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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 02-05-2009, 08:19 AM
Tinygnat219 Tinygnat219 is offline
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Hello,

I just picked this revolver up at a local gunshop and it's in some not so good shape. I figure it was made sometime in 1882 or 1883, it's SN is a four digit one that starts with a 6. It's also chambered in .44 Russian. It was obviously either factory nickeled, or done some other time in its history. It looks like it's had some honest hard use.





I picked this up for close to a song, knowing it has problems:
Sometimes the cylinder doesn't lock up, and if you push on the hammer while it's cocked, it goes forward.

I was wondering if someone could recommend a good smith to get this old gal back into working order. I would like to shoot it, but not that often.
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  #2  
Old 02-05-2009, 08:19 AM
Tinygnat219 Tinygnat219 is offline
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New (to Me) S&W Double Action .44 Top Break New (to Me) S&W Double Action .44 Top Break New (to Me) S&W Double Action .44 Top Break New (to Me) S&W Double Action .44 Top Break New (to Me) S&W Double Action .44 Top Break  
Join Date: Feb 2008
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Hello,

I just picked this revolver up at a local gunshop and it's in some not so good shape. I figure it was made sometime in 1882 or 1883, it's SN is a four digit one that starts with a 6. It's also chambered in .44 Russian. It was obviously either factory nickeled, or done some other time in its history. It looks like it's had some honest hard use.





I picked this up for close to a song, knowing it has problems:
Sometimes the cylinder doesn't lock up, and if you push on the hammer while it's cocked, it goes forward.

I was wondering if someone could recommend a good smith to get this old gal back into working order. I would like to shoot it, but not that often.
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  #3  
Old 02-05-2009, 11:04 AM
moosedog moosedog is online now
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New (to Me) S&W Double Action .44 Top Break New (to Me) S&W Double Action .44 Top Break New (to Me) S&W Double Action .44 Top Break New (to Me) S&W Double Action .44 Top Break New (to Me) S&W Double Action .44 Top Break  
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That one screams of having been there and done that. Nice catch.
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Old 02-05-2009, 11:38 AM
Tinygnat219 Tinygnat219 is offline
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New (to Me) S&W Double Action .44 Top Break New (to Me) S&W Double Action .44 Top Break New (to Me) S&W Double Action .44 Top Break New (to Me) S&W Double Action .44 Top Break New (to Me) S&W Double Action .44 Top Break  
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Moosedog,

Thanks!

I picked this one up for a tad under 300 bucks. It hadn't been in the store for a day.

I'd just like to get it back to snuff. You know?
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Old 02-05-2009, 04:59 PM
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cgt4570 cgt4570 is offline
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David Chicoine at Old West Gunsmith www.oldwestgunsmith.com is the master on these. He wrote the book - literally. "S&W Sixguns of the Old West" I think it's called.

Nice find. I have one like yours that shipped to London in '97 and I've got a single action NM#3 from around 1882. Both are great shooters!
Chris
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  #6  
Old 02-05-2009, 07:52 PM
Tinygnat219 Tinygnat219 is offline
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New (to Me) S&W Double Action .44 Top Break New (to Me) S&W Double Action .44 Top Break New (to Me) S&W Double Action .44 Top Break New (to Me) S&W Double Action .44 Top Break New (to Me) S&W Double Action .44 Top Break  
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Chris,

This is perfect!

Thanks! I will contact him and see what we can do.

I had another one that I had found at another local shop, but it had a more honest patina:




The one I had, which is pictured above, was S/N 4965 and was made in 1882. It was shipped to a huge distributor in NYC (ironic!) and it had an original nickle finish. The grips were real stag horn. Nice and comfortable to hold. I sold this one to finance a Saiga 12. not my brightest move. Oh well. This one I have in the first post is staying HERE.
Thanks again for the information. This is EXTREMELY helpful!
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