Second Model .38 Double action top-break

[LoneStarJR]

An acquaintance of mine sent me these pics of his great grandparents’ Second Model .38 ; Supposedly only fired one time then placed back in Box. Serial number 8753 suggests production in the early period of the Second Models (1880 - 1884).

 

[glowe]

You may have a hard time breaking the news, but the gun has been buffed and re-nickeled at some point in its life. Hammer has been bobbed, and if you look at the edges, holes, serial number stamp, and sideplate, you can see they are dished out slightly. It would have been manufactured the first year of the 2nd Model, 1880 and the pearl stocks could be original. Another indicator is that the trigger guard, trigger, and hammer have been deep blued, but they should be case colored.

 

[opoefc]

Your acquaintance has been seriously misinformed about the gun's pedigree. Gary is too polite to say, but the gun is a graduate of Bubba's Bumper and Plating shop's "One stop full service" special. Ed.

 

[deadin]

Supposedly only fired one time then placed back in Box.

Maybe so, after the refinish......