I finally got this one today. The box has the serial on the bottom in pencil. It even came with a letter from the second owner saying it was found in a field in North Detroit in the 1930's as is in the box. It was a definite bonus since the seller said nothing about it.
My new 38 Da
- Thread starter vytautus
- Start date
![DSCN5231[1].JPG](https://cdn.smith-wessonforum.com/attachments/21/21128-0dc7308bd2ff6e2e0a833edc21d18ce0.jpg?hash=QwS5TL9Up7)
![DSCN5234[1].JPG](https://cdn.smith-wessonforum.com/attachments/21/21129-da495b2bf9baa6ee3a3a86682d668b26.jpg?hash=M2XZk9stFL)
Register to hide this ad
alaskavett
US Veteran
That's pretty cool. I never found anything this nice in a field. Makes you wonder how it got there. Might have been dumped by the Detroit Purple Gang or perhaps it was put there in a attempt to rescue the yet to be missing Jimmy Hoffa? Have you got it to talk yet? Kyle
Yes this gun is a strange one, kind of like a time machine. There was a cleaning brush in the box and an old rag it looks like it may have some old blood stains on it. It may have something to do with the Purple gang since they stashed stuff in fields. The letter said they had it checked out in the 1950's by a cop. The only thing he came up with was that it was a DA 3rd model. So who knows what it would say but I love stuff with an infamous ganster history.
1880 Smith & Wesson 3.25" barrel .38 DA.5 shot, stamped on barrel is SMITH & WESSON,SPRINGFIELD.MASS,USA-PAT'D Jan 17 July 11 65 Aug 24 69 July 25 71 Dec 2 79 May 11 & 25 1880 Serial 75xxx
trying to find more info on it ?
1880 Smith & Wesson 3.25" barrel .38 DA.5 shot, stamped on barrel is SMITH & WESSON,SPRINGFIELD.MASS,USA-PAT'D Jan 17 July 11 65 Aug 24 69 July 25 71 Dec 2 79 May 11 & 25 1880 Serial 75xxx
Looking for more info for this rare rare . if you have any link to what you found = flowers to you - to help me also,,,
Attachments
Nice find. It looks to be in pretty nice condition still. Thanks for sharing.
I don't doubt that it could have been found in a field in it's original box but that hardly makes it an "imfamous gangster gun". It may have been stolen in it's original box and stashed or dumped in a field. But by the looks of the box, you can bet that it's wasn't in a field long. SE Michigan has high humidity and even the summer morning dew would have detroyed that box in a short time.
Not too many criminals carry their working guns around in boxes. Hard enough to hide a gun, let alone the box.
The Purple Gang, as most criminals in the Motor City, are known to dispose of their "used guns" in the River as it was very hard to locate anything in the Detroit River in those days. Still quit a task as the river has a heavy current and poor visability.
Theres a nice example of a Purple Gang Thompson machine gun in the Michigan State Police Crime Lab in Sterling Heights Michigan which was fished out of the river. For some reason the Purple Gang marked some of their guns with a P G. Not really a smart move, even back then.
I don't doubt that it could have been found in a field in it's original box but that hardly makes it an "imfamous gangster gun". It may have been stolen in it's original box and stashed or dumped in a field. But by the looks of the box, you can bet that it's wasn't in a field long. SE Michigan has high humidity and even the summer morning dew would have detroyed that box in a short time.
Not too many criminals carry their working guns around in boxes. Hard enough to hide a gun, let alone the box.
The Purple Gang, as most criminals in the Motor City, are known to dispose of their "used guns" in the River as it was very hard to locate anything in the Detroit River in those days. Still quit a task as the river has a heavy current and poor visability.
Theres a nice example of a Purple Gang Thompson machine gun in the Michigan State Police Crime Lab in Sterling Heights Michigan which was fished out of the river. For some reason the Purple Gang marked some of their guns with a P G. Not really a smart move, even back then.
Last edited:
Nice find, thanks for sharing. Is it a shooter or special?
Nice find, it looks great. TACC1
Nice find, it looks great. TACC1
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2010
- Messages
- 3
- Reaction score
- 0
my buddies 38 DA
Whew! Three hours in and you gentlemen have created the exact thread I was looking for.Thank you.Friend of mine has got me researching his 1880 patented,5 shot,DA,made in Springfield Mass.It's a match to the revolvers pictured above.Anyone know the current market value range?I talked him out of taking it to the pawnshop.I'll post pics later today.
Thanks for any help and good night.oh yeah,serialnumber is111xxx.
Whew! Three hours in and you gentlemen have created the exact thread I was looking for.Thank you.Friend of mine has got me researching his 1880 patented,5 shot,DA,made in Springfield Mass.It's a match to the revolvers pictured above.Anyone know the current market value range?I talked him out of taking it to the pawnshop.I'll post pics later today.
Thanks for any help and good night.oh yeah,serialnumber is111xxx.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jun 28, 2007
- Messages
- 27,669
- Reaction score
- 21,363
Both the SNs 75000 and 111000 are in the second model range, made between 1880 and 1884. About 115000 of this type were made in just these 5 years.
BTW, you will probably get more replies (and details) from the Forum members by starting a new thread in the Antiques section on each of your guns. Hope this is helpful.
BTW, you will probably get more replies (and details) from the Forum members by starting a new thread in the Antiques section on each of your guns. Hope this is helpful.
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2010
- Messages
- 3
- Reaction score
- 0
Very helpful,thank you.The new thread is posted and I'm that much closer to handing it back to him with a bit more knowledge.
Similar threads
