Please help top break

Ray A · #1 10-15-2018, 11:07 PM

Just got this off my neighbor can any one please help identify this
Caliber?
Dob?
Value?
Can I shoot it?

glowe · #2 10-16-2018, 08:41 AM

Welcome to the Forum. From your photos it looks like you have a 38 Double Action, 2nd Model revolver. They were made from 1880 to 1884 in serial number range 4001 to 119,000. These revolvers were chambered in 38 S&W caliber. Your revolver would have shipped around 1880.

Value is relatively low on these guns. You probably noticed a star near the serial number which indicates that it was returned to the factory. Likely it was re-nickeled at the factory upon it return. The month and year it was returned should be stamped on the butt-frame under the left stock. Be careful if you have not removed the stocks before, since they have a pin holding the bottom of them in place and if you pry in the wrong direction, you can crack the base of the stocks. If I were to guess on a factory refinished 38 DA value, it would be somewhere around $200 - $250.

Currently loaded factory ammunition from Remington, Federal, Winchester, and some European companies are loaded very light and are designed to be used in any top-break 38 DA in good working order. Don't worry about the Black Powder vs Smokeless, alarms raised since the companies who design and manufacture currently available ammunition would not be selling their ammo if dangerous to use.

Ray A · #3 10-16-2018, 09:45 AM

Thank you Gary I looked under the stocks There was no date What's the difference between the 44 Russian and 38

glowe · #4 10-16-2018, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray A

Thank you Gary I looked under the stocks There was no date What's the difference between the 44 Russian and 38

Size of the hole and the size of the revolver. This style revolver was made in the 32, 38, and 44 revolvers. Comparisons are below. I do not have an early 38 DA, but size-wise it is the same.

The date should just be 3 or 4 numbers like 3 41 meaning March 1941.

See post #8 for correction. the gun is a 44 DA, not 38 DA.

Wiregrassguy · #5 10-16-2018, 11:43 AM

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! The 32 and 38 DAs are 5 shot revolvers. The 44 is a 6 shooter. Otherwise, they all look similar when trying to ID them from a picture. The date you are looking for may look like this one (12 22), although most of them are MM.YY.

Ray A · #6 10-16-2018, 01:41 PM

So it's a six shooter I put some more pictures up

mmaher94087 · #7 10-16-2018, 01:53 PM

Appears to be a first Model Double Action, .44 Russian (AKA .44 DA Navy).

glowe · #8 10-16-2018, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmaher94087

Appears to be a first Model Double Action, .44 Russian (AKA .44 DA Navy).

Yup, should have asked how many holes were in the cylinder. Out of curiosity, please measure the length of the cylinder? It should be a 1 7/16" that would be a 44 Russian, but it is right at the beginning of the long cylinder use, but still the same caliber.

It did escape the date stamp, but that circle on the rear side of the butt-frame should have a P in the middle indicating a re-plate?

Ray A · #9 10-16-2018, 03:10 PM

No p and cylinder is 1 7/16

S&WsRsweet · #10 10-17-2018, 04:27 AM

Cool old 44 Russian there . Congratulations on snagging it and welcome to the S&W forum.