jsmith,

Nice old stuff you have there! That CPD looks like the same stamping as a Merwin Hulbert I have that came out of Ohio.

REINHARD,

Looks as if someone saved those just for you!

looks like it ,but it has more to do with luck I think
found another one today, same condition as the other guns
a five inch nickelplated lemonsqueezer in 38 s&w ,MOP grips
will post pics tommorow

Here is my only top break. 38 DA 4th Model. I believe original pearlite grips. Sorry for the poor pic!

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From my cold dead hands.....

Just picked this up last week. Interesting S & W grips. SN 434013.

I've had this one for 20 years, it's one of my favorites!

Schofield 2mdl

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Speak softly and carry a big gun

That's a sharp looking S&W!!

Top I bought with bad grips. Grips I had made in Africa in '50s while working there, my steer.

Bottom is my re-creation, bought cold blued for $135 in 1982. Engraved and nickeled it myself. Grips same as top piece.

Just picked up this .38 Double Action 4th Model yesterday (S/N 5050xx, should put its DOM around 1908-09), my first antique top-break S&W (my other antique S&W is a .32-20 Hand Ejector Model of 1905, 3rd Change). Pretty nifty, although it needs a little fixing (single-action doesn't work):

For my first post, except my introduction as new member, I am glad to show you my antiques S&W.

The first photo below presents Two Russian Model 3, the first one is a Third Model with a 6 1/2 inches barrel, commercial production.
The second one is a Second Model (old model Russian) with a 7 inches barrel, Japanese government variation with the "REISSUE" stamping intead of "Rusian Model"

The third one is a First Model Schofield with a 7 inches barrel. It is the military version with the "US" on the but. This gun has propably been resold on the civilian market and has been renickled for that purpose. It was blued when delivered in July 1875 to the National Armory, Spingfield, MA (info given by Roy G. Jinks in the letter of Authenticity).



On the photo below, the first one is a New Model N°3 Single Action with a 6 1/2 inches barrel in 44 Russian. The second one is a 38 Single Action Third Model. It is an interesting piece because it's SN is in the first 100 with a non standard marking on the barrel. We can notice that it is quite similar in contour to the New Model 3, like a "shrinked" New Model !

Here's the 32 New Departure that I got today. Serial # 1523

I'd appreciate any info that ya'll might have. The bore looks like new with some slight scratches. It's as tight as a drum and cycles like a Swiss watch. It just needs some black powder 32 S&W rounds.

Hello Alpine Rain,
Really nice looking old 1st model. I have two that are sandwiched around your serial number, and both were shipped in May of 1888 for what it's worth. I assume that you know that the grips are aftermarket or home made. They do look good on the gun though. You will not need to load black powder rounds for your gun if it tight and functioning properly. The modern 32 S&W shells are loaded very light. Having said that, anytime you fire an antique gun you are taking a chance what ever loads you are using. Older metals were not as strong as those produced today, and metal fatigue can make the antiques brittle. I know that others here are going to tell you that they shoot theirs with no problem, but you shoot at your own risk.

Mark

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Mark Connot

Thanks Mark!
I'm going with black powder since that's what it was designed for and to maintain history. I bought it to own a little piece of American history. I like to imagine where this little gun has been in its life. Who replaced the grips? Why? Did he make them himself? How many owners? What did they do for a living?

I'll never know the answers, but it's fun to daydream about. I've got a 1926 Mercury dime that I think the same things of. What kind of travels and purchases did it have during the Great Depression? Then I think that my little gun was 40 years old during the same time. Wow!

This one belonged to my wife's grandfather. I'm pretty sure it is a 4th model.

My first antique S&W found in an antique store this fall.
3rd Model 32 Safety Hammerless New Departure.
Tight as new and original finish
Now I want to find more of them to hoard




Mike

I have not posted pictures of my Lemonsqueezers on this thread. I have built presintation cases for some of them. I will start with this pic. of a S&W .32 1st. Mod. Safety Hammerless circa "1890" unfired.

Chubbo

Here is a S&W .32 2nd. Mod. Lemon squeezer circa "1904".
Chubbo

My third model .32 Safety Hammerless with box, ammo, and advertisement:

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Where did you get that advertisement sheet? Awesome pic too

Mike

Here is another of my Lemonsqueezers, a "1889" 2nd mod. .38S&W
Chubbo

It was cut from a page in a catalog dated 1907, Mike.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Thanks John. Now to find a catalog

Mike

Looking good!

delete this post please[

I just wanted to say your engraved nickel is beautiful. You are a true craftsman. I have been going through this thread looking at all the beautiful old top breaks. I own modern revolvers and pistols but I think I am going to start looking for an antique. Thankyou for the inspiration.

here's 3 of mine- top to bottom- 3rd model DA 38SW cal., 1st Model SA 38 SW Baby Russian, and 3rd Model DA 32SW cal.

all are numbers matching except the cylinder and extractor star on the 3rd model 38DA

the 32DA was the best find, it is complete, working, works like new, and needed nothing

the Baby Russian needed a hand, hammer stud, stud sideplate screw, and mainspring. That one appears to have belonged to a left handed shooter for most of it's life, notice the right side of frame nickel plate worn off from their thumb- they must have shot it a lot

during the quest to find parts for the 3rd model 38, I ended up with a pile of parts and 2 frames, so now I'm assembling 2 "put together" guns, mixed numbers...

