Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Smith & Wesson Revolvers > S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961
o

Notices

S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 All 5-Screw & Vintage 4-Screw SWING-OUT Cylinder REVOLVERS, and the 35 Autos and 32 Autos


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 07-14-2017, 12:09 AM
mkl57 mkl57 is offline
Member
Year of S & W Revolver Year of S & W Revolver Year of S & W Revolver Year of S & W Revolver Year of S & W Revolver  
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 1
Likes: 5
Liked 2 Times in 1 Post
Default Year of S & W Revolver

Hi, New to forum. Looking for some information on S & W revolver. It was originally owned by my great grandfather.

It is a smith and Wesson revolver with the serial number of 16235. It is says on the barrel 38 S & W Special CTG.

Also it is 6 shot with a 5 inch barrel.

On the top of the barrel it reads: Smith & Wesson Springfield Mass. USA. Pat'd July 1.84. April 9.89. May 21.95. Aug. 4.96. Dec. 22.96. Oct. 4.98.

What is the year in which it was made and what would it be called?

Any other info would be appreciated. Would there be an disassembly manual available?

Thanks!

Mark

Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
  #2  
Old 07-14-2017, 06:02 AM
JP@AK's Avatar
JP@AK JP@AK is offline
US Veteran
Year of S & W Revolver Year of S & W Revolver Year of S & W Revolver Year of S & W Revolver Year of S & W Revolver  
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Palmer, Alaska
Posts: 14,477
Likes: 5,111
Liked 18,981 Times in 6,862 Posts
Default

Welcome to the Forum, Mark.

Quote:
Originally Posted by mkl57 View Post
What is the year in which it was made and what would it be called?
It was called the .38 Military Model of 1899, now usually referred to as the .38 Military & Police First Model.

I would estimate the year of production as 1901. However, there are collectors on this Forum who specialize in these and they might be able to nail that down more precisely. If you need to know the exact date it left the factory, you will want to contact the S&W Historical Foundation and purchase a letter of authenticity.

What is cool about this one is that the extractor rod knob is still in place. Often they are missing.

Quote:
Would there be an disassembly manual available?
I have no idea.

Nice gun to inherit. Congratulations.
__________________
Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #3  
Old 07-14-2017, 06:41 AM
murphydog's Avatar
murphydog murphydog is offline
Moderator
Year of S & W Revolver Year of S & W Revolver Year of S & W Revolver Year of S & W Revolver Year of S & W Revolver  
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 26,780
Likes: 934
Liked 18,872 Times in 9,240 Posts
Default

Welcome also! Jack has good information above (as usual ).

Several Forum members here are familiar with the internals on these 1899s and can advise you on working on one. However, if it cycles and times normally, it may be better and simpler to flush out the internals with brake cleaner via the frame opening for the hammer and underneath via the top of the grip frame, then lightly re-lubricate. The warning here is the stocks should be removed prior to doing this; however, the material is brittle and the panels may crack.

My usual method for doing this is removing the stock screw and seeing if the panels simply fall off the frame. If they do not, put the screw back in without engaging the threads and tap 'lightly' on the head; this should loosen the right panel and then the left one should come off easily. Hope this is helpful.
__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220
Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
  #4  
Old 07-14-2017, 07:08 AM
rct269 rct269 is offline
SWCA Member
Year of S & W Revolver Year of S & W Revolver Year of S & W Revolver Year of S & W Revolver Year of S & W Revolver  
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Pikeville, Tennessee
Posts: 6,025
Likes: 910
Liked 9,878 Times in 3,632 Posts
Default

The disassembly/assembly instructions are to be found in Chicoine's Antique Firearms Disassembly/Assembly book.

It's worth noting his recommended method of removing the trigger assembly (a comparatively complex monkey motion assembly with a leaf spring) is "fraught with peril" as one is instructed to remove the (spring) retaining pin with the spring compressed.(!!). One of our members (Mike Priwer, a walking encyclopedia on these guns) has devised a special tool (Part Number MP-001TS) consisting of a small wooden dowel rod (cut to suit/beat to fit) which greatly simplifies your life. It functions as well on any/all of the "pre-5 screw 4 screw" guns. Fabrication and use instructions are available on request. Such requests can be hazardous to your health and well being, because you'll be kicking yourself for not thinking of it on your own. It's one of those entirely too simple deals.

