Help Identifying

[thehuntinggame]

EDIT: I think this is an antique topic so I should have probably posted it there.

A co-worker saw that I found out about my grandmothers S&W and decided to bring his in today to see if you guys could help. This is a beautiful gun too. Any info you guys can give would be appreciated. He doesn't know too much about it, if anything. He's just kept it in a safe for quite some time.
Said to be a 32 or 38 S&W

 

[Jim Watson]

It's a .38 Double Action. Somebody will be along to look up its age.
It looks pretty but has been replated.
The trigger stuck in the rear position and the missing front trigger guard pin are not good signs.

 

[John in AK]

As the example you show was built long before 1896, you're in the wrong forum, but that's OK--somebody'll move it shortly.

What you have, there, is a .38 Double Action Third Model, made roughly between 1884 and 1885; Somebody else will be able to come closer, I'm sure.

I notice a few things about it, though; It's refinished, although not too badly; The grips are probably original, due to the amount of wear. It's been reassembled incorrectly, as the hollow 'nut' (joint pivot) and its screw for the barrel hinge are reversed. There's something wrong with the internal bits--a broken part, a missing part, a misassembled part--as the trigger is in the rearmost position, but should be fully forward. As the pin for the cylinder stop (the tiny one forwardmost on the lower frame) is missing, or so it appears, that may account for the trigger malfunction.

It needs help. The little guy has virtually no collector value, and in its present shape isn't likely to be capable of safe firing, if it would fire at all; If repaired, it could be a fun shooter.

 

[cgt4570]

It's a family piece, so it's your call, but it will likely cost more to get it working that it's worth.
If any internal parts are missing or broken, they aren't easy to find.
It also looks like the thumb latch is either so dirty that it's sticking in the up position, or it's missing its spring and cam bar.
I have more than a dozen various early .38 top breaks. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot any of them sparingly. Mine are all in mechanically fine or better condition, though.
Good luck!