Smith & Wesson .32 Rimfire?

[Exmilcop]

I have a local guy selling this pistol, which he states is .32 rf. short. Is this a S&W and doesn't it look like it takes the long cartridges? It appears to have the hinge point ahead of the cylinder, but I can't see a latch. Any information anyone can give me would be most appreciated.

 

[glowe]

It is not a S&W, as they were 32 Rimfire revolvers named Model 1 1/2 and the Model 2 and they were both tip-up style with a removable cylinder for loading. I believe the pivot is fake since there is a loading port on the right side of the gun. Cheap solid frame revolvers were made by several companies in the late 1800s and would not be anything most collectors would want. If you had a good picture of the stocks, we might be able to tell you what brand gun you are looking at.

 

[Exmilcop]

Mystery solved! It's a Forehand & Wadsworth in .32 rf. It looks like they were trying to cash in on the Smith & Wesson name. What looked like the hinge pivot point is a release button for the rod holding the cylinder in place and used to punch out the expended cases.

 

[cgt4570]

Not much worth unless you want to put together a wall hanger shadow box.

 

[wiley]

I believe that's an Otis A Smith New Model

 

[mmaher94087]

This revolver is priceless in .32RF as that caliber is not regulated in Canada.

 

[BMur]

All Brass Gun

That’s one of those “ All Brass Guns”. Even the barrel is brass. I don’t think I’d pull the trigger on that one.

Murph

 

[Exmilcop]

That’s one of those “ All Brass Guns”. Even the barrel is brass. I don’t think I’d pull the trigger on that one.

Murph

Not to be contentious, but I believe that Forehand & Wadsworth were among the better made "suicide specials". I don't believe they made brass frame revolvers. They actually made some lovely pistols chambered in .44 Russian in an attempt to break into the Smith & Wesson market.

 

[ol777gunnerz]

info

I picked this up recently, they are not cheap. really nice sealed box.

 

[BMur]

Otis A Smith

Wiley got it right!( takes a Navy Vet!)
It’s an Otis A Smith New Model 32 Rimfire introduced in 1881 with the New Plant in Rockfall, Ct.
It “ IS” an a ALL brass frame and barrel. See photo. Yours is kind of scarce since it’s engraved and has most of its nickel finish. It has the patented “ Push button base pin release”
It’s not a forehand and Wadsworth.

Murph

 

[glowe]

After an online search, I found that Wiley has the answer. They apparently made both steel and brass frame guns were made by Otis Smith Manufacturing Company.

Otis A. Smith Manufacturing Company was founded in 1862 by Otis A. Smith and Charles A. King in Middlefield (Rockfall), Connecticut. Its industry was revolvers and hardware and its headquarters remained in Rockfall, Connecticut.

As suspected, this model is not a top break revolver, but rather loaded by removing the cylinder from the gun to load it. Stocks had OAS on the top, signifying a Otis A Smith gun. Since it is US made, there might be some value as a collectible piece to spur trigger enthusiasts, but I still would not shoot it, since you might guess that parts would be impossible to locate.

 

[Exmilcop]

I picked this up recently, they are not cheap. really nice sealed box.

Nice score!!! I have a rather tatty pistol that shoots this stuff. I got it for my wife since it'll be easy for her to handle and in an apartment setting, it'll give her and me some sense of security when I'm away.