Ralph Tremaine

It's worth noting also this special tool may be used for reassembly, thereby negating the necessity to tear your hair out trying to align the trigger spring pin hole with the use of Mr. Chicoine's oft cited "spreader"/"reverse" pliers----which is no fun at all!!

Last edited by rct269; 07-14-2017 at 07:28 AM.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #5  
Old 07-14-2017, 09:03 AM
DWalt's Avatar
DWalt DWalt is offline
Member
Year of S & W Revolver Year of S & W Revolver Year of S & W Revolver Year of S & W Revolver Year of S & W Revolver  
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: South Texas & San Antonio
Posts: 33,479
Likes: 236
Liked 28,938 Times in 14,012 Posts
Default

I'll agree that the shipment from the factory of your revolver was probably made some time in 1901, and probably in the later half of that year, based upon several relatively nearby SNs having known shipping dates. But SNs don't track too closely with shipping date, so 1902 shipment is always a possibility. Yours probably has the caliber "38 Special" stamped on the barrel. That started around SN 7500.

The Model of 1899 is a somewhat historic revolver for S&W as it was the very first built on the K-size frame, and is the direct ancestor of many millions of K-frame revolvers made since. It's not incorrect to say that S&W owes most of its success to the Model of 1899, as the K-frame revolvers have, for most of its existence, been its mainstay for sales throughout the world. It was followed by the Model of 1902, which incorporated some mechanical improvements. There were approximately 21,000 1899s made in .38 Special, and somewhat fewer (about 5,300) were chambered in .32-20 (called the .32 Winchester back then). In the 1900-1901 period the U. S. Navy and U. S. Army each purchased 1000 Model 1899s, but it was not adopted by either for military service at that time. Yours is not in the SN range of those military purchases. Examples of those military 1899s are the most desirable to collectors. A few Model 1899s were made up in "Target" style with adjustable sights, and those are also desirable.

1899s are always readily identifiable as they do not have a spring-loaded support lug on the barrel ahead of the extractor rod tip as do all later models. Be very careful to not lose the knob on the end of the extractor rod. Original replacement knobs are all but impossible to find.

Yours may well be in shootable condition and it can be fired safely with standard velocity lead bullet cartridges. Even so, I would not recommend firing it. I would also not recommend you go probing around its innards with a screwdriver. If you break something, it is likely that it cannot be replaced. At its age it deserves retirement memento, not shooting, status. It is older than about 99.999+% of humans still alive. Don't even think about having it refinished. Just clean and wax it.

Last edited by DWalt; 07-14-2017 at 09:58 AM.
Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
  #6  
Old 07-14-2017, 06:59 PM
glowe's Avatar
glowe glowe is offline
US Veteran

Year of S & W Revolver Year of S & W Revolver Year of S & W Revolver Year of S & W Revolver Year of S & W Revolver  
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Michigan Western UP
Posts: 12,912
Likes: 3,028
Liked 14,243 Times in 5,431 Posts
Default

Welcome to the Forum. There is a great book out there by David Cicoine, titled Antique Firearms Assembly/Disassembly, which details many firearms, including the 38 HE, 1st Model. They are not totally different than later Model 1905s, but if you have never taken one apart, the manual is a big help. Here are a few pictures of the insides of this model. First is a blued gun all cleaned up and the second & third are of another 1899 before and after. Whenever I take a new to me model apart, I take lots of pictures, which are a great help in re-assembling the gun.

BTW - I shoot every one of my Model 1899s and they are very enjoyable at the range.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg P1010004.jpg (90.3 KB, 21 views)
File Type: jpg 8.jpg (120.5 KB, 21 views)
File Type: jpg 8a.jpg (135.0 KB, 19 views)
__________________
Gary
SWCA 2515
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Year and value of this .38 revolver Boss43 S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 8 06-29-2015 08:27 PM
S&W Model 36 Revolver..Year? duke85 S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 3 03-07-2015 10:49 PM
What year is my 38 Revolver Kent Shrack S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 10 03-25-2013 03:52 AM
Year of this S&W Revolver Win38 S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 2 08-23-2012 01:14 PM
What year is this revolver rickey b S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 4 10-15-2011 10:04 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:07 AM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)