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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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  #51  
Old 01-29-2021, 02:28 PM
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My 19th century DA top breaks: 32 DA 4th (~1890), 38 DA 3rd in box (1889), 44 DA 1st (~1897).
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 32DA4TH-4.jpg (103.4 KB, 32 views)
File Type: jpg 38DA3RD-5.jpg (134.7 KB, 35 views)
File Type: jpg 38DA3RD-6.jpg (109.8 KB, 34 views)
File Type: jpg 44DA1ST-7.jpg (112.8 KB, 38 views)
File Type: jpg 44DA1ST-8.jpg (120.1 KB, 35 views)

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  #52  
Old 01-30-2021, 02:48 PM
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My “Rarest”, not my oldest top-break, but I feel it deserves recognition.
.38 Single Action Mexican Model (Model 1880).
The serial number is 18691, 4” barrel, blued, narrow .197” trigger, factory installed lanyard ring. All numbers match, frame, barrel, cylinder, latch & inside right grip panel.
This revolver was first examined by several S&W Collectors Association members including Roy Jinks in 1991 at the Scottsdale, Arizona symposium.
On May 20, 1992 I was issued a factory letter from Roy Jinks stating my revolver was shipped from the factory on October 17, 1899 and delivered to Max Fielder (Russian agent in St. Petersburg, Russia). He also stated “Your revolver is one of the original Mexican Models.”
A factory letter is a must to verify an example to be authentic and not a standard .38 SA Third Model converted with a factory conversion kit also sold by the factory.
Attached is a few photos along with the 2nd page of the factory letter.
Dave
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  #53  
Old 02-01-2021, 09:28 PM
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Default Baby Russian from 1876

This Baby Russian shipped to Montreal, Canada, on December 23, 1876. How it ended up in Oregon complete with its original box 144 years later would probably make an interesting story.
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File Type: jpg baby box 2.jpg (97.8 KB, 36 views)
File Type: jpg Baby 2.jpg (75.2 KB, 36 views)
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  #54  
Old 02-02-2021, 06:08 PM
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Default .44 Double Action

This is not my oldest, but it is one of my favorites: .44 Double Action in .44 Russian caliber with a four-inch barrel and numbered walnut grips. It shipped to M.W. Robinson in New York City on June 5, 1884. This was one of a shipment of ten at $14.00 each.
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  #55  
Old 02-06-2021, 01:50 PM
SchofieldKid SchofieldKid is offline
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Late to the game(as usual). My "ugly" American, S/N 1824, shipped Mar. 15, 1871. All original as far as the previous posts on here concluded.
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File Type: jpg DSC_0119.jpg (87.8 KB, 32 views)
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  #56  
Old 02-06-2021, 03:22 PM
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Default Two latch top break:

I like to display this one because it features TWO latches.
It has the traditional 'top latch', AND a 'thumb latch' from the more modern 'hand ejector'.
Check it out.
-Donald
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File Type: jpg S&W TopBrk 2 latch (1-1).jpg (152.5 KB, 44 views)
File Type: jpg S&W TopBrk 2 latch (4).jpg (135.1 KB, 43 views)
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  #57  
Old 02-06-2021, 09:22 PM
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My oldest S&W, Safety Hammerless 1st Model, shipped May 3rd 1887.
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  #58  
Old 02-22-2021, 02:21 AM
James E. McCall James E. McCall is offline
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I have a Baby Russian last patent dates, Jan10 1875,reissue July 25, 1871, nickel plated with 100% finish, 5 shot cylinder .38 S&W caliber, bore and cylinder in 100% condition, serial #98 on butt and back of cylinder, has cutoff on bottom of frame for ejector, black rubber grips with S&W at top and diamond at screw to release handgrips. I intend to fire same as I have other S&Ws that take the the 38S&W cartridge as I am a reloader and will use black powder substitute to load same.
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  #59  
Old 02-22-2021, 03:23 AM
Dan Zulu Dan Zulu is offline
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Default Top breaks

I’ve been holding back on this one for fear of being rude by bragging. After seeing all of the impressive guns above however I think it’s safe to post it now.
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  #60  
Old 02-22-2021, 08:40 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Schof45 View Post
Here is my oldest TOP-BREAK and cartridge box.
The American First Model oil hole was shipped to the Armory on March 16, 1871. The cartridge box is date is the following month.




