Top break revolvers

[Randy1944]

I have a couple of top break revolvers that I would like to find mfg. date on. I am hoping someone here can help me.
1st. Gun: sn251764 - .38 Caliber. 2nd. Gun: sn171596 - 32 cal. I have had both guns for years and never knew their mfg. date.

[Wiregrassguy]

Are they single or double action? Can you post some pictures?

[Randy1944]

I will try to get better pictures later in natural light. As you can see both are hammerless and therefore, double action.

[Wiregrassguy]

That helps significantly because single action, double action and hammerless top breaks are all separate models with different, but overlapping ranges of serial numbers.


Your .38 SH, 5th Model, falls in a range of 1907 to 1940 with SN's



1907-1940 5th 220000-261495

(SCSW, 4th Edition, Page 487).



Your .32 SH, 3rd Model, falls in a range of SN's


1909-1937 3rd 170001-242981

(SCSW, 4th Edition, Page 487).



In those time frames, the sales of safety hammerless and other top breaks slowed and the approximate shipping dates may not be readily determined by interpolation. That is also exacerbated by S&W's practice of not shipping in serial number order. An Historian's letter of authenticity will provide an exact shipping date for $100 per gun as well as info on the configuration of the gun and to whom it shipped.

[Randy1944]

I think I would like to get letters on both guns. What information do I need to do that? Many Thanks, Randy in east .Tn.

[Wiregrassguy]

Historian's Letter (Factory Letter)