Need help identifying an old S&W top break

[cyclops24]

Hello all,

I am a new member and I have had this old S&W for awhile. It was my great grandfathers and I have consulted books and the internet and I still don't know exactly what this is besides an old S&W top break in 38S&W. If you could be so kind as to help, I would be grateful. I am wondering what is up with the grips with the 2 screw holes, only one of which can be used. The grips are numbers to the gun so I am not sure what's going on there. Thanks!

 

[Polyphemus]

Good information here:
Information on Smith and Wessons
Should be enough to get you the model. Those grips are a mystery, hard to believe they are original unless some sort of special order was involved.

Handsome piece.

 

[cyclops24]

Thanks for the info. I assume this is a 38 perfect model from the information you provided me.

 

[murphydog]

It is a Perfected model, with the top and side latches. The longer barrel length and nickel finish are less common. The stocks are not S & W factory and resemble Harrington & Richardson target stocks, but I could be wrong.

If you can provide the first few digits of the SN (from the bottom of the grip frame, under the stocks, like 123xxx) we can tell you about when it left the factory.

 

[cyclops24]

SN is 33639. Grips do appear to be modified H&R. I have a 22 Special that I was able to compare them too. They're both numbered with a 3 digit number one looks like 628 and the other starts with a 6 but the other two numbers, I can't make out. Bummer it doesn't have the original stocks.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Bummer it doesn't have the original stocks.

Depends on what the pistol is to you. As a collector's item whose value is what it is worth to others, I would agree. As part of a heritage from your great grandfather, it represents part of him, the part that took a good S&W and made it better by getting a better grip on it. That's how I see it.

 

[murphydog]

It was made about 2/3 along the production run (1909-1920), so probably the mid-1910 decade. You can find the correct stocks for it, likely the hard rubber ones that fit the I frame. I agree that it's family heirloom value is priceless.

 

[cyclops24]

Oh yeah, it is not for sale. I just got tired of wandering exactly what it was. Can you point me to where I could find original grips? Were they numbered to the gun back then?

Thanks for the help and the warm welcome. Many first time posts on forums with questions like mine are responded to with "use the search feature", Google it, read this book, this has been discussed 1000 times etc. I truly appreciate the responses.

 

[opoefc]

cyclops24, Serial numbers 32989 and 34999 were shipped in the same shipment on Jan. 1, 1918. S&W did not ship guns in serial number sequence, and the Standard Catlog of Smith & Wessons, 3rd edit., reports on page 85 that serial number 42566 was used in a shooting on Mar. 12, 1912. Assuming that date is not a typo, extrapolating your exact shipping for 33639 is guesswork, of course. Some gun manufacturers used a marketing strategy to confuse their competitors, in that they serial numbered their guns in reverse, starting at a high number and going lower as production progressed. Early guns appearing in the dealers shops with high serial numbers supposedly made competitors think large quantities had been made and sold. Whether S&W tried that with the Perfected models, I'm uncertain.

Since you are keeping the gun as a family treasure, I would suggest you get a factory historical letter for the gun, as that will preserve for posterity, the ship date, the destination and the configuration of the gun , including the style of the grips, when it left Smith & Wesson. Two styles were predominant (1) hard rubber, or (2) checkered walnut w/o medallions. Options were ivory or pearl, but only the factory letter can tell you for sure. When you know what style you want, contact Hugh May, S&WCA member & grip dealer. ( [email protected] )Good Luck, Ed.