Top Breaks?? pics??

[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!!!

 

[duckhunter28432]

I have really enjoyed this thread. Here is a Model 3 American with a 1st model frame and 2nd model hammer. All assembly numbers match. Shipped in 1874.

 

[Hondo44]

Gorgeous all!

 

[Colokeb]

44 Double Action being offered to me...comments?

I will post 3 photos of this. Somebody over 40 years ago penciled "LDS" on the butt.

Your comments? Does the nickel look too good?

I own this 4" gun now. The grips number to the gun, the BBL and cylinders look like new. No sign of refinish. Small chunk missing from right grip as seen in the photo, but fits snugly.
Trigger guard blue as new.
Over the next few days, I will take light-box photos and put in a separate thread.

 

[delta-419]

A Few

This is a wall in my office adorned with mostly S&W breaktops . The one below Roy Jink's letter is a 44-40 Frontier shipped on Oct. 7, 1887 to M.W. Robinson, New York City. It has serial number 222. I found it in Anchorage,
Alaska. Note the reproduction tin sign in the lower left, it is a great reference tool for BTs.

 

[mmaher94087]

colokeb, looks "pristine" to me. Only an in-hand inspection might show a fluff-N-buff job. Nice .44.

 

[BRush]

A New Model 3 and a 4th Model 38 DA.

 

[cbfisher]

"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."


Nutsforsmiths;

Thanks for the info. The weapon used to belong to my uncle. His family worked the railroads in the late 1890's well into the 1900's. It's thought this was the sidearm he carried along with his truncheon. As far as I can tell it's never been fired.

 

[iby]

I will post 3 photos of this. Somebody over 40 years ago penciled "LDS" on the butt.

Your comments? Does the nickel look too good?

I own this 4" gun now. The grips number to the gun, the BBL and cylinders look like new. No sign of refinish. Small chunk missing from right grip as seen in the photo, but fits snugly.
Trigger guard blue as new.
Over the next few days, I will take light-box photos and put in a separate thread.

Hi.
I have an identical one.
Is it the photo or is the left grip well worn?

 

[Hondo44]

Smith's last Top Break, a Model 209-277, 1970s vintage. When I saw it, I couldn't pass it up.

The 1500 (1.500 cal.)

 

[glowe]

While we are on top-break flare guns, I will add a few pictures of one that I recently let go of to an esteemed SWCA member, but still have the file. I have yet to see another SMITH & WESSON stamped example of a Mark II Signal Pistol. Little information out there on this model, but Roy supplied some details and opinions.

In reference to your question concerning the manufacturing of the Smith & Wesson Signal Pistol. This pistol is almost identical to the Remington Mark III Signal Pistol. There is not any information concerning them in the Smith & Wesson records except for an obscure reference to the number that may have been manufactured. This was a Navy contract and there are drawings of the pistols and model parts in our factory collection. It is not clear if we delivered al these units with the Smith & Wesson name marked on them or whether it was an item produced in conjunction with Remington Arms Co. This work was completed at the same time Smith & Wesson was working on the .455 Hand Ejectors for the British Government and working very closely with Remington who was handling the purchasing of this handgun.

Based on the information in the manufacturing records, it appears that these signal pistols were made in l9l2 and 1913.

Jim Supica's Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, 3rd Edition, has one paragraph on the topic. There was an article in the 1899 Springfield, MA Republican newspaper that reported S&W had completed 2 orders for a large number of signal pistols for the Navy a noted that these pistols were hand made with special lines. They were described as resembling other pistols generally, except that they have a large barrel like a shotgun.