Hey guys, My name is Kell and I'm new to this post today , I recently purchased this 1896, Model 1, serial # 4593, 5 screw, 6 shot S/W revolver. The only thing wrong with it, as you can see, is the cracked left side hand grip and a small amount of pitting where the barrel attaches to the frame at the cylinder on the left side, other than that, its a fine pistol that shots incredibly well...well, just wanted to jump in here and say Hi....so, Hi!

Kell

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Looks to be a very nice 32 Long you have there. It would have been shipped in 1899 as far as I can tell, so just missed antique status. You can always get a letter to accurately determine the exact date. Grips should not be a big deal to find. Check out ebay and Gunbroker. Someone here should be able to tell you what other models had that grip style if you want to replace them. I can't tell but are there patent dates on the cylinder?

@glowe: Yes, they are stamped into the cylinder and I believe end in 2009? I might be mistaken on that...here's another pic which shows the patent stamps on the cylinder. Also, there is another number stamped into the cylinder housing and the same serial number stamped underneath the barrel at the cylinder pin...I like this little thing but have grown used to my S/W 357. model 60, 4"....a BIG difference when firing one against the other, I'll tell ya'!!! Cap gun against a howitzer!
I also recently picked up a Remington 30-06, model 760...another SWEET weapon...has an awesome scope and later today I'm going to site it to me....I'm currenlt shopping for extended magazines for that....I think the prior owner had something 'other' than deer hunting in mind with this scope, it has an intense view window and I just don't see shooting deer with it (the scope).
Home defense is a Remington 870 police issue riot gun in 12.guage, Mossberg 500 shortie (pistol grip) in 12. guage, along with the 357.!

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Any idea as to the value of the 32.?
And are there any collectors around Canton, Ohio ?
my boy has taken a liking to it and its small enough to teach the kids to shoot with....we'll see.

Kell,

There were less than 20,000 of these manufactured and values have been strong in the recent past. I have seen them sell for upwards of $800 in fine condition, but average value might be more in the $500-$600 range.

If you are considering selling the gun at any time, I would make sure to find some model appropriate period grips. It is amazing how something like that can affect what people are willing to pay. I think that any round butt I frame black hard rubber S&W grips should fit.

Thanks for posting pics of your 1896. I lettered mine back in the summer and mine has a 5 digit ser# that was shipped in 1901. Forum member Twaits has or had one with a 4 digit ser# that was shipped just a few days difference than mine. The serial numbers on these seem to be all over. They seem to have been made and then shipped in no particular order as demand dictated. From what I gather Antique status on these are dictated by the factory letter date of shipment.

Maybe my eyes are getting bad but your serial number in the photo looks more like 5439?

Yup the numbers are everywhere on these. I think all of the frames were made pre 1898 but the only way to tell when they shipped is with a letter. And the ATF does NOT consider them all antiques like they do with the large frame DA Frontiers. You need the letter to make that determination.
I really wish the ATF would change this. They all should really be considered antiques.

Any grips that fit on the .38 caliber top breaks will fit on the 1896

Thanks for sharing.
IIRC, dwfan can repair grips using your originals. My
computer took a dump since I sent mine in for a remarkable
repair. I don't mind being corrected, so if I got the grip
magicians name wrong, please straightrn me out.
Cabela's used to sell 10-round mags for Remington's. They didn't
have a bolt hold-open for the auto's, but worked well for them.
TACC1

First Handejector Police Contract Jersey City PD

Maybe it was J. C. Penneys?? Those grips are from a later model, so maybe you could find original hard rubber grips to bring that beauty back to it's original factory look.

J.C. Penney's I'll just have to get rid of it!

NavyFrank, Thats a really nice hand gun, 357? I LOVE mine but its much younger than this, model 60, S/W 357. 4"...nice keep around ro 'whatever may come my way' piece!

I think I may have angered the forum owners by the questions I asked in my first post, so I'll apologize and clarify, the old 1889 isn't for sale and I'm not attempting to sell it here...thanks for the heads up!

Don't know how to update my user info, but I'm not a gun collector, but have a few for personal use, I am former Army Airborne Infantry, 2/ 325th AIR, 82nd Airborne Division...anyway, I'll figure this site out...if I'm dumb enough to jump out of an airplane, this should be a breeze! LOL

Kell