Any Information About This Revolver (posted by Pye)

[handejector]

My apology to the board-
While trying to edit Pye's original post to attach the pics, I accidentally deleted it permanently!

Sorry 'bout that!

Here is the original text, and the pics are now attached-

originally posted by Pye:
I just obtained this revolver, and I have no information about it. I have searched and found similar revolvers, but not the exact model. Any information, even basic information, would be great. The serial number reads 83857. Please click on the image box to take you to the image. Thank you

 

[Jim Watson]

Click on the square and the picture comes up in Dropbox for me.
You have a .32 Safety Hammerless, First Model, made sometime 1888-1902.
It appears to have been reblued.

Caliber is .32 S&W, sometimes called .32 S&W Short.
Do not, Not, NOT shoot .32 ACP in it.

 

[Absalom]

.
You have a .32 Safety Hammerless, First Model, made sometime 1888-1902.
It appears to have been reblued.
.

I thought re-blued too, initially, especially looking at the first photo, although on closer inspection I'm not so sure any more. I'm on the fence now. It could just be the weird artificial lighting. Look at the enlarged snip of the barrel stamping below. That does not look refinished to me.

The serial puts it toward the end of the date range; the First Model ended at 91417 in 1902.

 

[mrcvs]

No, definitely reblued. Among other things, the trigger is normally case-coloured, and this one has a blued trigger.

 

[deadin]

Click on the square

What square??

 

[Absalom]

No, definitely reblued. Among other things, the trigger is normally case-coloured, and this one has a blued trigger.

Don't be too sure. Again, I thought so at first. But it could be lighting again. Look at my enlarged snips. The trigger is distinctly differently colored, brownish not blue, than the frame.

I'm reserving judgment unless I see a better picture. A high-resolution photo taken in natural light without artifical light shining on the gun would clarify everything.

 

[mrcvs]

Well, it appears to me that in the photos of the trigger you provided, there is bluing on top of pitting on the frame, which strongly suggests a reblue. I do agree, however, that photographs in natural lighting are recommended.

 

[Pye]

Thank you everybody for the info. Here are a couple picture taken in natural lighting to hopefully help with the bluing debate. Also any ideas of value?

Thanks,
Pye

 

[mrcvs]

This appears to be a reblue to me, and the reblue is of poor quality. Note the dished out recess behind the screw that affixes the side plate. Due to the common nature of this revolver, and the fact that it is in relatively poor condition, the value would be limited.

 

[handejector]

The gun is definitely a reblue.

 

[Absalom]

A really old re-finish. Don't know whether I would call it re-BLUE. The colors are all over the map. The cylinder and trigger look browned, not blued. Usually, re-finished guns raise suspicions because they look too uniformly nice for their age; not a problem here, which misled me. Whatever was used for the re-finish may have decayed over time and led to the discoloration.

 

[murphydog]

If it is mechanically sound and not heavily pitted internally, probably $150 or so.

 

[DWalt]

Unfortunately, most top breaks in .32 S&W don't have much collector interest unless they are original, complete, and in exceptionally good cosmetic and mechanical condition - the proverbial "sock drawer" or "nightstand" guns which have been used rarely, if at all.

 

[glowe]

The hinge pin is installed wrong. The screw goes on the left side and the pin with its small alignment mark goes on the right. The mark on the pin will align with the mark on the frame. The finish on my Safeties have a high polish blue and this one looks more like satin bluing.

 

[mnrivrat]

Just to add my 2 cents and that is that it is a refinished gun. Trigger is blotchy brown which happens when you try to reblue a case hardened part. All other signs also point to a refinish.
Value if it mechanicaly sound is about $150 as mentioned. If it needs work then no more than around $100