THis gun belonged to my great grandfather. I really don't know much about the gun I'm not a big collector. I really don't have a use for it so I was looking to either sell it or trade it in on something. It is a smith and wesson 38 revolver. The only real "damage" I see to the gun is he engraved his intials into the side and there is a screw that is almost stripped out. I have never shot the gun and see no reason why it wouldn't. It is not all corroded or froze up. The hammer comes back and locks back, the trigger pulls and and the cylinder rotates for the next round. I am just looking to see if any of you guys can give me an estimated value on the gun. Other markings on it are CTGS (right after 38 smith and wesson stamped in the barrel). And 8231 (under side of the grip) not sure if thats the model or serial number
Any Value on This?
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It appears to be another brand of gun, perhaps an Iver Johnson or H & R? It may have stocks from an S & W. CTGS is the abbreviation for "cartridges".
Yes, there is plenty of value in that old piece. Others will be along shortly to give you a ballpark estimate.
That revolver is chambered for the .38 S&W cartridge, but it is not a Smith & Wesson. There were several American makers of top-break revolvers in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and there were also European copies that greatly resembled Smith & Wesson revolvers. Sometimes the resemblance was so close that the European guns can be considered counterfeits.
Iver Johnson? Harrington & Richardson? Spanish copy by one of the many independent gun makers from the Eibar region? I'm not sure, but somebody who knows the other gunmakers better than I do should be along to fill in the details.
Iver Johnson? Harrington & Richardson? Spanish copy by one of the many independent gun makers from the Eibar region? I'm not sure, but somebody who knows the other gunmakers better than I do should be along to fill in the details.
I do not believe the revolver was made by S&W. The shape of the trigger guard reminds me of Iver Johnson revelovers. The caliber marking on the barrel is a common feature on revolvers of many makes. Look on the top of the barrel for makers name and patent dates. You may need a magnifying glass. If the stamping on the barrel rib is worn the gun may have been refinished. Value is probably not high, less than 100$. Welcome to the forum and thanks for the pictures.
I looked at some photos and agree with gunfish that this is an IJ revolver. The hammer profile, trigger guard proportions and visible pins in the frame are consistent with some Iver Johnson models.
It looks to be in good shape. If you can give it a complete cleaning (which may require finding a replacement screw for the one that is damaged) it might be safe to shoot. You should let a gunsmith take a look at it to make sure of that. Or if you just want to enjoy it as a museum piece, you can work on the nickel with some flitz to clean up the surface and stop any rust and corrosion from spreading. It will make a fine heirloom or shadow box display.
It looks to be in good shape. If you can give it a complete cleaning (which may require finding a replacement screw for the one that is damaged) it might be safe to shoot. You should let a gunsmith take a look at it to make sure of that. Or if you just want to enjoy it as a museum piece, you can work on the nickel with some flitz to clean up the surface and stop any rust and corrosion from spreading. It will make a fine heirloom or shadow box display.
jaykellogg
Absent Comrade
Some of those old .38 S&W revolvers will chamber .38 special cartridges. I would not use anything other than .38 S&W or very light hand loads of .38 special wadcutter.
I agree if it is a family piece and is not worth more than $100, I would buy a shadow box and keep it for a display piece. I hate to see these old guns leave the families they have been with for years.
Some time ago I bought a S&W model 1½ from an acquaintence. He said it had been his uncle's gun and that his uncle had been a hired man on a farm. When he went to town on the weekend he would carry it. He assured me no one in the family wanted the gun. I told him that this was a very old gun when his uncle carried it. I got it dirt cheap and traded it for a silver pocket watch.
Something like you have might have to go through two or three pairs of hands before it ends up in a collection. There are auction sites you could look at. I glanced at one and I will say that longer barreled pistols like yours are rare there and I didn't see any with the bigger grips.
I agree if it is a family piece and is not worth more than $100, I would buy a shadow box and keep it for a display piece. I hate to see these old guns leave the families they have been with for years.
Some time ago I bought a S&W model 1½ from an acquaintence. He said it had been his uncle's gun and that his uncle had been a hired man on a farm. When he went to town on the weekend he would carry it. He assured me no one in the family wanted the gun. I told him that this was a very old gun when his uncle carried it. I got it dirt cheap and traded it for a silver pocket watch.
Something like you have might have to go through two or three pairs of hands before it ends up in a collection. There are auction sites you could look at. I glanced at one and I will say that longer barreled pistols like yours are rare there and I didn't see any with the bigger grips.
RightArm
Member
It was your great grandfather's gun. Why don't you hang on to it? Find out the info and display it. It would be a great conversation starter.
It's not an Iver Johnson, although it is remarkably similiar. The older model IJ breaktops only had two cross pins in the frame. The newer ones with positive cylinder stops had four pins: one at either end of the trigger guard, one as a trigger pivot and a very thin one just above the trigger that held in the cylinder bolt. This revolver lacks the thin pin. Also the 'approaches' for want of a better word, to the stop cuts in the cylinder, is about twice as long as those on the IJ.
Is it marked on the barrel rib? My guess is H&R or a Spanish copy.
Is it marked on the barrel rib? My guess is H&R or a Spanish copy.
feralmerril
Absent Comrade
No, the value to anyone else other than you wouldnt be much. Now if that gun had been my great grandfathers, I wouldnt think of selling it unless I was starveing to death or someone offered some unreasonable insane price squared, and that isnt going to happen.
I can't find much about Warner Arms Corporation. Formed 1912, acquired (Davis) 1917. It may have been a virtual manufacturer, supplying subcontracted firearms to companies that would market them under a store brand. Or maybe it had its own small factory. You can Google it to find out as much as I just learned . It won't take long.
I looked them up on Gunbroker. A description by one seller made me laugh:
We are selling what we believe is the largest single collection of Davis Warner Infallible pistol including all three series of the pistols. This pistol is widely regarded as the worst semi-auto pistol ever built. We are selling these as curiosity pieces, but as they are, or could be made to function they must be sold through an FFL or to a C&R holder. While these pistols may or may not be shootable, but we do not recommend firing these pistols. You must have this pistol check by a licensed competent gunsmith before any attempt is made to fire. Please do your research on this pistol before buying one as a shooter as they are not reliable. WE HAVE NOT TEST FIRED ANY OF THESE PISTOLS.
We are selling what we believe is the largest single collection of Davis Warner Infallible pistol including all three series of the pistols. This pistol is widely regarded as the worst semi-auto pistol ever built. We are selling these as curiosity pieces, but as they are, or could be made to function they must be sold through an FFL or to a C&R holder. While these pistols may or may not be shootable, but we do not recommend firing these pistols. You must have this pistol check by a licensed competent gunsmith before any attempt is made to fire. Please do your research on this pistol before buying one as a shooter as they are not reliable. WE HAVE NOT TEST FIRED ANY OF THESE PISTOLS.
