I have recently obtained a, what I believe to be, old S&W 38 caliber top-break hammerless pistol and am attempting to find any information I can on it. To date I know it is very probably a version #4, or model 4, of this type pistol referred to as a "safety hammerless" pocket pistol. I have checked the serial number both on the butt of the pistol and the face of the cylinder and they match. Can anyone out there either give me some more info on this or at least point me in the right direction of determine age and place of manufacture?
38cal safety hammerless pistol
- Thread starter svenska
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I have recently obtained a, what I believe to be, old S&W 38 caliber top-break hammerless pistol and am attempting to find any information I can on it. To date I know it is very probably a version #4, or model 4, of this type pistol referred to as a "safety hammerless" pocket pistol. I have checked the serial number both on the butt of the pistol and the face of the cylinder and they match. Can anyone out there either give me some more info on this or at least point me in the right direction of determine age and place of manufacture?
Tijeras_Slim
Member
Post the serial number, or if you prefer do it in the format of 6874XX not giving it entirely.
The serial range of the 4th model was 116003 to ~220000 from 1898 to 1907. Fun little guns and if in good shape shootable with commercially available ammo.
A description or pictures would be great.
The serial range of the 4th model was 116003 to ~220000 from 1898 to 1907. Fun little guns and if in good shape shootable with commercially available ammo.
A description or pictures would be great.
Bullseye Smith
Member
Slim is right, can't tell you alot without a number, a PIC would be nice to. Befor I have a brain fart, WELCOME to the forum. If you need someone to post a photo for you, you can send it to me if you want. Later John
Bullseye Smith
Member
If it is a 38 S&W , it was made around 1890, it is a 3rd. model, with 203,700 made. You can e-mail me the photo's and I will post for you. Later John
cflier
Member
Hello Svenska,
If it is a S&W Safety Hammerless revolver than the serial number given would make it an early 5th model. It was probably shipped from Smith & Wessons Springfield Mass. factory around 1909 or 1910. With out obtaining a factory letter from Roy Jinks that is just an educated guess. The quickest way to tell the 4th model from the 5th model is to look at the front sight. The 4th model had a pinned front sight, the 5th model sight was cast with the barrel. Now that I have said that I also have to say that there were a few exceptions as they used up the older barrels intermittantly for some time after starting production of the new barrels. 5th model production is generally accepted as beginning at 220000 and running to a bit over 260000. I believe Bullseye missed the hammerless part of your post and is referring to the double action revolver in his answer to your question.
Mark
If it is a S&W Safety Hammerless revolver than the serial number given would make it an early 5th model. It was probably shipped from Smith & Wessons Springfield Mass. factory around 1909 or 1910. With out obtaining a factory letter from Roy Jinks that is just an educated guess. The quickest way to tell the 4th model from the 5th model is to look at the front sight. The 4th model had a pinned front sight, the 5th model sight was cast with the barrel. Now that I have said that I also have to say that there were a few exceptions as they used up the older barrels intermittantly for some time after starting production of the new barrels. 5th model production is generally accepted as beginning at 220000 and running to a bit over 260000. I believe Bullseye missed the hammerless part of your post and is referring to the double action revolver in his answer to your question.
Mark
Bullseye Smith
Member
Sure did look at the wrong part of my list, sorry about that. Later John
Bullseye Smith
Member
Here are Photo's of the gun
Thanks John for posting the pics. This is an interesting little pistol and the more I find out about it the more interesting it becomes.
Thanks also Mark for the additional info, by the way who is Mr. Jinks? and how would I get in touch with him to further verify the date and location of manufacture?
The father of a close friend is in the gun trading business and has already shown some interest in this piece. Do either of you have any "guess" as to what the value of something like this might be?
Thanks again for both your help and input.
Paul
Thanks also Mark for the additional info, by the way who is Mr. Jinks? and how would I get in touch with him to further verify the date and location of manufacture?
The father of a close friend is in the gun trading business and has already shown some interest in this piece. Do either of you have any "guess" as to what the value of something like this might be?
Thanks again for both your help and input.
Paul
spadesfalcon
Member
I have a pinned front sight with serial number 250930......
cflier
Member
Hello spades falcon,
It happened with 5th models often enough that it isn't terribly unusual. I have had two of them with pinned front sight, one with a serial number in the 249000 range.
cflier
It happened with 5th models often enough that it isn't terribly unusual. I have had two of them with pinned front sight, one with a serial number in the 249000 range.
cflier
