Hi, new member here. I recently got passed down a S&W revolver and would like to get a bit more info on it. Any help much appreciated,

Thanks

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Welcome to the Forum. You appear to have what's left of a Model One, 3rd issue, made in the years just after the Civil war, that has suffered about every abusive event it could have encountered! Missing extractor rod replace by a brass rod, broken hammer tip, missing or broken cylinder stop, home made grip extension, severe rust pitting overall, etc. However, since it "was passed down" it now wears a "family heirloom" lable and becomes a family treasure! Mount it in a shadow box over the fire place mantle and tell the grandkids how Great GrandPappy held off a passel of maurading Redskins on the way out West with his trusty S&W seven shooter! Ed.

Welcome to the forum. That gun is called a Model No. 1, Third Issue. About 130,000 of these were made between 1868 and 1881.

A previous owner built up the relatively small birds-head grip with some kind of composite to make it better fit his hand. A serial number should be found on the butt under the composite, and that number could help date the gun within its production range. The hammer tip has broken off. That happened a lot to these early tip-up S&Ws with long, thin hammers. Often they fractured along a groove in the knurled tip, but sometimes they broke straight across.

These guns chambered an early .22 short cartridge that had a black powder charge.

If this gun is a family pass-down, it has far more historical value to you than monetary value. Because of the damage and modification I would have to rate this as no better than poor to fair condition. In the market it might bring $50 or so as a curiosity.

EDITED TO ADD: I see Ed got there first, and with more detail. That happens a lot around here.

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David Wilson

Thanks guys! I wasn't planning on selling her, and yes she's been beat to hell and back. When I was a kid it hung on the wall at my parents house and my father told me it was my great grandmothers carry piece! She actually ended up going to prison for bank robbery, escaping, and living out the rest of her life under an assumed name! Great story to tell the kids. Great Great Granny is not a good role model!!

Thanks for helping me out here. I looked all over and couldn't find a gun that looked like this one, now I know why!

Thanks again!

OD,
Please document the history as you know it. Write it down and do it NOW as often the family link is lost unexpectedly and your siblings, heirs or other relatives won't have a clue as to why anyone would want to save the old revolver. Mike #283

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Mike Maher #283

Will do. It's quite an interesting story. This will surely be passed down to my children. I'm having my neighbor build me a display case. Should be a nice looking piece. Thanks again.

Do you have any documentation or newsclippings of her bank robbing exploits?

I sure don't. I don't think that was a moment the family wanted to save proof of. She only saw her children once after she escaped. Not something they would have cared to document. I'd like to find more info myself.

If you know the town, or state and approximate time, check old newspapers accounts. If you even know her full name, birth date, or any facts about her, it's a start.
I'm searching myself for the back story of a gun I bought ( see gold S&W .32 Hammerless), engraved by S&W in 1901 to Florence Cantrell. It's not easy, but the more facts you know, the easier it is...it's all out there, you just have to find the right thread.
10/22.