Identification help needed

[popman]

Handed to me from a family member. Would appreciate whatever info I could get from this forum including possible value if it has any. S&W the serial number says 106xx. I am thinking early 1900 but not rally sure, it has a 3 inch barrel. Not sure of the caliber but guessing 32. Fyi it is a double action..just pull the trigger.

Thank you in advance

 

[glowe]

Welcome to the Forum. You have a 32 Double Action, Second Model made from 1880 to 1882. There were about 22,000 of this model made, with a total production of all 32 DAs totaling over 300,000. Your revolver would have shipped most likely the end of 1880 of early 1881. The pearl stocks could be original and if you carefully remoce them, look for a penciled serial number on the right stock.

The question I have with this gun is whether the barrel is original to the gun? This model was introduced with a patent change that occured in 1880. Your barrel does not have the 1880 patent date, but checking my Second Model, it does have the 1880 date. The top stampings are identical to a 32 Single Action spur trigger and it is possible that the gun is not matching. The serial numbers for the barrel are between the ears of the latch frame behind the top latch. You will need a magnifying glass to look for the numbers that are stamped on both sides of the top latch. There is also a serial number on the bottom of the latch and on the rear of the cylinder. The cylinder appears to be proper for the DA.

It is hard to value these by a few pictures, but if the gun matches, it would be worth $200-$250 and if it does not, it would be maybe $150.

 

[DWalt]

I notice there must be many Australians posting pictures here.

 

[opoefc]

I suspect the barrel is a replacement, because as said above, it's .32 SA barrel.

Australian ? Popman is from Missouri.

Ed

 

[popman]

Thank you glowe for the informative response. I will get back to the thread if you think I need to look further. Not too sure what the Australian thing has to do with my post but I have never been there.

 

[Dosgatos]

I own 32 DA #174930, a 4th Model dating from 6/93 (per Roy). This gun has a SA barrel identical to the one in this post. Interestingly enough, the barrel carries the gun's serial number between the left ears, and the the number of #90132 between the right ears. I suspect this must have been a barrel left over from late 32 SA production, which the factory simply re-numbered and used up. It would be interesting to know if the barrel in this post also has two serial numbers.

 

[glowe]

Thank you glowe for the informative response. I will get back to the thread if you think I need to look further. Not too sure what the Australian thing has to do with my post but I have never been there.

Due to Peter's post, it would be great if you check the serial number on the barrel and latch. S&W used lots of spare parts up at every model change, but your number is 10,000 into production and I would think they would have enough DA barrels by that time?? Besides, the 32 SA was in production until 1892, so why would they use different barrels than those manufactured for the 32 DA? Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[merl67]

Glowe just for you

 

[DWalt]

Everything is upside-down in Australia. I have to explain that?

 

[deadin]

I have a junker 2nd Model (ser #3113) and it has the same markings (with a matching barrel). The 1880 dates were only on the late issue models. I have no idea where early became late as to serial number.
I also believe that the late one's with the 1880 dates did not have the reissue 7/25/71 date.
The SA pat. dates included a 2/20/77 date that the OP's doesn't have so it's probably not a SA barrel.

 

[johnnet]

I think you'll find everything is actually upside down in America.

Cheers from the Antipodes.

 

[glowe]

The 1880 dates were only on the late issue models. I have no idea where early became late as to serial number.

Thanks for the added comments. The OPs gun is a Second Model that was not introduced until 1880, and that 32 DA is probably late 1880 or 1881. I understand that there is the possibility that the older barrels were still available into the production of the Second Model and the factory would have certainly used them. BTW, my Second Model does have the July 25, 1871 patent date, but without the "REISSUE".

If the OP will verify his barrel serial number, that may help in gauging how long the older barrels were used.

 

[popman]

I checked under the little lever that breaks the pistol open to load and on the end of the cylinder s also a number and both those numbers match the number on the bottom of the grip in the picture I sent. I also took off the pearl stock and there is something written but I cant make all of it out or can tell which way is right side up. A clue to that would help some. Is there another place I need to look for more verification?

 

[Dosgatos]

I checked under the little lever that breaks the pistol open to load and on the end of the cylinder s also a number and both those numbers match the number on the bottom of the grip in the picture I sent. Is there another place I need to look for more verification?

This isn't really clear. Top-breaks have serial numbers in five locations: butt, cylinder, latch, barrel, and inside of right grip. The number on the butt & cylinder should match the number on the latch, along with the number stamped between the ears of the barrel.

 

[glowe]

Thanks for the confirmation that you almost have a matching gun, but as stated you need to get a strong light to check up under the barrel latch to look at the rear of the barrel top strap. One thing great about collecting is being able to keep learning something new about S&Ws every day.

 

[popman]

Okay I looked closer. Under the latch on the right side at the end of the barrel, kind of where the latch hinge is the same number. Those numbers are really small. The grip number I can barely make out but it seems to match as well. The first number is worn off but the rest appear to match as those seem to be hand written.

 

[popman]

I corrected the pictures. So you guys say this is about 1880 ish and possibly worth about $200 in the shape its in?

 

[glowe]

I corrected the pictures. So you guys say this is about 1880 ish and possibly worth about $200 in the shape its in?

Thanks for the information again. I would say that since you verified that the stocks are S&W, they would bring $150 by themselves. The matching revolver is probably $200.

If sold together, the gun with stocks would probably bring $300, but only a best guess.

 

[popman]

Glowe just for you

That is the gun!

 

[popman]

I was revisiting this post as I got distracted and never came back. My apologies!!
Was the exact age of this gun determined or just approximate even though the dates on the gun show 1870 ish dates and serial number is roughly mid 10k? I also wanted to thank you guys(a little late) for the information provided.

Thanks again