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just finished this one thanks to parts from a few SW forum members here, it's a put together that came to me as a bare frame with a hammer/hand/front sear in it, the frame, latch, and cylinder have different serial numbers on them

3rd model DA 38SW

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old top break,
That's a nice job you did! It's great to see resurrected firearms.
Thanks for sharing.
If you decide to shoot it, I'd really like to see your impressions.
TACC1

I picked up this one today at a Gun Show. S&W 38 Cal, DA, 3rd Model, 5 in Barrel.



Starting to get her cleaned up.

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Semper Paratus

will do, thanks

Nice find- may I ask what you paid ? If that is numbers matching I'd not clean 'er up too heavily.

I ran into a "Real Collector" who was selling some top knotch stuff. A Mason Colt Conversion from around 1872 for $6,000. (He said he had two and was just clearing some stuff out). Not the average Gun Show vendor type.

The numbers all match on this one. He had a couple of S&Ws a 1st Model, 2nd Ed (I already have one). It was closing time and people were packing up.

He wanted $375. originally. I laid $200. on the table he took it. I do believe it was one of those rare moments. I might have gotten a good deal or just bought a piece of junk.



I soothed his feelings by giving him $50. for an old Iver Johnson or Andrew Fyrberg parts gun he had on the table for $60. In addition to not having a front sight, this thing did not have and address or patent date on it. There a 1113 number on the butt and under the grip is 70914. The logo on the grips has long gone but what remains of them doesn't look like S&Ws.

I'm into maintaining these old guns and preventing any further rust or corrosion regarding cleaning. I watch it on the cleanings real close and do just enough to preserve the weapon in it's current state. The antique look and that patina are certainly preferable to a flaking finish. Thanks for the words of caution though.

I'd swore off Gun Shows awhile back but I must say there seemed to be more antiques than usual this time around.

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Semper Paratus

nice score, Slowhand. The gun shows are the places to get the good buys. I can tell you stories....

I can't finish the 2nd model 38DA yet because it needs a pivot pin, and escutcheon and nut to attach the grips- so I moved the pivot pin and grip hardware from the 3rd model to the 2nd model, just to do a mock-up of what it will look like.

this is the 2nd model DA "put-together" mixed numbers gun, using another bare frame w/hammer/hand/front sear, got the parts from 2 guys here on SW forum, and also from Numrich and Old West Gunsmith Dave Chicione

the nickel plate on this one is not as nice, but it was a blast to put together- so this will be the end of my SW career (chuckle) for now, I started off just trying to fix one Baby Russian, and ended up with 5 SW's now. I can't see parting out an old SW, they were made to last several lifetimes and the wearing parts can be replaced. Unless the frame it busted in half, or blown to bits, they are worth fixing up !

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Old Top Break

Nice work. You did some great work there.

With a new front sight, grips and some work the Parts Gun could be restored.

Thanks for your post.

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Semper Paratus

thanks. After going through these guns a picture emerges as to what the typical wearing/missing parts are on the old top break SW guns.

the trouble area seems to be cylinder stops and hammer lugs/nuts- 3 of the guns had stripped/missing/damaged hammer lugs/nuts

entering my S&W .32 Double Action 2nd Model. (Made 1880) w/ floral grips, do I win ugliest gun?

This Safety 2nd has a new stable-mate; Model 1-1/2, .32 S&W.
Another good friend is along in case anything breaks.
TACC1

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I had these in another thread so might as well post here. Had them one weekpg[/IMG]

[QUOTE=bmannon;135784154]entering my S&W .32 Double Action 2nd Model. (Made 1880) w/ floral grips, do I win ugliest gun?


that looks like a solid gun, but I think the 6" barrel, 3rd model I put up is way uglier...(laughter...) so I win...

Late production ( probably 1938 or so ), Factory 2-Inch, .38 S & W -



( Oil film making the Blue look poor, but, is actually pretty nice.)


Mid 1930s Iver Johnson 3rd Model, Factory 2 Inch, in .38 S & W, with an old 'Jay Pee' IWB Holster -

I have a S&W Hammerless Safety 38 SW that had been my father's, but don't know where or when he got it. I think is a 2nd Mod. The serial number is 809xx. It is nickle plated and in very good condition.

pstan13,
Its a3rd model, and its a gun that a lot of us will never have because it is a family heirloom.

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Mark Connot