Need help identifying my grandfather's gun

[monkeydenture]

We just found this while cleaning out my aunt's garage. It belonged to my grandfather, who died in the 40s, and I'm hoping to learn more about it. Many of the markings are worn down a bit, and can be a little hard to read.

1. I think it's a top-break, based on what I can see of the seams, but I haven't figured out how to open it.

2. On the butt, there's a six digit serial number, but I don't see an S as described in the stickied post.

3. The numbers on the CTG stamp are a little hard to read. I think it says 32, but there's a line that makes the 3 look more like a B.

4. Barrel length is 3.5 inches.

5. There's a screw going through the rear sight, but I don't know if it's meant for securing the sight or adjusting it.

Sorry for not being able to be clearer. If there's any other questions I can answer to help, let me know. Thanks!

 

[cmansguns]

Welcome from Virginia

welcome to the Forum!

That is a neat little gun you have. It appears to be a lot like a gun I had which was a Model 1888, 1st Model Safety Hammerless. Please see my write-up from my files attached for details. There is a little button on top that you push forward while tipping the barrel which then exposes the cylinder for loading ammo. Mine was chambered for 32 Short (NOT modern 32 Long) which at the time was black powder.

Yours may also be 32 Short. Your one pic didn't show a safety lever on the backside of the grip but it is maybe the angle of the photo.

These are neat little antique guns and you have grandfathers heritage to boot.

Yours is in very nice condition, obviously well kept compared to mine that lost most all of its' original nickle finish.

Others that specialize in these antiques will be along with more info.

 

[Jim Watson]

It looks like a .32 Double Action, 4th Model, as made all the way from 1883 until 1909.

It is a top break, opened by holding the grip in one hand and pulling up on the T latch that shows here as the two black checkered disks. Hammer may have to be at half cock, I haven't fooled with one of these.

The screw in the top strap holds the top latch, it is not a sight adjustment.

ETA: You do not have the same gun as shown and described by the previous post.

Caliber is .32 Smith and Wesson. Some people call it .32 S&W Short, but Smith and Wesson never did. There is a .32 S&W Long which is too long for the cylinder.

 

[monkeydenture]

There's some different details, the main one being that mine has a hammer. And the button you mentioned to open yours was right where my hammer lands. There's nothing on the back of the grip, either.

But overall, as I've been researching this, that's the first time I've felt I was on the right track! Thank you!

 

[cmansguns]

How stupid of me!! Hammer PLAINLY showing in OP's gun!

Good Grief.........My bad........hammer plainly showing, I overlooked it looking at barrel and hinges.

I did mention that others (meaning real, observant, experts) would be along. I'm glad they set you straight after my disaster.

By the way...the one pic of mine is a modern 32 Long cartridge which as you can see will not chamber in the antique 32 short.

Apologize for my ineptness

 

[murphydog]

Yes, a .32 Double Action. Feel free to share the serial number, either the full six digits or leave off the last two or three (like 1234xx) and we can give you a pretty good idea of its production year.

 

[monkeydenture]

Yes! That's it!

It looks like a .32 Double Action, 4th Model, as made all the way from 1883 until 1909.

It is a top break, opened by holding the grip in one hand and pulling up on the T latch that shows here as the two black checkered disks. Hammer may have to be at half cock, I haven't fooled with one of these.

The screw in the top strap holds the top latch, it is not a sight adjustment.

ETA: You do not have the same gun as shown and described by the previous post.

Caliber is .32 Smith and Wesson. Some people call it .32 S&W Short, but Smith and Wesson never did. There is a .32 S&W Long which is too long for the cylinder.

I immediately started looking of videos and pictures, and this is exactly it! Thank you so much! Is there a way to use the serial number to narrow down when it was made?

 

[monkeydenture]

Yes, a .32 Double Action. Feel free to share the serial number, either the full six digits or leave off the last two or three (like 1234xx) and we can give you a pretty good idea of its production year.

Already answered the question I just posted, lol. 2322xx

 

[Jim Watson]

The Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson does not break down those serial numbers year by year. BUT the production run of 4th models ended at 282999 in 1909 so Grandpa's Gun is a pretty late one, surely 20th century and not a Federal "antique."

Maybe somebody at Smith could look it up if asked.
The only other option is to pay for a letter which will tell you when and where shipped. Probably to a distributor or dealer, this is a common gun sold all over the place and not a lot of exiting provenance to be had.

 

[monkeydenture]

Learning more about this piece of my grandfather's history has been really exciting! Thank you all so much!

 

[murphydog]

An educated guess would be sometime in the early-mid 1890 decade. We have several antique S & W collectors here that might get you closer to a specific year.

Is there an interesting family story about it?

 

[monkeydenture]

An educated guess would be sometime in the early-mid 1890 decade. We have several antique S & W collectors here that might get you closer to a specific year.

Is there an interesting family story about it?

Sadly, very few details about it. The only person still alive who met my grandfather was four when he died, and my grandmother refused to talk about him after his death, so a lot has been lost. I do know he worked as some kind of mining engineer, in some pretty rough towns. I forget the name, but my dad described one of the towns he worked in as still being a Wild West kind of town in the 1910/20s. And my dad described seeing a photo of grandpa and a coworker cheerfully pointing guns at each other. Which is...well, descriptive of the cavalier attitude of the area and time he was in.