Any ideas? Serial number is 411291* (Star is present following numbers on bottom strap, but not on cylinder) numbers match on cylinder.

Looks like a 38 DA fourth model if memory serves. I have one in the 363xxx range. I don't have the book in front of me right now.

The star indicates that it was returned to S&W for some kind of factory work.

It's a .38 Double Action, 4th model, shipped about late 1901, or early 1902. Barrel has been cut and homemade front sight added. Grips are from a S&W.38 Single Action 1st Model and are probaly worth as much as the whole gun, if they are in nice shape. The star indicates some kind of factory work and there should be a date code stamped under the left grip on the grip frame, such as " 4.24 " meaning the gun was repaired in April 1924 at the factory.

Ed, ( My turn! )
Half of the grips (the right one) are from a 1st Model.

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

Dean, Touche! Even 1/2 a pair is worth more than the gun! Ed.

so what is the value of the gun? and the grip?

Looks like a parts gun to me. I'll give you $20 for the hammer!

Here's mine that's kind of similar. Its non factory nickeled and cut down.
I paid $150 for it at a gun show and that was probably too much.
But I like it anyway.

Attached Images

IMGP2752.jpg (70.9 KB, 152 views)

Ky Gun Trader,

I'm curious, can you tell me what you had to do to post those nice full size pictures?
No matter what I do I can only seem to post thumbnails. Thanks a lot!

-Erik

Erik's offer might be the way to go. Part it out. The only thing it has going for it is the right grip panel. As Ed said, the grips for the 1st Model SA are scarce and, luckily, you have a right grip panel. The right one seems to be the one that most commonly breaks, so there may be folks out there that would gladly buy just it from you. Were it mine, I would harvest the right panel and dump the rest of it for parts.
Another option would be to put it in a shadow box with a spread of playing cards, a replica sheriffs badge, some dice, etc. and make up a story about it and sell to some decorator. (I would mount it left side out, so I could keep the right grip.)

Erik, Your little "chop job" looks to be in pretty nice shape other than the missing bit of barrel. I don't think that $150 is too far out of line. Especially if you like it.

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

Yeah I like it. The only problem with it (you may have read this on another one of my posts) is that the hammer wont stay on full cock. It's either the notch in the hammer or the single action sear. I'd like to get it straightened out one of these days. It still works in DA though...

Erik, I take the pictures and upload them to photobucket.com. From there I just copy the IMG code that the web site generates and post it here to provide the following...



it looks like you are simply uploading the pictures here, where I am using a third party photohost

Thanks. I too am using photobucket, but I must be doing something different.
I'm going to test something and see if it works:



Sweet! I got it thanks!

I wasn't pasting the IMG code directly into the post before. this is much better. Thanks for the help

-Erik

Is that not why we are all here? To help each other and learn?

You are very welcome by the way and thanks for answering my questions

The marks from the slipped screwdriver take on a whole new art form on that poor S&W revolver.

Did you notice the "upgrade" to the extra screw in the frontstrap??

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

Oh yeah...what the heck is that for?

Ky Gun Trader, have you taken the grips off to see what that
extra screw is for?

I assume that the sear spring broke at sometime. It has a "tab" that fits in a slot in the front strap and is held by a pin. If the owner couldn't get a replacement spring, I would guess that he just cobbled up a flat spring, drilled and tapped a hole in it and ran a screw through the front strap to hold it in place. Kitchen table gunsmithing at its finest.

I really shouldn't make fun, it got the gun working again.

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

no I havent and now I think I may be afraid to lol