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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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  #1  
Old 12-01-2020, 10:57 AM
jfrankliniv jfrankliniv is offline
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Hello -

New member here. I recently came into possession of a number of my grandfather's materials & they included some antique firearms. One of them is a S&W small-caliber six-shooter with a dated serial number on the butt that I can't identify:

449917

I would describe the pistol as being in fair condition with some rust; the hammer, trigger, and cylinder work, but the top break does not seem to give.

I'm posting two pictures and need help with the identification. All responses welcome.
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Old 12-01-2020, 11:14 AM
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Welcome to the Forum. Could you check again on the number of chambers? It looks like a 38 Double Action, 4th Model, made from 1895 to 1909. Your serial number would put ship year around 1902, so it is not an antique, but rather a modern revolver by BATFE standards.
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Old 12-01-2020, 11:21 AM
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Hi, Gary -

Thanks for the quick reply. The cylinder has only five chambers. If as I suspect this isn't my grandfather's but GREAT grandfather's, then your estimates put it at about the right time in terms of years. The break on the top does not seem to work but might if properly oiled. The cylinder does rotate when the hammer is cocked, but it takes a great deal of effort & I suspect is obviously due to age, some rust, lack of care, need for oiling, etc.
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Old 12-01-2020, 11:36 AM
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Don't force it, the internal parts of these old guns are not strong.

There are several things you can soak the gun in to free it up after CAREFULLY removing the brittle hard rubber grips.
Kroil and transmission fluid with or without acetone are good.
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Old 12-01-2020, 11:42 AM
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In fair condition it is not, I'm sorry to say. And... it is not a six shooter. A revolver yes. But a 5 shooter revolver. Not a 6 shooter revolver.

Appears to be a third model .38 DA.

And... Welcome to the forum.

I am not a "real expert". I hope those will come along soon.
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Old 12-01-2020, 01:10 PM
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Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass!
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Old 12-01-2020, 01:13 PM
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Yeah, I miscounted the chambers. (Never heard of a 5-round revolver...guess that's what I get for making assumptions...) I appreciate the feedback and input, particularly concerning the condition. ("Fair" may be relative to the other items in the trunk...) But hey, it's all about learning, I guess. Thanks for the input.
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Old 12-01-2020, 01:14 PM
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Just removing the old grips could be pages of posts.
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Old 12-01-2020, 01:44 PM
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Quote:
Never heard of a 5-round revolver.

The first S&W revolver, the .22 Model 1 was a 7 shot. Although it seems 6 shot revolvers were the norm, there were a lot of exceptions.
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Old 12-01-2020, 04:39 PM
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Colt made the Cloverleaf, a 4 shot .41.
Gas seal Nagant is a seven shooter.
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Old 12-01-2020, 04:57 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kurusu View Post
. . . it is not a six shooter.

Appears to be a third model .38 DA.
Yup, it is a 4th Model, not 3rd, in serial number range 322,701 to 539,000. 38 S&W is the proper ammunition for your revolver and major manufacturers still make that caliber.

I have good luck with carb & choke cleaner. Spray it inside the mechanism until it runs out, respray after 5 minutes and use compressed air to blow excess out. Use a high quality spray synthetic oil in the mechanism and on all moving parts and you should notice a big improvement. Don't forget to take the stocks off first.

Now if one wants a high capacity revolver, this one might do!

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Last edited by glowe; 12-01-2020 at 05:15 PM.
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Old 12-01-2020, 08:38 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by glowe View Post
Yup, it is a 4th Model, not 3rd, in serial number range 322,701 to 539,000. 38 S&W is the proper ammunition for your revolver and major manufacturers still make that caliber.

I have good luck with carb & choke cleaner. Spray it inside the mechanism until it runs out, respray after 5 minutes and use compressed air to blow excess out. Use a high quality spray synthetic oil in the mechanism and on all moving parts and you should notice a big improvement. Don't forget to take the stocks off first.

Now if one wants a high capacity revolver, this one might do!

Older Top Break S&W Revolver-high-capacity-revolver-jpg
my wrist hurt just looking at it
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Old 12-01-2020, 08:40 PM
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Just imagine when all those chambers go off at one time.
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Old 12-01-2020, 08:46 PM
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Who would build such a thing?

Murph
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Old 12-02-2020, 12:44 AM
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My guess is its French. Wouldn't be so bad, two at a time for twenty shots. I'd like to see it on someone's hip, like some steampunk terminator, in an apocalyptical era.
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Old 12-02-2020, 07:57 AM
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Many thanks for all the replies. I’ve tried removing the grip screws but do t have the proper tools. Put another way, no matter how small a screwdriver I try and use, nothing seems to work & I don’t want to strip them. I’ve been thinking of looking for a local armorer and would welcome any more suggestions.
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Old 12-02-2020, 07:58 AM
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(By the way? LOVE the “steroid revolver” image!) ��
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Old 12-02-2020, 08:39 AM
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Put a drop of penetrating oil on the escutcheon opposite the screw head and let it work for a few days. Use a screwdriver with a blade the same width as the slot on the screw head. If it will not break free, you may need professional help to avoid breaking the grips.
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Old 12-02-2020, 10:00 AM
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I have only held one that was similar to this one, with two barrels. If I recall correctly, the hammer mounted firing pins could be move out of the way, so one could fire two shots at a time or the entire outer cylinder row, then switch firing pins to fire the entire inner cylinder row. The image I posted is suggested to be French, but only a 22 caliber 30 round cylinder.

There is a three barrel version that is an 18 shot with fixed firing pins and shoots two rounds at a time. The only online examples seem to indicate there may have been a few different designs that were all prototypes, but maybe never commercially produced?? RIA sold one in 2014 and it had an estimated price of $3500 - $5000. Their description is below:

Produced by an unknown maker with a design suggesting European, possibly French, manufacture. The revolver is fitted with a set of over/under barrels and a 2-layer cylinder with 30 chambers. Blade and notch sights, with a fixed double firing pin configured to shoot each barrel in sequence and a smooth grip.
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