1st visit to forum and have a few vintage handguns

[geo_aub]

Hello all...have enjoyed being a spectator and thought I would throw a couple of oldies out there for discussion...Smith & Wesson Springfield Mass Patd July 1 89 April 9 89 May 1 95 July 16 95 Aug 4 96 Dec 22 96 Oct 4 98 on top of barrel...38 S&W Special CTG on barrel also. 13576 on frame behind cylinder...17214 on bottom of grip...let's get a ballpark on this one and I will get the info on the "Model One" 32 that the barrell breaks over...also have another 32 long on a small frame that is an antique... geo

 

[DCWilson]

Welcome to the forum. If you have a digital camera and can post some photos here, we'd all love to see them.

The .38 must be a .38 Military & Police Model of 1899. About 20,000 of these were produced before the company began a series of engineering modifications in 1901. A revised model whose primary difference was a locking lug under the barrel to latch down the front the of ejector rod appeared in 1902.

Value will depend on condition. Functional but beat up is maybe $300, with almost unfired WAY above that. Most specimens of this model would price out between $300 and $600.

Again, pictures!

 

[sophie]

Welcome from Texas.

_____
James

 

[glowe]

13576 on frame behind cylinder...17214 on bottom of grip...

Welcome to the Forum. Your serial number is the one stamped on the bottom of the grip frame. I do not know what the other number is, but it could be a police, military, or security company stamping. Pictures would be a great help for proper identification. Take pictures of the numbers, overall pictures of the gun to show condition of the finish, pictures of the grips, and any unusual details.

BTW, your serial number should be stamped on the back of the cylinder and I am not sure about the 1899, but the number might be found under extractor rod on the barrel. You can check these numbers to make sure the parts all match.

 

[H Richard]

Welcome to the Forum! With that S/N it very well could be an 1899 1st Model M&P, and fairly late in the production, as they only made about 20,000 between 1899 and 1902. They are somewhat distinctive, with a straight taper barrel, and no front under-lug in front of the ejector rod, and with a round butt. It would look like this.

 

[glowe]

H Richard, I am uncertain where all the serial numbers are stamped on the 1899. Could you tell us if the guns had barrel serial numbers, or was it somewhere else on the frame?

 

[geo_aub]

Yes, that looks identical to ours...I will take some photos of the 38 and the two 32's and post. The 38 was my wife's grandmother's...the 32 that the barrel breaks over (S&W model one?) was her great grandmother's and the 32 long CTG small frame revolver was her grandfather's gun and has MADE IN USA MARCAS REGISTRADAS SMITH AND WESSON SPRINFIELD MASS stamped on the side just in front of and above the trigger guard, wood grips and a silver colored S&W emblem at the top of the grips. Serial number on bottom of grip is 603xxx

 

[Deacon KC]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[DCWilson]

The .32 you mentioned last was probably shipped around 1951-52. That serial number is a postwar number, but the small-frame S&Ws didn't get into serious production until about five or six years after WWII. The four-line "marcas registradas" block was not used before 1948.

The break open gun can be one of two types. If the hinge is on top and the barrel tips up when you open it, it is one of the earliest S&W revolver designs, either a Model 2 or Model 1 1/2. If the hinge point is on the bottom and the gun breaks open at the top, then it is a revolver from a later period -- say late 19th century through early 20th. In the absence of pictures, please tell us if the gun has an exposed hammer. If not, it is a .32 Safety Hammerless. If it does, it is either a .32 Single Action or a .32 Double Action, whose names are self explanatory.

 

[H Richard]

Yes, the 1899 does have the s/n on the underside of the barrel behind the extractor rod, as well as on the gun butt and the back of the cylinder. I'm pretty sure they are also on the back of the extractor and possibly on the crane, I didn't look. The one immediate distinction is the lack of the under-lug to hold the extractor rod. The 1899 1st Model M&P is the only Hand Ejector to not have one.

 

[geo_aub]

Wow...thanx 4 all the input...here some photos of the 38, which I am now convinced is the 1899. And the 32 rimfire?, which I am guessing is the model 1 1/2...the inscriptions on top of barrel "SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD MASS PAT APR 3 55 JULY 5 59 & NOV 21 65", bottom of frame grip ser# 105xxx. Barrel breaks up as shown in photos.
Some cool old revolvers with great family history as I now am discovering...I will take and post pics of the 32 long centerfire tomorrow.

Hope i got the photo URL correct...I can't see it on the posts...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/geo_aub/sets/72157629141871062/

 

[H Richard]

You have identified them correctly, a Mod 1899 1st Mod M&P, and a Mod 1 1/2 Rim Fire in 32 RF long. It would appear to be a 2nd Issue. Nice old S&W's. I would recommend a good cleaning, with just a good gun oil or CLP. Corrosion X is a good product, and leaving a fine coating on the guns will keep any rust away.