44 cal Top Break

[Carmoney]

My experience with Dave Chicoine was mixed. He was very polite and friendly, which is rare in a gunsmith! However, when I consulted with him about fixing the endshake problem with my DA .44, he seemed a little confused. The gun clearly needed the cylinder to be shimmed slightly rearward, and I suggested that installing an endshake bearing (similar to the Ron Power bearings we often use in modern S&W revolvers) would be a simple and effective fix. Dave insisted this would not work. I was certain I was correct, so I cut a custom bearing from a feeler gauge and popped it in the gun. This resolved the endshake issue, and the gun has been functioning perfectly ever since.

 

[Swiftmotoring]

Again, thanks to everyone for your insight and answers to my questions. Is it possible to identify the successors to my gun through the years? This gun has really piqued my interest in Smith & Wesson and would like to add a couple affordable stablemates to my Top Break. Any suggestions?
Marvin

 

[rboineau]

Free up a few bucks and buy either the old Jinks book on S&W or the encyclopaedic Supica and Nahas "Standard Catalog" which is a more of a value guide than history but still very worthwhile and informative.

 

[Swiftmotoring]

The Jinks Letter arrived today! It confirms my revolver is a .44 Winchester Double Action Frontier which is now known as a 44-40. The gun was shipped August 8, 1890 and delivered to E.K. Tryon Co. in Philadelphia Pa. Most importantly, the letter confirms the gun is all original as it was shipped with a 5 inch barrel, nickel finish and checkered black hard rubber grips and the as delivered price was $13.75 in 1890! Not sure what that equals in todays dollars? Next up is to make it safe to shoot and then decide to make it perfect or leave it as is. Great gun, great decisions to make!
Marvin

 

[warwal]

.44-40 Frontier

Thanks for your post. I helped out a new couple expecting a baby a few years ago. Knowing that "I like old guns" they gave me this. It was locked up and frozen. Some oil and patience yielded an opening, working revolver. It has a 5" barrel, maybe a once nickel finish, with a serial number 2940. Perhaps I will send off for a letter and consider a restore/refinish for this pistol. Keep us posted on your progress.

 

[nsauceman]

I have one like this except it has the military lanyard at the bottom of the grip. The serial number for it is "6". Not in great shape. I need a set of grips for it and to polish it up. Would like to find what it is worth and exactly what it is.

 

[glowe]

Welcome to the Forum. This type of request should be posted as a new thread, since not many members will notice your request. The answer with the information provided is fro $500 to $5000. Value is all about condition. There is a huge difference between value of a 90% and a 95% gun.

We need photographs, serial numbers from the bottom of the butt, back of the cylinder, and under the latch. This would be a very low S&W serial number and it is even possible that you have a European copy, so please provide more information.