Smith and Wesson 3rd model 38 s&w serial error

[MrTopBreak]

Hello figured this be best place to find out more on this with the smith and wesson collectors and experts on here
so i recently acquired a model 3 DA in 38 s&w with a 3-1/4 inch barrel..seller thought 32 s&w but turned out when i got it was 38 s&w..still floored over scoring it to begin with..gun works great,cleaned it up really well,cylinder bores dont look bad at all but single action needs work think its the trigger sear spring doesnt have enough tension so hammer wont hold on single action and needs replacement left grip which i can find parts for these old timers ...DA works fine all cylinder bores time right on,no cylinder play left to right and marginal front to back(Endshake) which is well within factory limits...tight lockup and i got gun for a sick low price...100$ from pawn shop online...like finding a ferrari for peanuts pretty much and totally made my christmas early this year

https://i.imgur.com/rkmIhwy.jpg

Know what is facinating and i think a factory serial error
The frame is serial 85108 so is all other parts like top latch but
The cylinder is serial 85110....2 digits higher than frame...know ive done alot of brain storming on this and really think its a factory error as it be damn almost impossible to find a gun so damn close to actual serial being only 2 digits off that was scraped for parts and got a used cylinder...the possibility of this is rediculously very low in happening ...why i think its factory error some one screwed up when time came to fit the cylinder and marked the wrong serial on cylinder...sent it out door anyways

I know that smith and wesson had very high quality standards even back then why the old top breaks a smithy is cream of the crop ..have a couple in the collection so im familar with the old smith and wessons a bit ...not so much on serial errors though

Like to know a date on gun with serial provided above i know its some time between 1880 and 1885ish im guessing
Its got last patent date on barrel of 1880 and i know the 4th model came out later in 1880s after as i have a mint condition 4th model dated 1887(year Frank Wesson passed away) in 32 s&w
and what others think on the serial thing above

 

[Old_Cop]

I agree that the S&W was probably delivered with the two serial numbers. Or, both could have gone to an organization or business that switched them inadvertently. A letter might reveal the destination and number of guns shipped.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! It's a .38 Double Action, 2nd Model and likely shipped in 1882-3. I agree with Old Cop that it was most likely sent to an organization, like a police force, as one piece of a group shipment and the cylinders got swapped during maintenance.

 

[glowe]

Welcome. Most of those errors occur during assembly and I think the most likely answer is a factory worker mistook a very small "8" as a "0". Eye glasses was not covered by the employee's employment plan in the 1880s! Unfortunately, it is no Ferrari with scratched frame and worn finish,, but still worth more than you paid for it.

The 38 DA, 2nd Model was manufactured from 1880 to 1884 in serial number order 4,001 to 119,000.

 

[Zzylx]

My guess on the single action problem is the hammer notch is worn

 

[mmaher94087]

The Rear Sear is also susceptible to chipping. This is the sear that engages the hammer in the single action mode.

I'm with others; the revolver was part of a larger shipment to a police department or Agency that employed an Armorer. The cylinder was mixed during a maintenance or repair session.

 

[Muss Muggins]

Nice pistol. The serial number issue isn't all that important . . .

 

[MrTopBreak]

Thank you everyone very much appreciate the info

 

[MrTopBreak]

The hammer in single action issue...it feels like a spring that lost it tension to be honest ...i have to try to get the hammer spring tension screw out,its mashed and wont budge period so going to be a project to get it out...the left grip top of grip was broken off and when i took the grips off alot of debri inside dirt ect even in action...so it may just be really filty inside what is causing the single to not work anymore......once i do that i can take the side plate off and see what is actually going on inside ...i may chose not to due to that spring tension screw being mashed a bit and just leave it...clean it out best i can and oil everything, at least DA works perfect ...the DA is absolutey right on everytime and for as old gun that has had the **** used outa it, i cant believe no end shake or even cylinder play left to right with a super tight lock up to boot....shows Smiths even the old timers were built like a tank and why i love them so damn much and when i seen this one listed for only 100$ i got damn excited and jumped all over it ...my comment of finding a ferrari for peanuts was just figure of speach to me its a great find for the price

 

[first-model]

I had the same model of gun some years back, with the same problem ... the latch on my gun had a serial number that was 2 off from the serial numbers on the rest of the guns. I attributed it to an error at the factory. As others have said, these numbers are tiny and one could easily be forgiven for making that mistake during assembly.

Mike

 

[mmaher94087]

"..it feels like a spring that lost it tension.." Try inverting the revolver and trying the cylinder lockup in single action. Let gravity help with the spring tension. From your description of the grime that fell out; I'd try the cleaning before delving too far into the guts. Carb cleaner or brake cleaner (the kind with the little red straw) are excellent for cleaning the internals without removing the side plate. Remove the stocks and spray liberally to flush out the crud. Don't forget to oil it afterwards.