 grain .361" cast round nose over 11 grains of 3fg Goex black powder at 602 fps, with good accuracy.
I fired for accuracy at 30 feet, which seemed appropriate for a very heavy trigger pull and nearly invisible front sight. The worst 5 shot group was about 3" extreme spread, the best was a 148 grain hollow base wadcutter over 2.0 grains of Trail Boss for 582 fps, which is a very pleasant load to shoot and the one I'll likely use for general fun shooting.