4th Model top Break??

[Drifter Mike]

Pick this up awhile back on impulse ( $100 ) and would like a little more info if you could. Lock up good and seems to be in time. I think it is a 4th model top break 38 S&W. Would it be safe with modern ammo, no reloads or it is just a black powder load only? Has a 5 inch barrel and was told target grips, one panel missing a piece. Would say it has about 20% blue with the rest gone patina. The bore looks real nice. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[opoefc]

Yes, it's a 4th model. .38S&W ammo. is safe to shoot in these older guns as it is loaded to safe pressures because of the 1,000s of these guns still around. That's assuming your gun is in safe mechanical condition. The Stocks are from a single shot target model and not original to your gun. If all other parts are original the serial number should match the butt number on the cylinder, barrel, and latch. Ed.

 

[Drifter Mike]

Any idea when it was made?

 

[DocB]

Actually a pretty nice gun. Those stocks will bring over $100 pretty easy. Epoxy will fill and repair what needs fixing. I have one that was made in 1908. It seems like these guns were all the rage right after the turn of the century.

 

[glowe]

Any idea when it was made?

S&Ws are dated by ship date and not manufacture date. Your revolver would have shipped around 1906 +/-, making it a "modern" firearm as defined by the BATF. Ed has some manufacturing dates for certain models, but even the BATF uses ship dates to define antique cut-off serial numbers for various models.

By 1906, the company had introduced the I frame and the K frame revolvers and top-breaks were quickly losing favor. One might sit in an inventory bin for years before getting shipped out.

I forgot to add that, in addition to the damage on the right stock, something does not seem right with those stocks. If unaltered, I see those selling for $200 quite regularly now. A few years ago, they were under $100, so prices are rising quickly. I think those have had a slot cut in the back of the stocks for some reason. If original, they would close at the top and wrap around the back of the frame. Given that issue, they would be worth only a fraction of original value.

 

[Drifter Mike]

Want to thank all for the response, as usual very helpful!