S&W 2nd Model 32 Safety DA Bicycle Revolver
- Thread starter ol777gunnerz
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John in AK
Member
That's gorgeous. Congratulations!
OP
ol777gunnerz
Member
Bicycle 32
What a great find! I need one of those. Bravo!
What a great find! I need one of those. Bravo!
I was watching that myself and if I hadn't just bought 2 pieces in the last week I would have chased it too.
Very nice piece, I believe you got it at a bargain and I believe it will letter correctly.
Congrats.
Robert
Very nice piece, I believe you got it at a bargain and I believe it will letter correctly.
Congrats.
Robert
Great Bicycle Gun! The only thing I can add is, if it is a 2nd Model, it would have gold medallion MOP, not plain. Most likely a distributor addition back when new.
Starting in the late 1890s, S&W went on a major initiative that differentiated distributor stocks from their own. So much that they added the gold medallion to let the customer know what they bought. Boxes and advertising well into the early 1900s, had stamping or labels with pictures to make sure the buyer knew what they were buying. Theory is that complaints about thin, ill-fitting, or poor quality stocks were coming back to the factory. The owners did not know that distributors were putting them on using inferior MOP material.
Bottom line is that the letter will likely come back stating the gun left the factory with black hard rubber stocks and went to a distributor. The slim chance is that we can apply the "never and always" criteria to anything S&W and even though very unlikely, but possible the factory used old inventory.
Starting in the late 1890s, S&W went on a major initiative that differentiated distributor stocks from their own. So much that they added the gold medallion to let the customer know what they bought. Boxes and advertising well into the early 1900s, had stamping or labels with pictures to make sure the buyer knew what they were buying. Theory is that complaints about thin, ill-fitting, or poor quality stocks were coming back to the factory. The owners did not know that distributors were putting them on using inferior MOP material.
Bottom line is that the letter will likely come back stating the gun left the factory with black hard rubber stocks and went to a distributor. The slim chance is that we can apply the "never and always" criteria to anything S&W and even though very unlikely, but possible the factory used old inventory.
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I thought the dead give away for a bike gun was the factory address on the left or right side of the barrel or on the top of the rib. Of course much smaller font and centered.
Hello Gary, thanks for pic. There was a member that posted a 2" with the address on the top of the rib and on to the top strap. With a letter. Did not save pics. Mike
I don't recall ever seeing a top rib stamping on a 2" that was documented as factory?? I have seen partial stamps from the cutting of a barrel. Also, the 3rd Model guns had a short one line address without patents, but would still be too long.
I have an image of three different styles of top rib stamps on 32 Safeties and the middle is a 3rd Model with only the address on a 3" barrel and forged front sight. There is no way that stamp would fit on a 2" gun. The Left is a 1st Model and the right is a 2nd Model.
I have an image of three different styles of top rib stamps on 32 Safeties and the middle is a 3rd Model with only the address on a 3" barrel and forged front sight. There is no way that stamp would fit on a 2" gun. The Left is a 1st Model and the right is a 2nd Model.
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mmaher94087
Member
From my observation of factory 2", .32, Safety Hammerless', the First Model had the barrel stampings on the right side. The second had the markings on the LEFT side of the barrel and the third had the address back on the right side.
Yes, there are examples of the roll mark on the top rib that extend on to the top strap. I believe opoefc had an early one with this configuration.
Yes, there are examples of the roll mark on the top rib that extend on to the top strap. I believe opoefc had an early one with this configuration.
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This is the 2nd Mod, stamping on the right side of the barrel. And, it did letter correctly.
That means all had stamping only on the right??? I think you meant the 2nd had stampings on the left?? The OP's gun is definitely legit and the stamping is clearly on the left.
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mmaher94087
Member
Dang!! YES, I meant the Left for the 2nd. I edited my post. Curiosity, H Richard, what serial number is on your 2nd? Is it an early example or a factory anomaly? Neat revolver either way.
opoefc does not own it any more. 32 Safety, 1st Model, letters as a 2" with very early shipping date.
B. Mower
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Giorgio Italy
Member
Based on the serial number it is a 3rd model and shipped sometime after 1910. Someone may be able to get a more accurate date based on their serial number data.
Nice, original, bicycle version.
