A Nice Baby Russian

[red9]

I recently acquired this .38SA First Model, s/n 15489. Per SCSW, the box alone is sufficiently scarce to rate mention as the first cardboard picture box. From the pictures I saw, I doubted the finish was original. Now, I believe the gun is almost unfired.

Bob

 

[BMur]

Survivor

It's amazing really how an antique firearm from 1876/1877 timeframe would survive in this condition. Beyond amazing.

In 1876 there was no electricity, no de-humidifiers, no central heating, no climate control.
The winters are what normally did the damage from extreme moisture and dampness. Especially when it snowed. Literally impossible to avoid exposure. "Unless" the absolute perfect conditions and/or storage was achieved somehow.
My mountain property gets so damp in the basement when it snows it's like a steam sauna. Keeping storage protected is very difficult!

Makes me wonder how this Baby Russian survived in this condition through those brutal winters in the pre-electric era. Must have been stored inside multiple layers of wooden boxes or crates and never opened!

Murph

 

[glowe]

Vary rare find, but is appears that someone has improperly polished the gun with an abrasive material as noted on the left side image.

 

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,

Vary rare find, but is appears that someone has improperly polished the gun with an abrasive material as noted on the left side image.

I don't think that is necessarily right. I see plenty of smudges
and finger prints which will disguise the quality of the finish. Also,
The reflective sheen has a bluish cast which indicates there is
some oil on the surface (Nickel normally has a yellow-ish sheen).
So, the streaks could just be in the oily coating and may wipe
away.

Cheers!
Webb

 

[RMFnLA]

Very nice!

The fine machine marks on the inside of the frame convinces me that is the original finish.

 

[glowe]

Oh, I did not say it was not original finish and am not discounting the rarity of 38 Single Action, 1st Model revolvers with that much finish remaining, as very few exist. I made a simple observation on the finish, but if the swirls are simply surface fingerprints, apply some Ren Wax and take some more pictures.

 

[Patbar]

The Nickel finish of S&W seems to stand time very well. Even my Baltimore Police Baby Russian as well as my 1 1/2 first model or my .32 SA still have more than 90 % of this finish.

 

[red9]

Better picture of the sideplate area.

Bob