Need help with 2 old family revolvers

[Arkfarmer]

Gentlemen, need some help with my Great Grandfather's revolver...
Although I've been a member of the site for a while I never could use it much because as an old farmer/cattleman never learned much about computers, but I did learn just enough about smart phones to get by. Up until the boss updated the site I had no way to post a picture and now I can! I also am going to become a paying member as soon as I can find the address to send a check as I have no access to the electronic gagetery that some use now days.
I have two of these old revolvers, one my Great Grandfathers and the other belonging to my Dad's first cousin who was a lawman here in Arkansas in the teens and twenties which he carried as a hideout, his out side carry was a standard old 1911 which he gave to his son. He served as a deputy sheriff, Hot Spring County, then Malvern City cop, and ended up as a roving Constable , I had the pleasure of spending the first 22yrs of my life knowing him. I hunted and fished with him in the later years of his life and he called me his "hideout son" , tickled my Dad and infuriated my Mother.
The older piece is a bit of a puzzle to me. Not sure when my Great Grandfather came to own it, his daughter in-law, my paternal Grand mother gave it to me not long before she died in 1963, said he brought it home from the war BUT she wasn't born till 72. Great Grandpa was born in January of 36 before Arkansas became a state later that year. His Dad had come here right after the ink was dry on the Louisiana Purchase from Alabama. GGpa and two of his brothers signed up for the CSA in 61 and left for the war, he left behind a wife and 3 children. We know he fought at Shiloh alongside one of his brothers who died there, the other brother died in a POW camp in Chicago. GGpa was somewhere around Shreveport when the war ended and mustered out at Shreveport and he and two more guys from the area here walked home, about 130mi in 7 days. He got home reopened the Lodge, the Post Office , and started farming again, had 10 more children my Grandpa being the first in 66 who also believed that the revolver came home with him. Problem here is I don't from what I can determine think it's old enough. I think he acquired it after the war, so what is facts here and what is story... thank you, John
New gun
Jan 6-82
74548 bottom of grip& on back of cylinder
Cylinder throat .310
Rough barrel dia .308
Barrel length 3.47

Old one. ?
Bottom of grip 73783
Last number could be a dent or punch mark
Cylinder throat .321
Cylinder length 1.190
Rough barrel dia.306
Barrel length 6.0

 

[iby]

The old one was made after the civil war as you suspected
likely after 1870

 

[glowe]

Your Model 2 32 Rimfire revolver shipped in the early 1870s. The Model 2 shot 32 Long RImfire ammunition no longer available. The 32 Double Action, 4th Model would have shipped around 1885. It shot 32 S&W ammunition that is somewhat available commercially. Both are classified as antiques.

 

[Arkfarmer]

Thank you both for the information, the little double action is what I would call safe for light loads. No push off, and timing is good, just some end play. The number 2 has a lot of slack or side play in the top hinge, in fact the top of one side is worn through. It appears that the hinge is actually part of the frame or at was forge welded to the frame in some manner. I don't suppose there is anyway of repairing it is there? The back half of the frame is like new, cocks perfectly, no push off, indexes well. Not planning on shooting either one but wouldn't mind fixing it up to pass on in the family.. thank you gentlemen again for the help... John

 

[glowe]

I cannot quite tell, but it almost looks like a rivet through the hinge? Does the side you show have a slot in the head? Also., when you get better pictures, take some of the hinge? Loose hinges are often repairable, but when you mention welded or "worn through", we need more info.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

Thank you both for the information, the little double action is what I would call safe for light loads. No push off, and timing is good, just some end play. The number 2 has a lot of slack or side play in the top hinge, in fact the top of one side is worn through. It appears that the hinge is actually part of the frame or at was forge welded to the frame in some manner. I don't suppose there is anyway of repairing it is there? The back half of the frame is like new, cocks perfectly, no push off, indexes well. Not planning on shooting either one but wouldn't mind fixing it up to pass on in the family.. thank you gentlemen again for the help... John

Neither one would be safe with modern ammo if you had any unless it's loaded with black powder since both were designed and built before smokeless powder existed.

 

[22hipower]

Rimfire 32 Longs are really hard to find but do show up occasionally on auction sites. A friend found most of an original box awhile back and gave me half of them. Interesting story about your Great Grand Dad and his brothers in the Civil War. My Great Grandfather was captured by the Confederates at one battle or another and then paroled. He spent the next year or so guarding POWs in Chicago. Maybe they met somewhere along the way. He eventually was sent home as he had contracted some disease there which they couldn't treat. Wish I had a revolver from him but no such luck. Lots of disease, maybe as many died from those in that war as did from bullets. Great to have your Great Grand Dad's revolver even if it didn't see Civil War service.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Arkfarmer]

I cannot quite tell, but it almost looks like a rivet through the hinge? Does the side you show have a slot in the head? Also., when you get better pictures, take some of the hinge? Loose hinges are often repairable, but when you mention welded or "worn through", we need more info.

Thank you sir for your help, below are the best I can do for pictures...

 

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,

Here are a few pics of my No: 2 Old Army showing the hinge. Mine
is an earlier manufacture (SN 6416) and I think the head of the barrel
hinge screw was flat in the later production of this model.

Cheers!
Webb

 

[Mike LaNier]

Great story about your family! Despite the fact that Model #2 Smith & Wesson wasn't a Civil War veteran, I'm willing to bet your great grandfather carried it some; the 1870's and 1880's were tough times, and S&W made a lot of those .32 rimfires for domestic use. Neat
gun, and neat story!

I have a Colt 3rd Model Dragoon that my great-great grandfather carried during the War Between the States; he was originally from North Carolina, but was a storekeeper in St. Louis, MO when the war broke out. He was a member of a militia group called the "Washington Blues", supposedly one of the better drilled militias of the day. The Blues were incorporated into the Missouri State Guard and fought in the early battles in Southern Missouri, and then integrated with the Confederate 'Trans Mississippi Army in 1862. Great grandad was wounded and mustered out in 1863, and then moved to Iowa, as St. Louis was run by the Federal Army until the war was over. He died in 1871 or so due to complications from his wounds. The old Colt has been handed down for four generations, and like yours, a treasured possession.

 

[glowe]

Thank you sir for your help, below are the best I can do for pictures...

Yes, part of the hinge on the frame sides are missing, likely broken off resulting in the rivet being installed as a hinge point. I would not shoot that gun since part of the hinge is missing, but it would make a nice display case with any other items and pictures you have from your grandfather.

These guns can be shot with Navy Arms 32 Long or Short, but it takes some time to find a box since they stopped production in the 1990s. They are smokeless, but loaded with low pressures and perfectly safe in Model 2 revolvers in good working order. Modern 32 S&W ammo will work fine in your 32 DA and are also loaded with smokeless powder with low pressures.