.38 Dbl Action 2nd Model?

[corky52]

Hello all, this is my first post in Antiques. A co worker has an old S&W Dbl Action top break that has been in her family and now she wants to sell it. Based on the serial number it is a second model .38 Dbl Action
3 1/4 " barrel in nickel with black grips. The serial number is 52xxx. All in all it looks to be in pretty decent shape for its age. I'm guessing 1882-1883? I don't know if I'd be interested, but it is neat, and I don't have one of these, and.........hmmmmm, anyway,

There is a box of Remington smokeless ammo with it. Wouldn't this pistol be black powder and not smokeless? There are 10 rounds missing from the box, so it must have been fired. I am trying to get her an approximate price to ask for the pistol. I know nothing about this era of S&W. I'd like to ask for some help in getting a value. Lockup is tight and there doesn't seem to be much, in any, end shake. I'm basing this on my newer S&W revolvers. I'm not sure you check these the same way. The rifling is strong with some very slight pitting in the barrel. Like I said, it seems to be in pretty good shape for its age.

Here are some quick photos I snapped. On the last one, I got creative with some period coins. (No the coins are not included) ;-)

Thanks, in advance, for any info on a value.

Charlie

 

[opoefc]

Charlie, These .38 DAs are commonly found, often in good mechanical condition, and will safely shoot modern made smokeless ammo, as factory ammo is not loaded to pressures unsafe for these older black powder guns. Value is not high. You will usually see them for sale at the bigger gun shows for $250 - $350 asking range in simlar condition to your friends revolver. I would encourage her to keep the gun due to it's family history, however that's her choice. Good Luck, Ed 315

 

[corky52]

Thanks for the info, Ed. Her elderly mom wants to sell it along with a bunch of other family stuff. I'm going to ask my friend if she can get some info from her mom about its history. If I recall it was her great grandfathers when he was working for the railroad here in the northern Shenandoah valley. I may buy it from her and put it together with the history I can get from her and maybe get a S&W letter for it. That way, if she wants it back for her family, she'll know where to find it. It's a neat piece of 19th century Americana. It can live in my safe with its much younger siblings. ;-)

Thanks, again, for the info.

V/R
Charlie

 

[bothellbob]

Charlie,
It would be a mitzvah to hold it in protective custody on the chance that a grandchild might come to be interested. While a S&W letter would be of value to a collector, even more valuable would be a letter of provenance from the elderly lady, explaining the gun's history in the family, and a picture of family members who owned the gun (and even better if they are holding it) will be a treasure in another 50 years.

During WWII my grandmother was widowed, her sons were in the service, and she sold her father-in-law's worthless old revolvers to help meet expenses. Those were the worthless old revolvers that he carried through the mining towns of 1860s-1890s Nevada and Colorado, then up to Nome for that goldrush. I don't even have a picture. If you can help avoid such a loss, you can hardly regret it.
-BothellBob

 

[Old 44 Guy]

I bought one like yours only with less nickle plating. Think about 1883 vintage. I've shot it & was surprized at the accuracy. Even with small sights & older eyes it shot where I held it. Best 90 bucks I ever spent.