Beautiful old revolver. What is meant by the "Oil Hole Variation" ??
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  #61  
Old 02-22-2021, 06:08 PM
Schof45 Schof45 is offline
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Thank you and good question John.
I don't know what "oil hole variation" mean and there is not an oil hole in this gun.
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  #62  
Old 02-22-2021, 06:36 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OLDSTER View Post
Beautiful old revolver. What is meant by the "Oil Hole Variation" ??
Early Smith & Wesson # 3 revolvers had an oil hole in the barrel web just in front of the hinge.

Show your oldest top break S&W revolver-fhg-1798-10-1500x1000-jpg

Image found on internet because unfortunately I do not own a Smith & Wesson # 3 American.
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  #63  
Old 02-22-2021, 07:38 PM
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Here's my little .32
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  #64  
Old 02-22-2021, 07:40 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Schof45 View Post
Thank you and good question John.
I don't know what "oil hole variation" mean and there is not an oil hole in this gun.
See my post # 62.
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  #65  
Old 02-22-2021, 08:29 PM
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Without rereading the entire thread I'll risk the redundancy to say that the "oil hole" was a port to allow air to escape the ejector mechanism. It proved to not be necessary and later produced #3 Americans did not have this hole.
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  #66  
Old 02-22-2021, 09:14 PM
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A top break and its great grandson:

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  #67  
Old 02-23-2021, 08:11 AM
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.44 Russian Model 3 Mfg 1877

Shoot like naildriver . 16 GR FFFG WC 120GR
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  #68  
Old 02-23-2021, 08:18 AM
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.44 SW Model 3
Shoot like Naildriver 16 gr FFFG swiss with Wadcutter 120 gr
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  #69  
Old 02-26-2021, 04:32 PM
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I posted one earlier that was from 1881. I sometimes forget about this one. Not sure when it shipped, but likely sooner that 1881.

3rd model -3.jpg

3rd model-2.jpg
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Old 02-26-2021, 06:30 PM
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Default american.

Quote:
Originally Posted by raljr1 View Post
I posted one earlier that was from 1881. I sometimes forget about this one. Not sure when it shipped, but likely sooner that 1881.

Attachment 499731

Attachment 499734
about 10 yrs earlier
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Old 02-27-2021, 11:27 PM
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Oh, man, there are some nice No. 3's out there!
These two are my oldest - a 3rd Model Russian shipped April 13, 1877, original configuration. The other is a 2nd Model Schofield. I have not had it researched yet. I suspect the nickel is a later addition. It has the 1876 date stamp and US on the butt.
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Old 02-28-2021, 12:04 AM
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Hello, I've only have one,and for the life of me I can't remember the exact date. But here it is.

Sent from my SM-T720 using Tapatalk
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Old 02-28-2021, 12:56 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skippyjon Jones View Post
Some really awesome old timers in this thread. Wow. Thanks everyone for posting! May I say I want some too. Too bad I do not have a time machine to go shopping in past.

I only have one and keep posting it again and again because I do not have more to rotate for pics. This my soon to be this year 100 years old 1921 Perfected Single Shot and my oldest top break or otherwise.

Nothing wrong with this one! I have a weakness for these, and yours is as respectable as they come.
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Old 02-28-2021, 09:37 AM
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Default 2nd oldest

How about my 2nd oldest, just got this 2 wks. ago. 1888 S&W 32 4th model DA with an 8 inch barrel with all matching serial numbers. Jinks factory letter came with it confirming the 8 inch barrel, also unusual as shipped to a hardware conglomerate [Hibbard Spencer Bartlett & Co.in Chicago], they also sold sporting goods back then thru mail-order catalogs, that company is now known as True Value Hardware.
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  #75  
Old 03-04-2021, 05:28 PM
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Frontier SA 44/40 Army issue 6" barrel serial #577 circa 1885
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Old 03-28-2021, 01:01 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Schof45 View Post
Here is my oldest TOP-BREAK and cartridge box.
The American First Model oil hole was shipped to the Armory on March 16, 1871. The cartridge box is date is the following month.
That is a beauty, mine can't compete with....

But here is mine anyway. Address line in Russian
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File Type: jpg Russian_zpssu9wmkfc (3).jpg (115.9 KB, 23 views)
File Type: jpg S&W-Russian (2).jpg (95.8 KB, 3 views)

Last edited by Major 2; 04-02-2021 at 08:26 AM.
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Old 03-29-2021, 05:38 PM
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Here’s my model 3 American. US issue #1686. Belonged to my GGG grandpa who was promoted to captain of the 7th infantry in 1871. I would like to believe it was issued to him, but I can’t confirm that. His name was Capt. George Leslie Browning.
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