32 Safety Hammerless

Checkman

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Won this in an auction ,back in June of this year (2019), for $175.00. A search on the serial number shows it being made in 1900. It's in pretty good condition for being 119 years old. We should all look so good at 119. I've always wanted an old Lemon Squeezer and when I realized that there was only two people bidding....well I couldn't let it go by without making a go for it. Most of my Smiths were made post-WWII but it still looks comfortable in my safe with the big fellas. Also picked up the Savage 1907 at the same auction for $125. Guess it was my day for antique pocket pistols.
 

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Remember that anything made after 1898 is not an antique. If the ship date on your hammerless is 1900, you have two "modern" firearms as classified by the BATF and are subject to any and all federal and state regulations for ownership and sales.

There were almost a quarter-million 32 Safety Hammerless revolvers made, so values remains low. Unfortunately, demand for the S&W Safety revolvers in either 32 S&W or 38 S&W remains low, as supported by the fact that only two were bidding on your gun. Today, a pristine near perfect 32 Safety will bring at best $300.

Having said that, the above comments are also reasons why there are many people collecting these pocket revolvers. They are affordable, one can find and own near new examples and there are several models, barrel lengths, finishes, etc. to collect. I only have a dozen or so, while other members here have many more. I only wish that every gun collector would own at least one little S&W and maybe value would climb.

Your 32 Safety is nice in what I would call Very Good condition, used but not abused. The "official" name is 32 Safety, 1st Model and almost 100,000 were made by 1902. Grab a box af ammo and get to the range. Just remember that this caliber is quite weak, so don't go shooting bowling pins and other hardwood targets, since the bullet has a tendency to bounce back at the shooter, something I found out at a very early age, shooting my grandfather's little 32 S&W hammerless.
 
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One of the trends I have seen over the years is that interest in (and prices of) the top breaks has increased. But you still do not need deep pockets to enjoys these examples of S&W quality. And often they shoot rather well. Enjoy.
 
Looks like you lucked into a couple of nice finds - both guns are considered classics today!

My Safety Hammerless left the factory in 1921, so it still has a couple of years to go to make 100. It's in 100% condition, and I couldn't pass it up when I encountered it at a gun show back in 2006. I think it was a "sock drawer" gun...

John

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Not quite "minty"

As the title says.....mine is "not quite minty" to say the least. Mechanically it appears very good with all parts intact and decent timing, crisp trigger pull. Even the original grips (hard rubber) are intact with no chips, cracks or dings.

Cosmetically..........a full blown disaster.

If any of you need a parts gun just PM me. Serial Number is 5195, so obviously a first year gun, but I have no clue as to when it shipped....not worth a LOA due to several other more worthy guns in line ahead of it.
 

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Ok,
I'll bite. I've seen serial number 1 guns, X' guns, no serial number, re-stamped numbers, lined out numbers, even numbers with letters.
But I admit, I've never seen a "ZERO" gun.

How exactly and why did this happen? I see the little star signifying it went back to the factory but why a "ZERO"?

No yarns please...…...My stomach..

Murph
 
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