32 S&W top break

[TeddyBob]

A young man, friend of my son, approached me this evening and asked if I would look at an old gun he has, to see if I can repair it. I have not seen it yet, but he described it as a 32 cal, S&W 5 shot, top break revolver. I have looked in my S&W book and found it to be quite rare, .32 double action 1st model. My question is are there other guns of this configuration? He said it had stamped on it "Empire State Arms". Is that possibly the manufacturer, but he was sure it said Smith and Wesson on it. He is bringing it over this week. I'll update with more info when I see it

 

[TeddyBob]

A young man, friend of my son, approached me this evening and asked if I would look at an old gun he has, to see if I can repair it. I have not seen it yet, but he described it as a 32 cal, S&W 5 shot, top break revolver. I have looked in my S&W book and found it to be quite rare, .32 double action 1st model. My question is are there other guns of this configuration? He said it had stamped on it "Empire State Arms". Is that possibly the manufacturer, but he was sure it said Smith and Wesson on it. He is bringing it over this week. I'll update with more info when I see it

 

[Pistol Toter]

GOOGLED and found,
Iver Johnson maybe, see here:
http://www.gunsamerica.com/977002312/Guns-For-Sale/Gun-...IRE_STATE_ARMS_C.htm

and here:
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/When_did_Iver_Johnson_buy_Empire_State_Arms_Company

and yet here also:
http://www.e-gunparts.com/model.asp?idDept=430

 

[deadin]

Empire State Arms was a brand name sold by Sears & Roebuck. It was a copy of S&W and could have been made by a number of companies that specialized in knock off guns. Iver Johnson, Meridian to name a couple. It probably says "for S&W Cartridges" prominently on the barrel.
Not really worth much effort unless it is in mint condition and, even then, not a whole lot.

 

[Jellybean]

According to my old reference books Empire State was one of several names used by Meriden Firearms, Meriden, Conn. They were in business from about 1895 to 1915 and produced two basic models, both hinge action top break 5 shots in .32 or .38 cal. The difference was one was hammerless and the other had an exposed hammer.

While S&W did make models similar to this there were several companies at that time using the same pattern. Smith and Wesson may be on the gun but may be in reference to the caliber. Also some companies used the S&W name in a sentence to mis-lead the comsumer, but all of these I've seen were foreign copies.

 

[TeddyBob]

Thanks all for the input. I'll update you when I see the piece