Found this at a flea market for $200. It is a S&W 38 Single Action 2nd Model Top-Break Revolver with a nickel finish, caliber .38 S&W 5-shot and the standard 3-1/4" barrel length. The most interesting thing about this gun is the serial number. It is 1463. That's right, a low four digit number. And all the numbers on this gun match.

Over half the nickel is gone. The bore has some rust and light pitting but it will clean up. Top-latch is tight, no play. Cylinder lock-up is excellent, very little if any play. The extractor housing is gummed up, won't always allow the extractor to retract. The gun just needs a good cleaning and oiling. It will make a nice decent shooter.

There were 108,255 of these guns made from c. 1877 - 1891 with a serial number range from 1 - 108,255. With mine being a low number it probably was made in 1877.

jsmith

Found this at a flea market for $200. It is a S&W 38 Single Action 2nd Model Top-Break Revolver with a nickel finish, caliber .38 S&W 5-shot and the standard 3-1/4" barrel length. The most interesting thing about this gun is the serial number. It is 1463. That's right, a low four digit number. And all the numbers on this gun match.

Over half the nickel is gone. The bore has some rust and light pitting but it will clean up. Top-latch is tight, no play. Cylinder lock-up is excellent, very little if any play. The extractor housing is gummed up, won't always allow the extractor to retract. The gun just needs a good cleaning and oiling. It will make a nice decent shooter.

There were 108,255 of these guns made from c. 1877 - 1891 with a serial number range from 1 - 108,255. With mine being a low number it probably was made in 1877.

jsmith

Congratulations. Think of the history!

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with a smile.

WoW!! Nice Find Enjoy!!!

Anyone know what one of these, in better shape than the one pictured, with a 456 serial # would be worth? Everything is original, etc.

Old thread, brought back...I owned one of these great little revolvers, which is the Second Model, along with a First Model, AKA a " Baby Russian" about 35 years ago. While I did occasionally shoot them with commercial .38 S&W ammo, they were made for black powder cartridges and shooting smokeless loads will, over time, beat the parts up and stress the gun. I just saw another second model .38 Single Action Top Break for sale at an online collectors's site for $450...I think that's pretty steep, but I'm still thinking about buying it. They are very nice little revolvers, and were pretty well used - most are in worn condition, at least as far as the finish and grips go - I believe they were carried a lot back in the 1870's - 1880's, and probably long after that.
I liked mine a lot and regret selling them.

mark

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Mark - there is no such thing as a baby Mexican. The first model was often called Baby Russian, or Model 2. The Mexican Model was another spur trigger 38 S&W SA. These were designed like the Model 1891 Third Model SA, except they had no trigger guard. These were numbered in the same range as the Third Model and about 2000 manufactured.

See previous post about smokeless ammo.

38 Single Action 2d Model

jsmith - these guns will function fine with today's manufactured ammunition as they were loaded very light Problem is that parts are hard to find and can break shooting either ammo, so it should not be a daily shooter.

Sorry I did mean a Baby Russian...I just do not want to damage these fine old guns. I think it's best to shoot them sparingly.
I am just amazed that these old guys are still working, and for me, anyway, I like to keep them that way.
The ones we have are all we are going to get.

mark

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Liberals made the USA