Question on 2nd Model American

[Win38-55]

I received my S&W 2nd Model American in 44 Russian caliber (also known as the 1st Model Russian), today. I was wondering about the various numbers on the old sixgun. The serial number on the frame is 26382 and the same number is on the inside of one of the grips. The grip without the number seems to look exactly like the other one in darkness, and even in the light cutting marks on the inside. Is the one without the number a replacement or at this stage (around 1872) did S&W just number one of the grips?

Also, there is a different number on the barrel, cylinder, and catch ... all three numbers are 346. Since these numbers are different from the serial number, are these assy numbers, or do I have the front end of one gun and the frame of the other?

Overall, the gun is in very nice condition, with excellent bore and chambers.

 

[Win38-55]

I received my S&W 2nd Model American in 44 Russian caliber (also known as the 1st Model Russian), today. I was wondering about the various numbers on the old sixgun. The serial number on the frame is 26382 and the same number is on the inside of one of the grips. The grip without the number seems to look exactly like the other one in darkness, and even in the light cutting marks on the inside. Is the one without the number a replacement or at this stage (around 1872) did S&W just number one of the grips?

Also, there is a different number on the barrel, cylinder, and catch ... all three numbers are 346. Since these numbers are different from the serial number, are these assy numbers, or do I have the front end of one gun and the frame of the other?

Overall, the gun is in very nice condition, with excellent bore and chambers.

 

[opoefc]

Your American Model is correct. The three numbers on the parts are the assembly numbers, used to keep the same parts together during the fitting processes, and if they match as yours does , then the gun is original and no major parts have been replaced. The serial number appears only on the grip butt and on the inside of the right grip panel on American Models. The serial number is the last number added to the gun and is done when the grips are fitted to the grip frame, while the gun is in the white. The gun is then sent to the finishing crew for blueing or nickeling, etc. and the grips are removed for that process. After the finish is complete, then the grips are placed back on the gun, being sure the serial number on the right grip and the butt match so that the correct grips get back on the gun they were fitted for. Ed.

 

[Win38-55]

Thanks, Ed. Good to hear that everything is at it should be. I plan to get a letter from Roy Jinks for this gun, but in the meantime, have you got an idea of when serial number 26832 was made?

 

[opoefc]

Probably mid 1873, but that's an educated guess. American shipments often contained a wide range of serial numbers in the same shipment. The shipping records are incomplete and very difficult to read for Americans, and often Roy Jinks can only guess at what the date could be for a gun's shipping date. Sometimes the only clue is the invoice to a distributor for a batch of guns which only lists the lowest and highest serial numbers in the invoice, so it's just a guess that a gun with a number between the numbers on the invoice might have been in that shipment. I seldom order a letter for an American Model unless it has some non standard features, like short barrels or engraving, that I want to document. Oddly enough the last American Model shipped was in 1972, I believe. That's not a misprint, it's 1972! Made up from old parts left over for Clint Walker to carry in his TV program. Ed.

 

[Win38-55]

1972! It's amazing that S&W kept those parts for so many years.

 

[opoefc]

Actually S&W didn't have enough parts to complete the gun so I understand some parts were donated by S&WCA members and and a few parts were made by copying an original American's parts loaned by Roy Jinks. The Clint Walker American is now in Roy's collection.

 

[Win38-55]

I should mention, by way of update, that I found the same assy number stamped on the frame on the grip handle. Nice to have everything matching perfectly!