Please Help ID age of gun

[ss2608]

"S&W 32CTG" marked on left side of barrel
3 inch barrel
5 round revlover
No hammer.
Break top
Hand grip safety
Serial number 171458
Pearl handles
All serial numbers match
Belonged to my Grandmother who was born about 1890.
Blue steel
Condition very good
Top of barell marked:"Smith & Wesson Springfield Mass. U.S.A."
S&W logo right side of frame.
no other markings

 

[Martimus]

Welcome to the site from Arid-zona!

 

[Penmon]

Welcome to the fourm
Sounds like you have a .32 Safety Hammerless (A.K.A.)Safety, New Departure or Lemon Squeezer, 3rd Model
All the same gun just different collector name for it.
Serial range 170000-242981 made from 1909-1937, With some 73,000 made.
Judging from your serial number your was made before to WWI, probably around 1909-1911.
You should have a T shaped latch to open, no patent dates and a forged front sight with no pin (usually)

A good one to get a factory letter on if condition is high and you plan on keeping it as a family keepsake.

Pictures would really help in determining value and age.
Penmon

 

[ss2608]

Outstanding! Thank you for the info.
It has been in the family since new and yes I plan to keep and give it to my grandson in another 20 years or so.
Q- what is a factory letter nad how would I get one?

 

[Penmon]

The letter I am referring to gives the history and ship date of your Lemon Squeezer 32, 3rd model. More importantly it tells you in what configuration it left the factory.Like 3in barrel, blued, black hard rubber grips and so on.It will also tell you to whom it was shipped, like Joe's Drygoods in Dodge city.KS.

They charge $50.00 for the letter and it takes several weeks to get but depending on configuration, rarity and condition your grandmothers gun could be worth some money.
First it's priceless to you but in the real world market the book gives a range of $75.00 for poor (parts Gun) to a $1000.00 for minty one, several rare versions like the bicycle version have sold at auction for several thousand dollars.

Most likely yours in a fairly common version and in the condition you described worth $200 to $400 but one never knows and without several good pictures showing markings and condition we cannot tell you.

Here the link I have used in the past for the letter form but it is not working at this time, hopeful another member has a more current link.http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/185369-factory-letter-request-form.html

You can probably just call S&W for instructions.

Thanks
Penmon

 

[Hondo44]

Welcome to the forum!

That sounds like a wonderful family hand-me-down. Do the pearl stocks have S&W medallions? If so, they are factory stocks, likely original to the gun and might have the serial number penciled on the back side of the right stock.

Write down any information that you can find out about it; where purchased who used and for what, etc., so the family has the "provenance" to pass along with the heirloom.