What is it ?

[HaroldES]

I was given the pistol by me Father and he got it from my Grand Father
40167 stamped on inside of one of piston grips
48767 ? on butt plat very worn not for sure of last 2 Numbers

6 inch octagon barrel

Think 32 caliper

Any help with identification is appreciated


wanted to post pics but this forum way to hard for that

Thanks

Harold

 

[HaroldES]

What is it

some how not sure i did get two pics posted

 

[BMur]

#2 Army

Welcome aboard Harold,

Neat family heirloom.
That’s a Smith & Wesson Number 2 Army. That serial number is just after the Civil War. So mid to late 1860’s production. Many were actually used in that conflict. Chambers the .32 Rimfire Long Black powder cartridge. If you do a search on the internet you can read about them in depth.

Murph

 

[glowe]

Welcome. Here is the most extensive research available online, started by Ron Curtis. Smith and Wesson Model 2 Army Revolver

The Model 2 was very popular private purchase Civil War sidearm. If a soldier had the money, they could purchase this revolver to carry in the war. Serial numbers that qualify as Civil War era end around serial number 30,000 to 35,000, meaning that they shipped from the factory early enough to have been delivered before the end of the war, April 9, 1865. Ammunition is not available today, other than some collector 32 Rimfire ammo found at auctions. Some work, some don't.

My guess is that that revolver may go back much further than your grandfather, so do some research and document as much as you can. Maybe you have a great or great-great grandfather that was in the Civil war?

 

[HaroldES]

Witch number is serial number the 40 or 48?

40167 stamped on inside of one of piston grips
48767 ? on butt plat very worn not for sure of last 2 Numbers

Thanks

Harold

 

[HaroldES]

My guess is that that revolver may go back much further than your grandfather, so do some research and document as much as you can. Maybe you have a great or great-great grandfather that was in the Civil war?

As fact my Great -Great Grandfather was with GEN Sherman in Civil war he was wounded at battle of Cold Harbor Va Jun 1864. He survived but did not return to action

 

[s&wchad]

Witch number is serial number the 40 or 48?

40167 stamped on inside of one of piston grips
48767 ? on butt plat very worn not for sure of last 2 Numbers

Thanks

Harold

I suspect your gun and stocks have the same serial number. As you know, they can be hard to read with the naked eye. Post the best photos you can of each number, so we can enlarge and enhance them.

 

[gmborkovic]

Just as a side thought, what would that #2 have cost with a box of ammo, to a young army officer? In 1862 money.

 

[first-model]

Just as a side thought, what would that #2 have cost with a box of ammo, to a young army officer? In 1862 money.

Somewhere in the mid teens, I'd guess. Model 1's around that time were selling for about $10 or $11.

Mike

 

[glowe]

1869 S&W price list states that the Model 2 revolver retailed at $15.50. US Cartridge Company ammunition catalog from 1881 shows 1,000 rounds of 32 Long Rimfire would cost 13.50 or just over 1 cent apiece. Sounds way cheap, but a Private in the Civil War only earned $13 a month.

Your great great grandfather could might have bought the revolver right after the war and brought it home with him after he recovered. I have a Great Grandfather that got his boot heel shot off at the Battle of the Wilderness. He was uninjured but told my grandfather the Rebs ruined a darn nice pair of boots!!

 

[Leatherman-Cowboy]

HaroldES

Welcome to a great Forum. I am sure you will be able to gain a lot of knowledge form the many bright minds that frequent the site.

As stated above, you will do your self a huge favour taking the time to read up on this revolver. The history is very interesting. You may choose to have it restored, or leave it as you received it. The current condition is part of the past, and just knowing your past family members held and shoot that gun will be lost if you restore it.
You have a wonderful piece of American history.

Thank you,

Henry

 

[BMur]

Factory records

In 1862 the Number 2 Army sold for $14.50 from the factory. That is from a factory historical letter. Not sure what the mark up would be for the would be Soldier off to the battlefield?

Murph

 

[HoundDog316]

I think those are assembly numbers, not S/N. It looks like from the picture that it has the early 2-pin topstrap. It should have a S/N lower than this one:

Here's a Model 2 with about 60% finish and nice grips. .32 rimfire, 6 inch barrel, S/N 148xx, 3 pin topstrap.

Thanks for the link to the database--I'll add this one.

 

[HoundDog316]

After taking a better look, I see the third pin now, so scratch previous comment.

 

[HaroldES]

So does the S&W model 2 have serial # or just assembly #s

Appreciate the info guys

 

[glowe]

The Model 2 used assembly numbers on the frame, cylinder, and barrel assembly, that are rarely above 2 numbers. The serial number appeared on the butt and the right stock. Not sure if they used letters as part identifiers.

 

[HaroldES]

Follow up

So going with assembly number 46167 on frame on butt of handle can derive date manufactured ?

Thanks all

Harold

 

[Alk8944]

So going with assembly number 46167 on frame on butt of handle can derive date manufactured ?

Thanks all

Harold

No, it cannot. Model name and SN from the butt are the absolute minimum to identify shipping date.

 

[gmborkovic]

Hello Harold, please dont "clean" this gun. No chemicals or steel wool.
If you have to, just use an oily rag. Oh, and no wire wheels on a drill.
Please listen to us. Its a nice gun.

 

[HaroldES]

When Made

No, it cannot. Model name and SN from the butt are the absolute minimum to identify shipping date

This all info I have so far: Smith and Wesson #2, 32 rimfire, 40167 on butt

Thank
Harold

 

[SPEEDGUNNER]

That is a great family heirloom, a wonderful piece of history and a memorable first "Welcome to the Forum" first post. You will receive lots of good knowledge and advice here, listen well Grasshopper and you will learn.

 

[glowe]

Your revolver almost certainly shipped in June 1865 if the serial number is in the 40,000 range. Two other 40XXX Model 2 revolvers in the SWCA database were shipped that month and year, plus the guns were going out of the factory as fast as they could make them during the war. Chances are that it was a Civil War order, but was not shipped until just after the war ended.

My suggestion is to take a magnifying glass and compare the two numbers on the stock and the butt since both are the same. Let us know what you find, or as noted above, take pictures of the numbers and post them here.

 

[gmborkovic]

Gary, did the factory use the same number stamp for the butt and the stocks? Or just the same font?

 

[glowe]

Some yes and some no. I have often seen larger numbers used on the wood compared to the butt. Also, these two butt serial numbers are different size for these Civil War era Model 2 revolvers. I think they just used what they could find at the factory to get these guns out the door.

 

[gmborkovic]

Gary, thanks. So the business philosophy of the company has not changed
from 1864 to 2022, "stamp it, box it, get it on the truck!" Invoice is in the
mail.