I would say it was a real gun. Over the years I have seen several old guns that were unearthed, and their condition was very similar to what you have there.
Plowed up relic. Real or toy?
- Thread starter ron 57
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Murdock
Member
Cool thread so far. It will be interesting to see what lies under the corrosion after acetone/transmission fluid soak.
One of my favorite tourist stes in Cody, WY is one that has a display of dug up and found firearms. One was a sharps rifle somebody found leaning up against a tree in the mountains that had likely been there for decades, and another was a revolver found in an arroyo that still had a couple of loaded chambers. The museum displays depicted the weapons behind glass in settings representing how they were found. Really neat.
One of my favorite tourist stes in Cody, WY is one that has a display of dug up and found firearms. One was a sharps rifle somebody found leaning up against a tree in the mountains that had likely been there for decades, and another was a revolver found in an arroyo that still had a couple of loaded chambers. The museum displays depicted the weapons behind glass in settings representing how they were found. Really neat.
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I think the notch....
In the bottom of the handle frame was for the leaf spring. I'll bet it's real.
PS: Don't fire it until you get a gunsmith to check it out.
In the bottom of the handle frame was for the leaf spring. I'll bet it's real.
PS: Don't fire it until you get a gunsmith to check it out.
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Looks to me very much like the .38 or .32 S&W Secret Service Special.
They were not made for the Secret Service to protect the president.
That was just a sexy name chosen by the manufacturer for marketing.
Neither were they made by S&W. The S&W mark on the barrel was
supposedly just to indicate the caliber, but again it didn't hurt the
marketing. Manufacturer was the Meriden Firearms Co, which I believe
was a division of Sears & Roebuck. Some of my information is from an
"I have this old gun ...." article by Jim Supica
They were not made for the Secret Service to protect the president.
That was just a sexy name chosen by the manufacturer for marketing.
Neither were they made by S&W. The S&W mark on the barrel was
supposedly just to indicate the caliber, but again it didn't hurt the
marketing. Manufacturer was the Meriden Firearms Co, which I believe
was a division of Sears & Roebuck. Some of my information is from an
"I have this old gun ...." article by Jim Supica
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It's real alright. Looks like the one clean screw is an aftermarket addition. I suspect that the piece is price-less.
Echo40
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I really hope that the TC takes folks advice and gives it a good soaking/cleaning then follows up with some "after" pics, as I'm really interested in seeing what lurks beneath all that rust/corrosion.
This thread reminded me of how once in my youth I found a oddly shaped thing in the creek outside of my family's cottage. It was like a big clump of dirt and leaves that had hardened around something. So I chipped away at it until I discovered that under all of those layers it was a hammer head, rusted from being submerged in water for who knows how long, but still very much intact, preserved by all the mud and leaves that had been caked over it for so long.
I'm curious how well that Revolver might be cleaned up.
This thread reminded me of how once in my youth I found a oddly shaped thing in the creek outside of my family's cottage. It was like a big clump of dirt and leaves that had hardened around something. So I chipped away at it until I discovered that under all of those layers it was a hammer head, rusted from being submerged in water for who knows how long, but still very much intact, preserved by all the mud and leaves that had been caked over it for so long.
I'm curious how well that Revolver might be cleaned up.
After a month's oil soak (and replacing that screw from Gun Parts AKA Numrich Arms), any remaining problems should buff out. Refinish with touch-up blue.
singlesix
US Veteran
But can you use plus p
Kid Shileen
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Looks real to me. That should buff right out.
mckenney99
Member
If he removes all of the caked on grime then he'll have a true "BARE" gun.
It'll buff out!
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jag312
Member
Save it for a gun buy back.
hit it with a couple coats of Ren Wax using a microfiber cloth and head for the range or...................
..........soak the daylights out of it in ATF/acetone and see what you uncover!
I'd avoid using Flitz, you might scratch it.
Be sure to report back with pics!!!
Great Find!!!
..........soak the daylights out of it in ATF/acetone and see what you uncover!
I'd avoid using Flitz, you might scratch it.
Be sure to report back with pics!!!
Great Find!!!
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^^^what he said. Somebody years ago ditched a hot piece, IMO.
Kaaskop49
Shield #5103
OP
Thanks to everyone for their thoughts on this gun. I believe it to be a real top break and the wisdom here seems to agree.
I may stick it in the parts washer for a couple of months but I don't think it will change much, it's just too far gone. I don't remember just what it looked like when found other than it was very rusty. Obviously corrosion has continued for fifty some years.
The property were it was found had been purchased in 1960 and the gun had likely been buried for many years before that.
I do believe the proximity to the old road played a part in where it was found. Local lore has it that some of Dillinger's gang cased a state bank in a town about six miles down that road. If I could just make that connection, Gunbroker, here I come!
I may stick it in the parts washer for a couple of months but I don't think it will change much, it's just too far gone. I don't remember just what it looked like when found other than it was very rusty. Obviously corrosion has continued for fifty some years.
The property were it was found had been purchased in 1960 and the gun had likely been buried for many years before that.
I do believe the proximity to the old road played a part in where it was found. Local lore has it that some of Dillinger's gang cased a state bank in a town about six miles down that road. If I could just make that connection, Gunbroker, here I come!
hivel37
US Veteran
The last time it broke, the owner gave it a fling.
Now its yours.
Now its yours.
dasnake
Member
For me.
I can't do pics, but I looked up forehand wadsworth hammerless, it looks a lot like this, if someone else could look it up and compare.My best bet.
Chicago arms.
BigBill
Absent Comrade
H&R or Iver Johnson top break in 32 or 38? Probably late 1800's. The 32 short was very popular back then.
There was many manufacturers of top break revolvers l
There was many manufacturers of top break revolvers l
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A genuine relic. I would not try to take any of that...patina off it. It earned every bit of it.
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