Help Identifying .38/40 Winchester Top-Break

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Bosox2k7

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My Father just dug up this old gun his father bought in the 1950s while we were cleaning out the garage. I have been researching and it it is difficult to pin point the exact model as I am not savvy with guns, especially old ones.

It is a top-break .38 winchester ctg chambered for 38/40. The barrel is 6 1/2 in. and a 6 shot chamber. The gun is double action. I am not sure where to look for a serial number but there is the number "40" on the bottom of the stock and have been told by a gunsmith that it is probably the serial number. The latest pat. date on the barrel is 1880. As you can see from the pictures the stock seems to be in good condition but the nickel plating is very worn. Can someone help me to value the gun and guide me to the venue where I may be able to sell it?
 
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Holy He11, (pardon the expletive!). Not many of those around. I have the parts to build one and it's on my short list of stuff to send off to Mr. Chicoine. (an unnumbered, brand new frame, barrel and cylinder with all the parts). As to your gun, there were 276 produced between 1900-1910. And yours has target sights to boot!!! If it's in its original configuration (and not something someone assembled from parts years ago), then it's VERY collectible. This is one of the few items listed in Jim Supica's Standard Catalog of S&W, 3rd edition as: Too scarce to value. He lists one in standard configuration (non-target) and 40% condition as selling at auction in 2006 for $2,875. You definitely need to invest the $50 for a factory letter. If your gun is as it appears, it could be worth substantially more (even with the finish issues!).
 
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38-40

A very rare beast. Can I come over and help you clean out your garage? Congradulations on finding a true collectable, a letter from Mr. Jinks is deffinately a must do. It looks to be in very good condition. Enjoy.
 
Wow.
That gun looks right as rain to me. Check the back of cyl, bottom of barrel latch, and barrel INSIDE the latch cut for that number 40.
I bet they are there.
Then, GET the LETTER. Play it slow........
 
Thank you all for your help. I found the 40 on the back of cyl, but the latch and inside of cut is a bit worn to see any marking. Can someone point me in the direction on how to go about getting a factory letter?
 
If this gun will letter as a Target Model .38-40 ( .38 Winchester) Double Action, it's worth well into 5 figures. Highest price would probably be obtained by either GunBroker, or other internet auction site, or a large auction house, like Little John Gangle's or Amoskeag. You may have found the Mona Lisa of S&Ws Model 3 Double Actions in your garage! Ed.
 
It's funny that 3 local gunsmiths have said that even though it is the Target .38-40 Winchester that I would be lucky to get $1000.00 these days
 
Not surprising. Gunsmiths seldom read S&W books, or watch the auctions. That's why you can often find guns for sale in their shops at a fraction of their value. One of our moderators supported himself for sometime, picking guns out of the inventory of several local gunshots where he lived and reselling them on Gunbroker. Somebody tipped off the owner of the largest store that guns from his shop were bring high prices on the internet and the store owner ( a gunsmith) banned our moderator from his store for life! If you want to "get lucky" like your local gunsmiths are telling you, I'll give you the $1,000 for the gun! Good Luck, Ed.
 
here is a 38 win I found in one of those local gun stores that opoefc mentioned. If I remember right it cost 2K out the door after a year it sold for about double that, so either I didn't hold out long enough or uncle Ed is a little high on the 5 digit number.
And that was a real honey hole LGS that banned me. Somebody from this forum ratted me out :( they printed pictures of my sales ads and showed it to the owners. Oh well such is life.

Dan

20100604_1-2.jpg
 
Dan, I've never seen, or heard of a .38-40 DA TARGET model, that looks like it will letter as such. Even my Wesson Favorites only had service sights. If that guns letters as such, and I owned it, I know where I can get 5 figures easy, and it's not Murphy's Gun Shop!, Cheers! Ed.
 
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"I found the 40 on the back of cyl, but the latch and inside of cut is a bit worn to see any marking." I too would letter the revolver. It is possible that the rear Target Sight was added post factory and that is why it is apparently not serial numbered to the gun. However, it is known that the factory would pull a gun from inventory and configure it to the desires of the purchaser (Special Order) and the sight may not have the serial number either. Please get the letter and report back as a FACTORY installed Target Sight on a DA is rare.. on a .38 Winchester DA.. Whoo wee that's unheard of. Mike #283
 
Ahh Target..... I get it now. Duh

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2
 
How long do factory letters usually take to return? I sent away 12 days ago.
 
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You may have a long wait.
Roy is currently running about 8-10 weeks, but he will take 4-5 weeks off in the near future.
 
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