Could use help identifying, Please

[Greg E]

I inherited two old S&W pistols, not looking to sell but would like to know what exactly they are and if possible a value.
The SN on the .32 with the wood grips is 35649 and the .22 with the pearl grips is 87469. Thanking you all in advance, Greg

 

[gmborkovic]

Not a pro on the Model 1 but have a few and like the ones you have.
Just gentle cleaning and preservation. I hear the gallop of the ole pros approaching. Nice guns. Mike

 

[mmaher94087]

Very nice specimens. The round butt with the pearl stocks is a nickel, Model 1, 3rd Issue, .22 black powder. The square butt revolver is a Model 1 1/2, .32 rimfire. Superb examples!

 

[Pisgah]

I am not qualified to offer even a guess on their value, but those are gorgeous pieces.

 

[first-model]

The .22 caliber Model 1 is a nice example of a third issue gun. I have one that's only a few hundred serial numbers away, and mine shipped in April of 1873 ... so that's as reasonable of an estimation as we can make of when yours shipped from the factory.

I note that the side plate and the screws on your gun appear to be unmolested, which is difficult to find on a gun of this age. Especially so for the barrel hinge screw; those seem to be chronically buggered up.

The mother of pearl grips were almost certainly added by the distributor, who by this point was Marcus Robinson in New York City. Robinson had taken over Joseph Storrs' distributorship a few years prior, which at this point was still Smith & Wesson's sole sales agent.

Please resist the urge to do anything with this gun, other than to keep it coated with a *very* light bit of machine oil. Best thing to do here is to take an old T-shirt, put a bit of machine oil on it, and then rub the gun with this.

In terms of value: It's a nice gun, but it's not perfect; I see some corrosion on it. For a third issue in this condition I'd expect to pay somewhere in the neighborhood of $400 to $500.

Altogether, a nice little gun. I have a lot of third issue Model 1's, but only one or two in better condition than this.

Mike

 

[glowe]

Why do you state the mother-of pearl stocks are not original? The factory offered both MOP and ivory on this model, and the shape, thickness, and quality look like they should be factory. Unfortunately, both revolvers are low on the list of have-to-have collectible S&Ws.

They made a lot of Model 1, 3rd Issue revolvers and many survived - 131,163 made. They are no longer considered a firearm worth shooting by many, even though CCI makes a 22 CB Cap cartridge that works fine in this little revolver. I will venture a guess of $500+. It would have shipped 1872 or 1873.

The Model 1 1/2, 1st Issue is also a very nice revolver, but ammunition for this model has not been commercially available since the 1990s. There were only 26,300 made, but they never were in high demand by collectors. I have a special order full plate nickel gun in fine condition, but only value it at $400. These may go up to $600 depending on where they are auctioned and how many bidders want one. The serial number is in the 15,XXX range, not the 35,XXX range and would have left the factory most likely in 1866. Mine was 18,XXX and shipped in 1867.

 

[first-model]

Why do you state the mother-of pearl stocks are not original? The factory offered both MOP and ivory on this model, and the shape, thickness, and quality look like they should be factory. Unfortunately, both revolvers are low on the list of have-to-have collectible S&Ws.

It's supposition on my part (which is why I qualified my guess), but the vast majority of Model 1's that I've seen that have MOP grips on them letter as having had wood grips when they left the factory. Which means that they were added after-the-fact. On reflection, I can think of only one non-engraved Model 1 that I've seen that lettered as having come from the factory with MOP grips.

Of course, it's possible that it came from the factory that way, but the probability is very low. The only way to know for sure is to get a factory letter ... but at $100 for a letter, I don't know if it's worth that much to appease one's curiosity.

Mike

 

[glowe]

I have seen a few Model 1 revolvers that were obviously distributor applied MOP stocks, but this one has the look of factory. The fit on the OP's Model 1 is good, the thickness and fabrication exactly matches factory Rosewood stocks. There is actually a distinct line in the design of these stocks that is apparent on the images I show below.

You are absolutely correct that the only way to know for sure is a letter. but to me they seem to be just right.