I don't know too much about these things. This one is serial number 11296. Its in really nice shape for it's age and very tight. The bore and chambers look perfect and its as tight as new as far as I can tell.
The serial number is also stamped inside one of the grips. An assembly number of 555 is on the cylinder, barrel and frame.
I paid $350 for it which seems about in line when referencing my SCSW second edition (10 year old values). I'd like to know what the experts here can tell me about the value of this gun. Here's lots of pictures.
Thanks!

Very nice gun. I think you got a real bargin.
Bob Ray 1815

did you buy it from a gun site or a gun show? nice gun and I would be looking for a similar gun in the near future.
Nick

Actually it was up the road at my local gun shop. He just got it in and was about to list in on Gunbroker. I can't decide whether I want to keep it or not. Nice old gun but you can't get .32 rimfire ammo anymore. Not that I would shoot it much if you could. But I like to fire everything I own at least once

I think you did well-it has a lot of appeal.The only thing that catches my eye is the light,uneven butt number.I'm certainly no expert on antiques-would that suggest a refinish to the others here?

I was wondering about that too. The number on the butt is very faint.
Did S&W polish these before or after they were stamped?

You did just fine for the price. By the way the rest of the markings look, I'd guess it was used as a tack hammer more than refinished.

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Pace

Does anyone have a rough date of manufacture for this gun?
Would it be a worthy investment to have it lettered by Roy Jinks?

Near as I can interpolate from SCSW 3rd, looks like about
26,00 made, 1865-1868, which should put yours at early
'66. You know I have no experience here, just wanted to
comment on your new find.
TACC1

very nice....if you decide to sell...let me know!

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

What is the barrel legnth? The four-inch is rather scarce. Mike #283

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Mike Maher #283

Looks very nice! I have to agree with Pace. I think the wear on the butt serial numbers are from something other than polishing. Maybe those numbers were light to begin with. Seems as though if it were from polishing, all the numbers would be faint. At $350 I think you did really well!

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Misty

Nope not the scarce 4 inch. It's the common 3 1/2"

Nice little 32, great find and a very good price. Here is my take on it The butt wear seams like one of the grips may have been replaced and somebody had them on the gun and sanded it to fit while on the gun. The grain and tone looks different from the back side of the grips and the left one looks like somebody epoxied the old hole and drilled a new one to match. Not really a problem for me. I would gladly take it off your hands. When these have led a hard life the hinge usually has damage like my Old army I put up on here. Yours is about as good as it gets!

I really don't think it has been. It's a little hard to tell from these pictures (I need a better digi camera). Here's a couple more photos though.
I see no evidence of any epoxy. It's just a little shiny near the hole because of some high points on the frame. Also the blue wear looks totally consistant all away around the gripframe, with heavier wear as can be expected on the back of the grip frame.

Sorry these pics aren't much better:




Notice here how the woodgrain/saw cuts seems to match really well:

Okay this question is probably going to make everyone here shout "NOOOOO!!" But I have to ask.
How hard would it be to have a good gunsmith sleeve this thing to fire .22LR? Just asking
I think I saw one here once that someone had done that too. It would be a really fun gun in .22

There are listings for .32 Rimfire Catridges on Gunbroker..

One more picture. I can't resist:

How safe is it to fire these smokeless rimfire cartridges in these blackpowder guns? I mean if it was just a cylinder or two full.

Didn't Navy Arms (NJ) once sell boxes of new manufacture .32 RF ammo? I have a box of it someplace.

C/

Can Roy Jinks letter guns this far back?

twaits, I have that gun also, and have found plenty of .32 rimfire for it.
If your's is as tight as you say it is, and the barrel in good condition, I wouldn't hesitate to shoot it once in awhile.

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S&WCA #2018

Another option for .32 rimfire shooters:

Dixie Gun Works muzzleloading, blackpowder and rare antique gun supplies.

i don't know of any reason he can't

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

I was told when I bought mine that Roy could letter it. I haven't tried yet though.
I also have some vintage .32 rf long and shorts. If you'd like to try a cylinder full, I would be willing to help you out. No charge. A lot cheaper than buying a whole box! Just PM me if you're interested.

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Misty

What's the difference between the Model 1 and Model 1 1/2? I am new to understanding pre-1900 Smiths.

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Aaron Terry

A model One is a .22 RF Short. A model One and Half is a .32 RF, quite a bit more powerful at the time, and introduced just after the Civil War. The 1 1/2 was actually introduced after the number Two was. Some Number Two's were used in the Civil War. It was named the 1 1/2 as it was smaller than the Number Two.

This is a Number One, 2nd issue.


This is a Number One and a Half, 2nd Issue.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I got a Jinks letter for the attached 1-1/2 about two years ago. Note the barrel length. Found this in the back of a bank safe about 20 years ago.

That's the rare 4 inch right?

Correct-a-mundo on four inch. It's authenticated as a 1-1/2 First Issue, shipped from the factory in 1867 to their New York sole agent, J.W. Storrs.

I showed the pistol to Roy Jinks several years ago just after he retired from S&W. He was visiting the guys in the Repair Center around Xmas time and I was there buying parts. He offered me over $200 at that time. I thanked him, took it home and put it back in the vault.

It's in pretty good condition. Some bluing issues and there is some wiggle at the barrel/receiver junction.

BTW, Roy Jinks book, 125 Years With Smith & Wesson, is a very good resource for information on S&W history. My copy was included when I bought the 125th Anniversary model of the Model 25 along with the coin and presentation box.

Here's a few more pictures with some ammo Misty sent me. Got some good gun karma going around I think when I sent a pair of Ajax grips to Wyatt Burp for his .44 HE. Now another kind member has sent me some ammo. Thanks Misty!!

Judging by the condition of this one that got sold at the Poulin auction this year for over $400 I think I did pretty well. Especially considering that most of the guns that were sold at the Poulin auction were incredibly good deals. The finish is much better on mine although the varnish on my grips is completely absent:


Poulin Antique Company

Here's my range results. 5 shots at about 10 yards offhand. My point of aim was the number "5" which I cut off in this picture. It was just on the bottom in the stomach area of the silouette. Not too bad considering how dinky the little sights are and how shaky I was from my 3rd cup of coffee
The little .32 shorts were smokeless and had a surprising amount of snap to them. The bullets were given to me courtesy of Misty. Thanks Misty!

You're welcome! Glad I could help. Just goes to show how long of a shelf life ammo has!

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Misty