I have had stashed away for 20+ years my grandfather's old revolver, which appears to be a S&W .32 Safety Hammerless New Departure 1st model. Circumstances force me to consider selling it, so I'm trying to find out as much as possible about it for valuation purposes. So:

Can anyone approximate the DOM for ser. # 567xx?

Also, I gather from reading this forum that finish is key to value, and I keep seeing references to percent remaining, etc.; how do I estimate this, or determine whether or not it's been refinished, etc?

Thanks in advance for any/all guidance, folks. I'm astounded by the amount of knowledge and enthusiasm found here, and hope you can help.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From S&W .32 Safety Hammerless (New Departure) First Model</td></tr></table>

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From S&W .32 Safety Hammerless (New Departure) First Model</td></tr></table>

I have had stashed away for 20+ years my grandfather's old revolver, which appears to be a S&W .32 Safety Hammerless New Departure 1st model. Circumstances force me to consider selling it, so I'm trying to find out as much as possible about it for valuation purposes. So:

Can anyone approximate the DOM for ser. # 567xx?

Also, I gather from reading this forum that finish is key to value, and I keep seeing references to percent remaining, etc.; how do I estimate this, or determine whether or not it's been refinished, etc?

Thanks in advance for any/all guidance, folks. I'm astounded by the amount of knowledge and enthusiasm found here, and hope you can help.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From S&amp;W .32 Safety Hammerless (New Departure) First Model</td></tr></table>

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From S&amp;W .32 Safety Hammerless (New Departure) First Model</td></tr></table>

Hi Rallison, Without the $50 S&W letter we can only extropolate in regards to your weapon. My First Model New Departure, .32 S&W, "lemon squeezer" is sn 283xx. It was shipped on January 1, 1892 per Roy Jinks' letter. Production started in 1888 and ended in 1900 at sn about 91500. If we can ASSume that mine was made in 1891, yours could have been made circa 1894.(?)

As to value, whatever someone is willing to pay but, that being said, I would think your weapon has a value of $300-400. You may have to be patient to get top dollar. BTW, value is relative to condition and yours seems to be of "kept in a sock drawer" condition which is very good. Hope this helps and stand by for more input from the guys here who are experts! Regards, Ray

PS: No FFL reqired on your oldie but it is still fireable -ammo available from several vendors.

Hi Rallison , your .32 is identical to mine from the lemon squeezer thread.Please put me out my misery and tell me how to open it please.

Ray, thank you for the response, and yes that was helpful, especially re the FFL. Somewhere on this forum I though I saw someone with one or two 5XXXX serial no. squeezers, who had letters, saying they were ~ 1893 or '96. But I couldn't find it again, and can't swing the cost of a letter myself.

I hope folks will reply regarding how to determine if the nickel finish has been re-done or how to estimate remaining, etc. as well. As you can tell I'm a newbie...

Again, thanks!

A picture is worth a thousand words, Jamesey... here's a link to a video I found that shows how to 'break' open a first model:

S&W 32 SH 1st Model Vid

If that's how you're doing it, and it's not opening, I'd guess there's a mechanical problem. But I hope that helps!

Hi again Rallison, I don't think your pistol has been renickled. Usually a renickle job included the trigger guard and other exposed parts. Check the cylinder latch. The portion you push down is nickle and checkered. But immediately forward of that portion is a squarish piece with a shallow depression in it. This is the piece that moves up as you press down on the checkered portion and it should also be blued (or patinaed). Ditto the "rib" shaped piece bisecting the top strap (actually the cylinder retaining spring). If these are "blue" your pistol is original finish. Percentage I can't figure but based on the pics, why not 95%+? Also, the "cam" between the barrel assembly and the frame was blued. Long winded and a bit rambling but I hope you see what I'm trying to say. Regards, Ray

Hi Jamesy, ASSuming nothing is broken, remember the piece you are depressing must rise with the barrel and cylinder as it "breaks". Check and ensure that the squarish piece, immediately to the front of the checkered part you are depressing, which has a shallow depression in it, is rising as the nickled checkered piece is depressed. Do not allow the pressure you are exerting on the checkered portion to overcome the pressure you are exerting on the barrel tip to "break" open the weapon. Not a very lucid explanation but I hope you get my drift. If it still won't open try WD40 etc. I would wait for an expert's opinion before immersing it in a cleaning solvent (the finish can be damaged!- obviously the grips should be removed). I hope this helps - these damn things can get frustrating! - try a C96! Regards, Ray

PS: Be careful with the grips - they can get brittle with age!

Ray, that's exactly what I was looking for. If I'm going to sell, it's important to me to describe the gun accurately, so knowing that its finish is original (based on your description--the parts described are indeed still blue) will help.

I truly appreciate your sharing the knowledge.

Rallison , thank you ..sure enough thats the logical way to open it , mine wont budge.
Thanks for the tip Ray , im trying that now , ive tried everything else.WD40 too..sigh..
I seen the gunsmith dryfiring his so i assumed its ok to try this one , i know its not loaded.
Clnder spins clean as a whistle , everything sounds right..wont open.

The nearest 32 Safety in my data base is 61632 which shipped in March of 1895.
Mark

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Mark Connot

I got her open lads , beautiful clean inside , it was just really stiff,gave it a whack and it opened no probs.Sn 80027 inside.

http://s700.photobucket.com/al...current=IMG_2412.jpg

Thank you--that would seem to put the DOM for 567xx well before 1/1/1899. That's helpful.

Sorry to hear it. I guess I'm lucky that mine apparently saw so little use. It was test-fired in about 20 yeas ago and worked fine; it dry-fires smoothly. I hope yours can be easily repaired...

From what I can see, it doesn't appear to be refinished. Trigger and trigger guard both look original as well as the top latch (what I can see of it). The finish does appear a little mottled, which is not unusual, and could polish out. The stocks do appear to have some wear on them as the diamonds look to be worn down some. All in all, I'd estimate between 90% and 95%, conservatively. This would place it in the "Excellent" price range of about $400 to $475. Since this would fall more of the area of a collectors interest rather than a shooters interest, finding a buyer is a little more difficult. Posting it for sale here or on one of the gun sale sites is your best bet unless you know of some enthusiasts that are interested in buying it.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

H Richard--thank you for your service and for your guidance on % finish and value. The latter is "Excellent" news. If I choose to sell, I expect i will probably put it up here or gunbroker.

Congrats, Jamesy--glad to hear it!

Seriously Rallison , i cant thank you and Papabyrd and the others enough.Ive wrestled with that thing for weeks.Hauled off and gave it a whack which pleased me greatly and bingo..open she came.
I didnt really thump it hard , just held the chequered button down and gave it a healthy tap with a bit of 2x4.
Ive never had an interest in selling my guns , i would have chucked this one out a window a week ago , now ill give it a little TLC and oil and i might even break down and get a box of shells for it now.
Its a sweet little personal and a classic so theres a bonus plus its a S&W so thats the cherry on top.Happy happy joy joy

Well, I put it up for sale, it's in the Guns/For Sale or Trade section of this site, and my 45 rds. of .32 ammo are in the Accessories/Misc section. Thank you for your assistance in assessing the age and condition of the weapon.