top breaks pre-1891

[perun]

hello guys. I would like to ask you for help. in my country - Slovakia, we can buy and sell old fireamrs without licence, only if they were produced before 31. dec. 1890. I bought four SW and I have to still think of the legal problems. are they legal (made before 1891 or may i get to troubles)... pls. help me, if you can.
my first sw is nickel-plated top break DA .32 cal. revolver with normal (external hammer) with serial number 83039
second one is big SA top break revolver in .44 russian cal., blue finish, probably 3rd model, blued, serial. number is 26599

these two guns make me bad dreams... are they legal or not here in SK. I bought several books from amazon but they did not help me: for example : antique firearms, David R Chicoine.
I appreciate your help in advance.

 

[opoefc]

perun, The only way to know for sure on these two S&Ws is to order a factory historical letter from Roy Jinks, factory historian. That will tell when these guns were shipped from S&W, to whom & where, plus the configuration of the gun,etc. If you can tell us the exact Model of the .44 cal. Russian top break ( Old Model 3, New Model 3, Russian contract gun, etc.? ) we can probably give you a close shipping date. Post some pictures, if possible, or completely describe the gun ( barrel length, round or square butt, all stampings and markings and where they are on the gun, all numbers and assembly codes and where they are on the gun, etc.) . If it has a square butt, it's well befor your date of 1890. See "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wessons, 3rd edit." by Supica & Nahas, for a good discussion of these models. Ed.

 

[perun]

thank you for you help. I will order the book you mentioned.

 

[perun]

perun, The only way to know for sure on these two S&Ws is to order a factory historical letter from Roy Jinks, factory historian. That will tell when these guns were shipped from S&W, to whom & where, plus the configuration of the gun,etc. If you can tell us the exact Model of the .44 cal. Russian top break ( Old Model 3, New Model 3, Russian contract gun, etc.? ) we can probably give you a close shipping date. Post some pictures, if possible, or completely describe the gun ( barrel length, round or square butt, all stampings and markings and where they are on the gun, all numbers and assembly codes and where they are on the gun, etc.) . If it has a square butt, it's well befor your date of 1890. See "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wessons, 3rd edit." by Supica & Nahas, for a good discussion of these models. Ed.

the 44 top break is most probably target model because of special rear and back sights. it has no special marks - probably made for civil market.