New Member Help on Tip Ups

[Jimgh]

Hopefully I can find some information on these three Tip Up revolvers, Model 1 second issue, Model 1-1/2, second issue and Model 2 Army Type 4. Would like to know if there is a way to get the date of manufacture and also would like to know where parts may be available. I need the Cylinder Stop/Spring for the Model 2 and a Strain Screw for the Model 1-1/2. Also, I know this is difficult but maybe a value range for all three together. They are all in excellent condition except for the items noted above. No rust or pitting.

Photo attached showing serial numbers.

Really appreciate any help you can give.

Jim

 

[glowe]

Welcome to the Forum. First, let me comment on the year shipped for each. The actual date could be a year either side of the estimates.

Model 1 - 1865
Model 1 1/2 - 1870
Model 2 - 1863

There is a good chance the Model 2 was a Civil War revolver, certainly manufactured in the middle of the war.

As for parts, there is a link to parts suppliers, H Richard posted how to obtain a list of suppliers in an earlier post. His comments below:

S&W PARTS and SERVICES VENDORS .txt :
1. Go to "Downloads" area from the header bar. select main.
2. Select "Category Tree.
3. Select SWCA Lists.
4. Select SWCA Parts & Service Vendors.
5. Select Download.

I would first check with Oldwestgunsmith.com and then use the list.

As for value, this is only a guess, but here goes:

Model 1 - $250
Model 1 1/2 - $200 (grips do not seem to fit plus looks like a pin in the hinge instead of a screw head)
Model 2 - $350 (does not have original grips, has a crude repair to a broken hammer spur, and has replaced ejector rod)

Others may well comment with different prices, but as I said it is only a guess without being able to do a close inspection.

 

[Jimgh]

Thanks for the welcome and boy do you have a good eye. I certainly didn't notice any of those comments. Found the strain screw at GunPartsCorp but nothing else. Also forgot to mention that the barrel is very tight on the #1, a bit wobbly on the #1-1/2 and very wobbly on the #2. Any way to address the wobbly? Change the hinge screw?

Greatly appreciate your information.

Jim

 

[glowe]

You are describing a common issue with these old tip-ups. There are a couple of things that can be done, but always a chance of breaking something, so might be better not to do anything.

I have "tightened" the action on a couple of mine by doing 2 things. If you take the pivot screw out and remove the barrel, you can compress the yoke on the frame to make the hinge tight again. That requires some heating of the yoke and very delicate compression until the barrel slides tightly into place. Another common problem is a loose cylinder. I have taken JB Weld, mixed it with steel grindings and filled the cylinder pivot hole in the barrel. After curing, remove small amounts with a drill bit until the cylinder turns freely without any cylinder shake. I have a Model 1 1/2 that I did this to several years ago and have shot it quite a bit without anything coming loose. Still tight and solid.

These are things that will not affect the value of the gun, but as I say, you do run a risk of breaking something if not very careful. With the values low, you might not find much purpose in doing anything to these revolvers. Additionally, finding ammunition is next to impossible today, since no one is making 32 rimfire. It was fortunate that I bought many boxes of Navy Arms 32 rimfire years ago when they were available, so I have lots of shooting time left in my tip-ups.

 

[Jimgh]

Well, been downstairs with a magnifying glass since your post. Hammer has not been repaired, must be the light. But all your other observations were spot on. The Model 1 is the best of the three and looks all original and tight. I'll see if I can find some parts and spend a little time with them. Maybe some minor stuff will help. These are more for display than anything else.

Again, thank you so much for your insight.

Jim

 

[glowe]

The reason I say the hammer spur has been repaired is that originals have a recurved hammer spur like these in the photo.

 

[Jimgh]

Holy smokes, that would mean the hammer has been replaced. The other two have curves like in the photos but not the Model 2. Definitely no signs of repair. Is that possible to put a different hammer on one of these? This Model 2 seems to have been made up from different guns, ejector, hammer, grips and who knows what else. Amazing.

Thanks again.

Jim

 

[Jimgh]

Just took the grips off and one side has the correct serial number on it but the other side is different, even the wood looks different. Looks like they replaced one side only. This really can get interesting. Guess I just need to look for a left side grip, shouldn't be too difficult.

Jim