This pistol is for sale up here (Canada) and I'm considering purchasing it depending on the sellers response. Is it my lack of knowledge or does that hammer seem incorrect?

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That hammer isn't right. Look at other examples on here...I may be the correct hammer that was broken, and repaired. The finish is not original either...

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Randy

Thank you! I had my doubts about the hammer but I lack the expertise to know if the finish is original or a later nickel plating. The seller is asking $1500. (cdn) which is actually a pretty decent price up in my neck of the woods.

Factory hammers were pretty consistent in size and shape, much shorter with a curl at the end. That one is way too tall for factory.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

WOW! You also got some crazy prices up north!

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

See photo;

That’s an old target shooters trick to extend the hammer with a custom weld. The purpose is to soften the action by means of increased leverage allowing manipulating the hammer to then become much smoother. It does work but to me it’s unsightly.

*** Is that a rear sight installed on the top strap? If so then it fits the target shooter modification. Neat piece.

*** Also, you might want to check on that barrel length. Might have a rare bird there?

Murph

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I captured another pic from his ad. To my eye, it doesn't appear to a be a rear sight on top of the frame. Here's a pic of the left side of the pistol. As to pricing, if you guys want either a gasp of horror or a head-shaking moment of disbelief, check out "Old Guns Canada". He has some nice stuff and his prices are pretty much market for Canada. Without the protections you lot enjoy with your 2nd. amendment, we're pretty much at the mercy of whatever government holds power. Currently, it's our anti-gun, looney left Liberal party who seem to be pretty much in line with your democratic party in terms of fiscal stupidity, moronic immigration policies, hypocrisy, and a tame bought-and-paid-for lamescream media.

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I agree that the hammer spur has been modified but looking at the side plate photos, I'm not too sure the whole revolver has been re-plated. From the few pictures, I see sharp corners, flat surfaces and a minimal line around the side plate. This one needs to be held in-hand.

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Mike Maher #283

$1100 U.S. is very steep especially given how nonexistent the ammo is, and noted modification, but it is your money...

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Randy

Unless I had a few hundred rounds of .32 rimfire in my stash (I might have 10 rounds of various lengths and manufacturers in my meager antique cartridge collection), I would spend my money on something I could shoot that would gain value.

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Chris
SWCA #2243 SWHF #292

Surprisingly, .32 rf comes up fairly often in auctions and private sales. Not cheap mind you, anywhere from $275-$325./box for good condition shootable ammo. I have a box and a half, a full box of Winchester and a part box of Dominion. Now the reloading kits are available as well. If I find a nice pistol at a decent price, I'll put 5-10 rounds through 'er to verify function and safety. Primarily, I want it for my wife as a cautionary measure for those "what if" scenarios. I won't go on about the idiocy of Canadian gun law dealing with "antique" status arms, but there is a degree of grey areas with them that allow for more flexibility in home defense than with a modern handgun.

I assume that lots of folks in Canada are using the reloadable brass cases for the 32 RF. They work, but a pain to load and the kits are quite expensive. I have not had to worry, since I bought a couple cases of Navy Arms 32 RF back in the early 1990s. Really enjoy shooting the old tip-ups from time to time, but as I sell them off, I shoot less and less ammo so still have some left. The Model 2 revolvers are surprisingly accurate out to 25 yards. I also shoot the Model 1 revolvers, but they would not hit the backboard at 25 yards, so have to really stand close to any target in order to hit it.

It looks like a re-plate to me since both the hammer and trigger are nickel and the sideplate seam is very pronounced. Also, is the hinge screw original?

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Gary
SWCA 2515

First, I have the wipe the drool off my chin before I can respond. What a lovely collection! As to the pistol, the seller is in the prairies so I have no way of knowing if the hinge screw is original. I've decided to pass on it as I have too many doubts and there are other ones coming on the market for a slightly more reasonable price.

First, I have the wipe the drool off my chin before I can respond. What a lovely collection! As to the pistol, the seller is in the prairies so I have no way of knowing if the hinge screw is original. I've decided to pass on it as I have too many doubts and there are other ones coming on the market for a slightly more reasonable price.

Very impressed, you are correct, very nice guns and higher prices. I assume those prices are Canadian $ and a US $ would go farther toward a purchase?

Your assumption is correct. Up here, good quality antiques command pretty high prices. On a very stupid note, Lugers are much cheaper. Our looney gun laws have any pistol with a barrel length under 110 mm. as "prohibited" rather than just restricted. As a consequence Lugers and other military collectible pistols can only be purchased by a license holder with a prohibited class on their license. BUT, you can no longer apply for a prohib validation! That means that if a prohib class firearm is for sale, only old guys who still have the class can purchase it and we're slowly dying off. People are having after market longer barrels fitted to Lugers so they are no longer prohib but that destroys the historical collector value. Nuts, eh?

Info for Canadian collectors of S&W Model 2 Armies : The 1st sale of S&Ws guns to a Law Enforcement unit was shipment of 14 Model 2s to the Kingston Police in Ontario, in Feb. 1866. Partial ser. #s are 42079, 42084, 42098, 42232, 42292, 42375, 42593, 42840, 42855, & 42926. No police markings on these guns by S&W. Unknown if the KP marked them. 14 holsters were made by a local craftsman. Ed

Exmilcop: Your statement about wanting a go-to gun for your wife caught my eye. If it were me and I needed an antique, I would go with a single action top break 38 S&W. Not the first model known as the Baby Russian, but the second model as they are cheaper. This gun is much better designed and made than the tipup .32. It can be safely fired with factory .38 S&W ammo, if in good condition, and will be more powerful than the .32 rimfire. Using the kit loaded .32 RF is a hassle, as Gary noted.

On the other hand, I know nothing of the details of the restrictive Canadian laws. If there is a legal issue that would prevent you from convieniently getting a top break revolver ca. 1880 then my advice is worthless, but you have my best wishes for a change in government.

Trust me, if it were possible, I'd go with something that had a little more "oomph" to it and that my wife with her petite hands could handle. Alas, while the pistol itself may be pre-1898, if the ammunition does not fall into the "obsolete" category, the pistol is subject to the same stringent restrictive storage laws as any modern handgun. You have to admit, 5 rounds of lead bullets in .32 cal. delivered at 10-15 ft. would ruin your day.

If self defense was my worry I'd go for a F&W double action in .38 RF or an Iver Johnson "American Bulldog" in .44 Russian. They are small enough for a purse, look more "serious" than a S&W No. 2 and are still antique up here. On the other hand, if it was a matter of life and death, I'd hate to have to put my life in the hands of a 150 year old gun. BTW - .38 CF is never antique in Canada, no matter how old; .380 European Revolver is, though, and sometimes a .38 short Colt will fit just nicely. Confused? Join the club!

I should clarify - if self defense FOR MY WIFE was my concern... I don't have a purse.