S&W .38 DA Top Break In Box

[SalemCat]

Just brought home a sweet S&W DA .38 Top Break in original box. Looks unfired. The cylinder has revolved a few times. The sale was touch and go for a while. The shop wasn't sure they wanted to sell it at all - I was sweating bullets. But they did sell .

Anyhow, S/N 236071

Anyone got a date for me ?

BTW, anything that might appear to be wear to the nickel is simply the limitations of my camera-work and the difficulties with photographing shiny things. The finish is flawless.

 

[glowe]

So is it a 32 or 38?? Also, does the revolver have an exposed hammer?

 

[DWalt]

If in .32, that would be a .32 DA, 4th Model, likely around 1905. Anyway, a C&R, not an antique. If in .38, it would be a .38 DA, 3rd Model, early 1890s, and an antique.

 

[glowe]

Adding pictures helps lots. That is a very nice 38 Double Action, 4th Model that shipped around 1901-1902. It is an antique handgun, even though it was shipped after 1898. That would mean that the frame was manufactured and serial numbered before the antique cutoff of #382,022.

 

[TACC1]

That revolver could be advertised as brand-new at any
LGS. Congrats on finding and persistence to acquire.
When the store had it, only a few could enjoy it. Thanks
for letting all of the Forum members enjoy it.
TACC1

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Nice DA! Here's her sister from about 20 years earlier.

Wish I had the box...

 

[SalemCat]

Beautiful ! To my eyes these are nothing short of artwork.

How can you tell yours is earlier ? Is it the S/N the key ?

 

[dogngun]

Artwork is exactly right. Beautiful design and workmanship, and a lot of them still work perfectly after all these years.
Mine is a New Departure .38 made in 1903. I sometimes carry it.

mark

 

[Nframecollector]

See how the position of the screws line up! Beautiful.

 

[SalemCat]

Artwork is exactly right. Beautiful design and workmanship, and a lot of them still work perfectly after all these years.
Mine is a New Departure .38 made in 1903. I sometimes carry it.

mark

A Lemon Squeezer, right ? One of those is on my short list.

Wondering, is the .32 or .38 more collectible / valuable ? Or no difference.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

No, a Double Action, not a lemon squeezer. A lemon squeezer has a safety lever in the grip. My gun was shipped in 1884. And, yes, the SN is the key. That's why she's an older sister.

S&W made so many of these guns that they are not considered collectable unless they are exceptional. However, guns in the condition of yours and mine are worth more than the shooter rate, IMO.

 

[SalemCat]

See how the position of the screws line up! Beautiful.

I never would have noticed that !

Was it done by S&W deliberately ?

 

[rboineau]

Salemcat, you stink!

 

[SalemCat]

If I get any smellier I'd be SalemSkunk. I think I'd like that......

 

[Nframecollector]

If you look at the fine English double rifles and shotguns you'll see that all the screws are lined up in the same direction. Very good workmanship.

 

[deadin]

I'm not aware of S&W intentionally timing the screws. This may just be happenstance. (but a nice one!)
Usually when screws are timed, they are aligned with the barrel.
I only have one gun with the screws timed and it is a fairly high quality Belgian made target pistol from the late 19th Century.

 

[RV4driver]

I'm always fascinated when the shop isn't sure they want to sell it. So, they're also a museum? I have to think they are just trying to jack up the price to overcome their reluctance to actually be in the business of selling guns.

 

[SalemCat]

I'm always fascinated when the shop isn't sure they want to sell it. So, they're also a museum? I have to think they are just trying to jack up the price to overcome their reluctance to actually be in the business of selling guns.

They didn't really have it on display. I kept asking each week about stuff I'm looking for, and finally one of the guys remembered they had an old S&W. But the first guy could not find it.

The next week I asked again, telling a second guy, that the first guy had told me about an old gun. So the second guy went looking in the same places the first guy had looked - but looked harder, and hidden behind something, there she was.

The second guy really liked it. Seemed to be on the fence big time. But finally sold it.

$500 - Not a garage sale price but I'm quite content. I learned long ago one $500 gun can bring more joy than ten $100 guns.

As a seaoned collector of antiques I've been through similar situations many times. Usually the worst part is getting someone to even admit they have an item. Often they don't ever sell, but often they do .

 

[rodbilyeu]

Thank you for this post My dad has one just like yours ive been looking for info on but had trouble putting a pic on post his is also in perfect condition finish and fires great S/n 933xx saids 1880 on top of barrel

 

[glowe]

Thank you for this post My dad has one just like yours ive been looking for info on but had trouble putting a pic on post his is also in perfect condition finish and fires great S/n 933xx saids 1880 on top of barrel

You are describing a 38 Double Action, 2nd Model, maybe shipped in the early 1880s. The 38 DAs were probably the most difficult revolvers to estimate shipping dates, since they are all over the place. One example with lower serial number than yours shipped in 1920. Only accurate way to date would be to request a factory letter.