Show your oldest top break S&W revolver

[Schof45]

Thank you and good question John.
I don't know what "oil hole variation" mean and there is not an oil hole in this gun.

 

[Kurusu]

Beautiful old revolver. What is meant by the "Oil Hole Variation" ??

Early Smith & Wesson # 3 revolvers had an oil hole in the barrel web just in front of the hinge.

Image found on internet because unfortunately I do not own a Smith & Wesson # 3 American.

 

[old tanker]

Here's my little .32

 

[Kurusu]

Thank you and good question John.
I don't know what "oil hole variation" mean and there is not an oil hole in this gun.

See my post # 62.

 

[mmaher94087]

Without rereading the entire thread I'll risk the redundancy to say that the "oil hole" was a port to allow air to escape the ejector mechanism. It proved to not be necessary and later produced #3 Americans did not have this hole.

 

[Guevera]

A top break and its great grandson:

 

[Helipat13]

.44 Russian Model 3 Mfg 1877

Shoot like naildriver . 16 GR FFFG WC 120GR

 

[Helipat13]

.44 SW Model 3
Shoot like Naildriver 16 gr FFFG swiss with Wadcutter 120 gr

 

[raljr1]

I posted one earlier that was from 1881. I sometimes forget about this one. Not sure when it shipped, but likely sooner that 1881.

 

[iby]

american.

I posted one earlier that was from 1881. I sometimes forget about this one. Not sure when it shipped, but likely sooner that 1881.

View attachment 499731

View attachment 499734

about 10 yrs earlier

 

[Oldmanwesson]

Oh, man, there are some nice No. 3's out there!
These two are my oldest - a 3rd Model Russian shipped April 13, 1877, original configuration. The other is a 2nd Model Schofield. I have not had it researched yet. I suspect the nickel is a later addition. It has the 1876 date stamp and US on the butt.

 

[klind45]

Hello, I've only have one,and for the life of me I can't remember the exact date. But here it is.

Sent from my SM-T720 using Tapatalk

 

[mrcvs]

Some really awesome old timers in this thread. Wow. Thanks everyone for posting! May I say I want some too. Too bad I do not have a time machine to go shopping in past.

I only have one and keep posting it again and again because I do not have more to rotate for pics. This my soon to be this year 100 years old 1921 Perfected Single Shot and my oldest top break or otherwise.

Nothing wrong with this one! I have a weakness for these, and yours is as respectable as they come.

 

[ol777gunnerz]

2nd oldest

How about my 2nd oldest, just got this 2 wks. ago. 1888 S&W 32 4th model DA with an 8 inch barrel with all matching serial numbers. Jinks factory letter came with it confirming the 8 inch barrel, also unusual as shipped to a hardware conglomerate [Hibbard Spencer Bartlett & Co.in Chicago], they also sold sporting goods back then thru mail-order catalogs, that company is now known as True Value Hardware.

 

[tdennis]

Frontier SA 44/40 Army issue 6" barrel serial #577 circa 1885

 

[Major 2]

Here is my oldest TOP-BREAK and cartridge box.
The American First Model oil hole was shipped to the Armory on March 16, 1871. The cartridge box is date is the following month.

That is a beauty, mine can't compete with....

But here is mine anyway. Address line in Russian

 

[sspierce8]

Here's my model 3 American. US issue #1686. Belonged to my GGG grandpa who was promoted to captain of the 7th infantry in 1871. I would like to believe it was issued to him, but I can't confirm that. His name was Capt. George Leslie Browning.