Top Breaks?? pics??

[stevens22cal]

Thanks 4 the pics. Cool gun with the PD back ground. Looks like a 38 Perfected with the muzzle cropped. I don't think that S&W man. them in shorter then 3-1/14 inch barrels , (not at home to check books now) but could have been special order or sent back for rework. If I remember right only around 50,000 made between 1908 or 9 to 1920. Post serial and someone here with much more knowledge than I will help.

 

[Hondo44]

Post #15, 59,400 made.

That is just the neatest, handiest Perfected Model and a great back up, back in the day!

A bicycle Perfected model was not made as any standard production. The factory would
do almost anything you wanted though, in those days. A letter from S&W would verify if factory.

However I'd give it a 1% chance of being an original factory barrel length. It would be a piece
of cake because I believe the right model of the 38 DA 1st thru 5th Models barrel might interchange.

But the gun has been re-plated and not of factory quality polishing also their protocol was not to plate the
hammer or trigger. Therefore I'd give it a 99% chance of the barrel being cut or replaced after
factory and wouldn't spend the $50 for a letter.

But who cares, It's a wonderful family heirloom in very good condition to keep and pass down
with its provenance to the following generations!

 

[DesmoEd]

Very early .32 on the bottom and a pair of .38's

Nickel top break hogleg sheathed

 

[seinen]

Here's a New Model 3 with Japanese markings.

C/

 

[dltvette]

Here's a New Model No. 3 "Australian Model" shipped Dec.14, 1881 in crate no. 1950, one of 13 crates, containing a total of 250 revolvers.
Revolver & holster, detachable shoulder stock & stock pouch.
Dave

 

[ACP230]

I have never been a big fan of top-break revolvers.
Gave my H&R 926 to my daughter.
However, the S&W bicycle guns interest me strangely.
I have never seen one for sale, or even handled one.
I think I'll start keeping a lookout for one.

 

[BRush]

Here are a few.

 

[rhmc24]

Here's a few of mine, some deja vu ----

 

[vinny77]

38 S&W DA 3rd model 3 1/4...

 

[peakedamon]

Thanks for the info and advice. Sadly for me I broke out the supper size magnifier and found that it has been cropped. Fortunatly it was a fine piece of work in which they must have also been proud of. In very tiny letters hand engraved reads PJB 1915 or 18 like i said very tiny letters. I still love it pedigree or not after all I too am an american mutt with no pedigree.

When i found this old girl 20 years ago in a night stand my grandmother asked me to move it was wrapped in a old rag so dirty and dry that it took quite a long soak to even break open. My father who was 57 said he had never seen it before. After deep thought grandma remembered it was her brothers given to her when grandfather died 48 years prier. When she saw the look in my eyes she said that he must have put it there for me and walked off. I have still never even fired it. So i know it has not fired a round in at least 68 years.

 

[Speedo2]

An old group photo of my top-break accumulation:


No particular rhyme or reason to it; just what was cheap and available at the time. Some have come and some have gone; I probably need to update my photo records. -S2

 

[12string]

Here is my only Top Break a S&W 38 inherited from my grandfather. The shine is gone but function is perfect. I do not believe it was shot much at all. Did these old revolvers have the same shiny finish as the more modern firearms? Mine is fairly dull. :/

 

[twaits]

 

[BRush]

Another Baby Ruskie.

 

[jleiper]

Some Russian Military Contract Revolvers


All three issues of the First Russian Contract (No. 211 with assembly numbers, No. 2873 with full serial numbers
and No. 13300 with the enlarged trigger pin)


2nd Model Russian Contract Revolvers (No. 26300 2nd Contract, No. 4498 5th Contract and No. 3969 7th Contract)


3rd Model from the 6th Contract (No. 9006) -Sorry I don't have a family photo of my Third Models



Joe

 

[nutsforsmiths]

38 Safety Hammerless, 1st Model, from 1887.

.22 Single Shot, 2nd Model from 1909.

 

[jleiper]

S&W, Ludwig Loewe Russian Contract and Russian made No.3s

S&W First Model (1st Russian Contract), S&W Second Model (2nd Russian Contract), S&W Third Model (4th Russian Contract), Ludwig Loewe manufactured (First Russian Contract - there were 2), and a Tula (first year of production 1886).
Joe

 

[cbfisher]

Top break of

I've a top break very similar to a couple of the pics in previous posts. I am try to determine its age and a value, if possible. It actually has few markings compared to other revolvers I own. Across the top of the barrel it reads: Smith & Wesson, Springfield MASS U.S.A, PAT'D FEBY 20 77 DEC 18 77 MAY 11 80 SEPT 11 83 OCT 2 85 AUG 4 85. Besides what I presume is the serial number on the but- 3331, there aren't any other markings. It has a 3 1/4" barrel, 5 shot, is hammerless, 3 screws left side, fixed rear "v" and front post sight. I'm pretty sure it has never been fired. Any ideas?

 

[nutsforsmiths]

cbfisher, you have a 38 Safety Hammerless, 1st Model like the nickel version in the pictures I posted. The way to tell it is a 1st Model is that it has what is called the Z-Bar style release mechanism. The 1st Model was manufactured only in 1887, with just over 5,000 being produced. S&W found that style of release was a weak design, so they changed to a different style in 1888.

This model is kind of scarce, with a blued finish being even more scarce, since most were made with a nickel finish. Without seeing the pistol in person, I would say that pistols is worth at least $500.

 

[stevens22cal]

S&W, Ludwig Loewe Russian Contract and Russian made No.3s
View attachment 143817
S&W First Model (1st Russian Contract), S&W Second Model (2nd Russian Contract), S&W Third Model (4th Russian Contract), Ludwig Loewe manufactured (First Russian Contract - there were 2), and a Tula (first year of production 1886).
Joe

That is one sweeeet collection!!!