Hello, new member here, this is my first post. Hope I do it correctly and don't ask for anything too difficult. I have two old top-break S&W revolvers I am hoping to get some information on, mainly dates of shipment, and perhaps exact model numbers. Sorry I do not have photos.
The first is a visible hammer (SA/DA) top-break auto eject. the serial number on the grip frame is 146 775. It is in 38 S&W caliber. The barrel is 3 1/4" long, with fixed sights. It has a strain screw in the usual location on the front of the grip frame. I suspect this is a 3rd model but I'm not sure? I would mainly like to learn when it was shipped.
The second is a hammerless DAO auto-eject lemon squeezer. The serial no. is 757 089. The barrel length is 4", with fixed sights. Caliber is 38 S&W. There is a strain screw in the usual location. Based on the high serial number I suspect it may be a 4th model? I would like to learn the shipping date for this one also.
Neither one of these has a lanyard or swivel attachment, they seem to be fairly generic to me.
Thank you for any information you may be able to give me.

Welcome to the Forum. Your first revolver is a 38 Double Action, 3rd Model. I would have shipped around 1885. Your second does not sound like a S&W Safety Hammerless revolver, since the 38 S&W serial numbers ended at 261,493. Check that one again for serial number or any stamping on the barrel rib??

I should have added that many other brands of these revolvers exist and you should check your 38 DA as well for a top barrel address to be sure it is a S&W?

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Thank you for such a quick reply. I apologize for giving poor information about the second revolver- It is for sure a Smith & Wesson, hammerless lemon squeezer type in 38 S&W caliber. It was hard for me to read the serial number and I mis-read it. The correct serial number, as best I can read it, is:157 089.

The three patent dates on the barrel are also very hard to read, but as best I can make them out, they are: Oct. 1883; Aug. 1885; and April 1889. Does this make more sense?
Other barrel markings indicate S&W, Springfield Mass. on the 4" barrel.

Thanks for any iformation you can give.

Magnifying glass is now mandatory for me to see the small stampings on these small frame top-breaks. The dates look consistent with the 38 Safety, 4th. The last three are actually Oct. 2, 1883, Aug. 4, 1885, Apr. 9, 1889 and it would have shipped around 1902.

So, you have an antique 38 DA and a "modern" 38 Safety as defined by the BATF, since December 31, 1898 is the cut off for Antique status.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass!

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

Thanks, Gary. One thing I did to help me see the markings was to rub some white chalk (I actually used what I had on hand, a piece of soapstone). this helped highlight the markings but I also should have tried a magnifying glass.
markings are surprisingly small, but then so are the surfaces they are on! Thanks again for your help.