We found this in my fathers possessions when he passed. any and all information would be helpful.

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That looks like a No. 2 1st Model S/A .38. Manufactured in 1876 and 1877.
Nickname “Baby Russian”.
This one with extravagant engraving and pearl (edit: ivory) grips would be fairly rare. There were something like 25,000 made and the majority of them were not engraved and had black grips.

Cool gun.

I would say that one is worthy of a letter easily.

__________________
S&WHF #946
S&WCA #3824

LTDtwice,

I see that you are a new member of our forum, so, just to clarify what other members have said in response to your inquiry:

Based on the feedback others have posted regarding your father's gun, it appears that it may be enough of a rare/uncommon/early example that it would be worth spending $100 to have the S&W historians, look it up in the historical company records, and produce and send you a "letter of authenticity" that confirms the historical authenticity of this firearm that you have inherited.

For an early S&W firearm like this especially one that may have been only produced in very limited numbers, having this letter of authenticity will often enhance the value of the firearm far more than the $100 cost of obtaining the documentation from the S&W historians.

That is what Model19man means when he says this one is "worthy of a LETTER"

I'm sure that other expert members will chime in with more information.

Thank you for posting pictures of this revolver you inherited and welcome to the S&W forum.

__________________
Send lawyers, guns & money...

Not very many of this Model were factory engraved, however, this one hints of factory work. It's a crapshoot but if it letters as factory work, the value goes up. The ivory stocks look factory installed also. If you letter the revolver, be sure to include photos.

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Mike Maher #283

Just to make 100% sure it's not a Spanish copy, take a look at the inscription on top of the barrel. It should read like this (see attached picture).

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I would not worry about it being a copy. It is not.
The engraving and grips look like Dealer supplied embellishments to me. (New York style)
Conrats on a fine inheritance

I agree with iby. This revolver appears to be “New York” engraved by the dealer. And the hard rubber stocks would have been replaced at that time. Worth a letter, but, my guess it letters as nickel, hard rubber stocks, and no mention of engraving.

The photographs attached demonstrate how yours would originally have appeared, with its original box and some accessories, including the tool, which is often lost to time.

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IT does have that on the top of the barrel. thanks

As a note on the letter:

This is an heirloom and has inherent value to the OP as such. The letter will help tell a small part of the gun’s story. In my opinion it is well worth the letter regardless of whether the engraving and grips were factory or dealer. If anything, finding out where it was originally shipped to could be more valuable to the OP than it would normally to a collector. Could connect the gun to someone else in the family tree. Who knows!

I know most of you all would agree, but history is more interesting/important to most than just dollar value.

Letter it and keep us updated.

I have sent in to request the letter. Thank you all for giving me that lead and all the information so far.

We're all waiting with baited breath to hear the results of the letter, so please post them when you get it.
We LOVE this stuff!

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Send lawyers, guns & money...

I received my letter today on the gun It is a .38 Single Action First Model, five shot, spur trigger called the "Baby Russian" it was shipped from the Stockbridge Street factory to M W Robinson Co. on March 31 1877, they added the pearl grip and engraving. I am attaching a copy of the letter.

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Thanks for sharing! Have been waiting to see what would come of this. Is your family from NY?

...and the winner is mrcvs!

Nailed this one to a T in post #8.
Shipped to a large distributor in NY who had it engraved locally, re-nickeled, and ivory stocks added.

Even though the engraving and stocks aren't factory, they are still very well done.

As Incendiary noted, for many of us, the fact that it is a family heirloom makes it worth far more than it's monetary/collector value.

Thanks again for sharing both your inheritance and the info from the factory letter with all of us LTDtwice.

And again, welcome to the S&W Forum community.

__________________
Send lawyers, guns & money...

No I can trace back to this timeframe in Oklahoma

Did those dealers in NYC back in the day, have a box of pulled grips on the counter for sale? Like the junk boxes in the 60s and 70ss.

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

That’s a darn good question. What did happen to all those pulled stocks?

Hi There,


It is a good question but there is more to the story that hasn't
been told.

I have read about Wexel and DeGees, S&W distributors that sold
mainly to Mexico and elsewhere in the Central and South America.
There are Factory letters that show this distributor ordered some
revolvers without grips because they wished to do it themselves
(or have it done by a third party) with their own ivory and some-
times S&W accepted the removed grips back for a small credit.



Cheers!
Webb