S&W 4th Model 38 Top Break (Am. Ex. Co. marked)

[Hayesd01]

I have a question for the experts on a gun I just purchased. The gun was on gunbroker (auction #102728881)and there are still some picture listed. I have spoken several times with the owner and my
only concern about the gun is that the Supica book listed known numbers on the
back-strap (Am. Ex. Co.) to go as high as #934 and this particular gun shows
#1215. I also referenced the Roy Jinks article from the early 80's and the serial number of this gun does not exactly hit on the known serial numbers. The owner said it came from an estate collection, but I do not
know whether or not to be concerned. The Roy Jinks article is almost 30 years old and I am not sure if there are now other known serial numbers/back strap numbers or if this particular gun may be a "fake". The serial number I believe is
451xxx. (He actual had two for sale & the other is back-strap #980
with serial number 420xxx)
Any insight or help would be greatly appreciated and especially if a picture of a known gun is available that would be great.

Thanks
Eric

 

[Hayesd01]

I have a question for the experts on a gun I just purchased. The gun was on gunbroker (auction #102728881)and there are still some picture listed. I have spoken several times with the owner and my
only concern about the gun is that the Supica book listed known numbers on the
back-strap (Am. Ex. Co.) to go as high as #934 and this particular gun shows
#1215. I also referenced the Roy Jinks article from the early 80's and the serial number of this gun does not exactly hit on the known serial numbers. The owner said it came from an estate collection, but I do not
know whether or not to be concerned. The Roy Jinks article is almost 30 years old and I am not sure if there are now other known serial numbers/back strap numbers or if this particular gun may be a "fake". The serial number I believe is
451xxx. (He actual had two for sale & the other is back-strap #980
with serial number 420xxx)
Any insight or help would be greatly appreciated and especially if a picture of a known gun is available that would be great.

Thanks
Eric

 

[cflier]

Hi Eric,
Welcome to the forum. What you would really like to know is if your old safety is a legitimate AM EX gun. The emphatic answer is maybe, and that is probably the best you are going to get. The great majority of guns purcased by Am EX and US EX were bought through one of several large distributers. So, they don't show as Express company guns in factory records. I have had several in the past that did not fall into the published number series that Roy Jinks would state in his letter were shipped to the M W Robinson Co. He would add a sentence or two to the effect that he had lettered several in that number series that had Express company markings and so it was probably a legitimate gun. But there was no real way to prove it. I have also owned one that had a serial number that was no where near any other that he had written letters on, and although he didn't say so, it was probably a modern alteration for marketing purposes. There are in my inexpert opinion, as many fakes as real Express Co top breaks floating around. It is an easy way for some under scrupulous person to raise the value on a less than perfect finish gun. I hope if you letter it that Roy can give you a definitive answer, but don't count on it.
best regards,
Mark

 

[Hayesd01]

Thanks so much for the information. Are there pictures of any known authentically marked Am Ex guns or even non-authentic guns for comparison?

Thanks