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03-12-2022, 08:28 PM
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.38 New Departure 3rd Model in original box
Since I already had a near perfect example in its original box from the early 1890’s in .32 S & W, when mojave30cal offered this for sale on the forum recently, I knew I had to have it. Shipped September 1890, and in its original box. Along with a brush which appears to be original, but maybe not?
Last edited by mrcvs; 04-09-2023 at 04:35 PM.
Reason: For clarity, to mention .32 cal
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AlHunt, bcowern, Borderboss, Boulder350, damienph, davo2003, delta-419, desi2358, glowe, H Richard, Heinz, Hunter Keith, Kinman, krsmith58, Mbrgr1, Model19man, mojave30cal, Moo Moo, MSgt G, ncairman, ol777gunnerz, SFIDEC, TripleLock, usm1rifle, Vidd, Wingmaster, Wiregrassguy |
03-12-2022, 08:30 PM
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And more photographs…
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03-12-2022, 08:34 PM
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And a close up photograph of the penciled serial number on the bottom of the box as well as four photographs of the .32 cal for comparison. The .32 cal has a 3” barrel; the .38 cal, 3 1/4”.
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03-12-2022, 08:59 PM
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nice guns Ian
I just got a 3rd model too
They are neat!
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03-12-2022, 10:13 PM
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That’s beautiful. I really like the .38 Safety Hammerless. It’s such a cool gun. I recently snagged a very good shooter grade gun in nickel from a fellow member of this forum, and I am so happy that I did. It offers an entirely different type of satisfaction than what I get from my modern guns. They are an affordable piece of Smith & Wesson (and American) history. Your example looks fantastic.
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03-13-2022, 09:19 PM
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Another purty one...
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03-15-2022, 10:04 PM
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Glad you like it, Ian. 
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03-15-2022, 10:27 PM
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Just breathtaking!
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03-15-2022, 11:13 PM
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Hi MrCVS,
I have a nickel 38 departure safety, 3 1/4 bbl, top opening with a red? box S/N 1863XX. It was my father's. Never thought too much about it. I don't have pics as it is sitting in a safe at my other house. It's my only "old" gun, recall it as being in good condition. I always wondered why he had it or where it came from. He was a bullseye shooter, not a collector. I seem to remember the grip safety and crazy looking trigger but I also thought it had releases that you squeeze to open the top break. Looks a bit different that yours in that respect from what I remember. The finish on yours looks to have held up beautifully. Any idea as to date or value? Not looking to sell, just curious. I always assumed it was a $100 curio. Thanks for any info!
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03-16-2022, 04:08 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by John_M52
Hi MrCVS,
I have a nickel 38 departure safety, 3 1/4 bbl, top opening with a red? box S/N 1863XX. It was my father's. Never thought too much about it. I don't have pics as it is sitting in a safe at my other house. It's my only "old" gun, recall it as being in good condition. I always wondered why he had it or where it came from. He was a bullseye shooter, not a collector. I seem to remember the grip safety and crazy looking trigger but I also thought it had releases that you squeeze to open the top break. Looks a bit different that yours in that respect from what I remember. The finish on yours looks to have held up beautifully. Any idea as to date or value? Not looking to sell, just curious. I always assumed it was a $100 curio. Thanks for any info!
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For this information, you would need to create a new thread, and post lots of photographs, and then the experts on this forum shall give you feedback.
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06-27-2022, 09:11 AM
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I have often wondered why these Safety Hammerless revolvers don’t commonly turn up still in their original boxes? As in most of the time. As most of these ended up in a nightstand table, seems to me most folks would just put the revolver in its box in a nightstand drawer at the time of purchase and not bother to remove from the original box. This doesn’t seem to be the case, however.
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06-27-2022, 12:02 PM
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I used to seek out any pre-WWII gun boxes and probably saw at least twice as many small caliber boxes out there than the large caliber boxes. In top-breaks, 32 DA, 32 Safety, 38DA, 38 Safety were plentiful, but large caliber top-break boxes hardly ever showed up. In post-1900 guns, there were more K frame boxes for sale than smaller calibers, and very few N frame boxes show up for sale.
Part of the issue is that there were way more small caliber top-breaks made, so there were also a lot of empty boxes for those guns available to a box collector. I have bought very few guns with original boxes so lots must have gotten separated.
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04-09-2023, 04:39 PM
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I paid dearly to get my revolver, the subject matter of this thread, but not nearly what this one cost.
Excellent Smith & Wesson 38 Safety Hammerless Revolver with Box
Sold for $1527.50
I guess finally near mint New Departure revolvers, either .32 or .38 S & W cal, are now soundly well over 4 figures if in their original box.
IIRC, each of mine hovered around the $1000 range, + or - $50 or $100.
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04-10-2023, 06:31 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mrcvs
I paid dearly to get my revolver, the subject matter of this thread, but not nearly what this one cost.
Excellent Smith & Wesson 38 Safety Hammerless Revolver with Box
Sold for $1527.50
I guess finally near mint New Departure revolvers, either .32 or .38 S & W cal, are now soundly well over 4 figures if in their original box.
IIRC, each of mine hovered around the $1000 range, + or - $50 or $100. |
Comments anyone? Are these finally more desirable or is this example an extreme outlier?
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