Hi all. I imagine those of you on here who have all the knowledge get sick of newbie guys like me asking all the basic questions, probably same questions over and over. So I apologize in advance.
A number of years ago my grandpa showed me his pistol collection that I didn't know he had. One of the pistols was a top break revolver that to my uninformed mind looked kind of new and modern, since I've never owned or fired a revolver I didn't know at the time the features that should have hinted its age, plus it is in quite good shape.
After I knew where he kept it I'd often sneak down to look at it late at night and I soon noticed the writing on the top of the barrel said Smith & Wesson and the dates were from the 1800's. I asked my grandpa more about it and he couldn't remember how he got it, or what caliber it was except he remembered it was a "wierd" .44 caliber. My grandpa's gun collection is more what collected throughout his life for hunting and stuff. He is not a antique guy I don't think he probably ever even thought of this gun as an antique, just another pistol. At the time I was in college and did a little internet research and found .44 Russian listed for some guns that looked similar to my grandpas. I called him and he said "yes" that was it. As a christmas gift that year I ordered some .44 Russian ammo for him. He says he won't fire again, once the firing pin broke sounds like back in the 50's ro 60's he took it to get repaired and after it was fixed he never fired it again.
It is now many years later and I'm considering offering to purchase the gun from him. But I really don't know much about the gun and don't think he be comfortable with me taking it anywhere. And even if he was I wouldn't know where to go for help.
Other than taking some photos, which I plan to do next time I'm up there. What else shoudl I look for? It appears to be a double action gun becuase if you start to pull the trigger the hammer comes back on it's own (is that right?)
Other than the smith and wesson writing on top of the barrel and the patent dates. I don't see any other smith and wesson symbols or referencds to the gun's caliber or model. The grip has the circle where you would think the S&W symbol would be but it is simply smooth. It has wood grips and a dull blued finish. There is number on butt of the gun and if my memory servers me it is only 5 numbers long?
Anything else I should look for or ask my granpda next time to help me ID the gun? I will get some photos and post them. But I don't know when I'll get up there next. If it is too valuable I likely cannot afford to buy it from him.
What about appraisals? Are there local places to go? I tried googling for gun appraisals in my grandpa's area but got no results any advice on finding someone local that I can trust to help out? I'm afraid any old gun shop might give inaccurate guesses.
Thanks from the "newbie", Nate
A number of years ago my grandpa showed me his pistol collection that I didn't know he had. One of the pistols was a top break revolver that to my uninformed mind looked kind of new and modern, since I've never owned or fired a revolver I didn't know at the time the features that should have hinted its age, plus it is in quite good shape.
After I knew where he kept it I'd often sneak down to look at it late at night and I soon noticed the writing on the top of the barrel said Smith & Wesson and the dates were from the 1800's. I asked my grandpa more about it and he couldn't remember how he got it, or what caliber it was except he remembered it was a "wierd" .44 caliber. My grandpa's gun collection is more what collected throughout his life for hunting and stuff. He is not a antique guy I don't think he probably ever even thought of this gun as an antique, just another pistol. At the time I was in college and did a little internet research and found .44 Russian listed for some guns that looked similar to my grandpas. I called him and he said "yes" that was it. As a christmas gift that year I ordered some .44 Russian ammo for him. He says he won't fire again, once the firing pin broke sounds like back in the 50's ro 60's he took it to get repaired and after it was fixed he never fired it again.
It is now many years later and I'm considering offering to purchase the gun from him. But I really don't know much about the gun and don't think he be comfortable with me taking it anywhere. And even if he was I wouldn't know where to go for help.
Other than taking some photos, which I plan to do next time I'm up there. What else shoudl I look for? It appears to be a double action gun becuase if you start to pull the trigger the hammer comes back on it's own (is that right?)
Other than the smith and wesson writing on top of the barrel and the patent dates. I don't see any other smith and wesson symbols or referencds to the gun's caliber or model. The grip has the circle where you would think the S&W symbol would be but it is simply smooth. It has wood grips and a dull blued finish. There is number on butt of the gun and if my memory servers me it is only 5 numbers long?
Anything else I should look for or ask my granpda next time to help me ID the gun? I will get some photos and post them. But I don't know when I'll get up there next. If it is too valuable I likely cannot afford to buy it from him.
What about appraisals? Are there local places to go? I tried googling for gun appraisals in my grandpa's area but got no results any advice on finding someone local that I can trust to help out? I'm afraid any old gun shop might give inaccurate guesses.
Thanks from the "newbie", Nate
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