What is this

[Vidd]

Digging through dad's safe found this can anyone tell what it is besides parts thanks vidd

 

[first-model]

Looks like half of a very worn .32 Single Action, circa 1878 or 1879. Someone took the side plate to a wire brush at some point and rounded the edges, so at this point it's probably a parts gun.

Mike

 

[BMur]

If the action works it's worth putting it together for a shooter. 5 shot .32 centerfire originally designed for black powder. Parts are not hard to find. I have barrels and cylinders for this model. Double action barrels will fit also but I'm not sure if the cylinder will work.

 

[Vidd]

More then I can deal with PM if you want it for parts

 

[opoefc]

The stocks, if no chips or cracks, are worth $40 - $50 range. The rest is a paper weight. Ed.

 

[BMur]

Here you go Vidd,
I repaired the main spring by lapping it with a good spring, repaired the action, pulled out a 6" barrel from my parts box and fit it to the frame. It didn't want to cooperate so I heated the frame and slid it in nice and tight. That's what's great about antique steel. It's very friendly unlike modern guns that require machining for even the smallest project! Fit a cam also for the eject. Buffed up the barrel some just for an initial cleaning. Now I'm shelving it til next week. Too many Priority projects I gotta get to first. But next week I'll look through my cylinders and the barrel needs a threaded base pin. That's about it. I'll probably end up re- nickeling the barrel just for kicks and match it to the frame color. Then it's off to the range.

 

[ACORN]

Looks good Bmur! I like to see a resurrected old gun project. Saved from the scrap pile.

 

[Vidd]

Here you go Vidd,
I repaired the main spring by lapping it with a good spring, repaired the action, pulled out a 6" barrel from my parts box and fit it to the frame. It didn't want to cooperate so I heated the frame and slid it in nice and tight. That's what's great about antique steel. It's very friendly unlike modern guns that require machining for even the smallest project! Fit a cam also for the eject. Buffed up the barrel some just for an initial cleaning. Now I'm shelving it til next week. Too many Priority projects I gotta get to first. But next week I'll look through my cylinders and the barrel needs a threaded base pin. That's about it. I'll probably end up re- nickeling the barrel just for kicks and match it to the frame color. Then it's off to the range.

Looks good with 6 inch barrel should be a good shooting gun is the barrel the right time frame for serial # will be a true mongrel ha ha have a good week vidd

 

[BMur]

Thanks for appreciating my project Acorn!
Vidd, I just dug out the parts needed to finish the Mongrel project. I decided to make it a two barrel kit so I'm going to fit a short barrel and additional cylinder to the frame so I'll photo and post it in a couple days. I have some old wood boxes also but that will take a while longer. First the assembly and fine tuning.

 

[Vidd]

Thanks for appreciating my project Acorn!
Vidd, I just dug out the parts needed to finish the Mongrel project. I decided to make it a two barrel kit so I'm going to fit a short barrel and additional cylinder to the frame so I'll photo and post it in a couple days. I have some old wood boxes also but that will take a while longer. First the assembly and fine tuning.

have fun with it keep them guessing vidd

 

[BMur]

32 Antique S&W Project progress

Well I finally got back in the shop and assembled the project Antique 32 S&W 1 1/2. I also dug out a matching short barrel and cylinder and spent some time fitting that set to the frame. Both assemblies function perfectly. I know they aren't matching and don't have a great finish(yet) but I like the set and before I take them to the range I'm wanting to put them in an old wood felt lined box.

 

[Vidd]

Project

Well I finally got back in the shop and assembled the project Antique 32 S&W 1 1/2. I also dug out a matching short barrel and cylinder and spent some time fitting that set to the frame. Both assemblies function perfectly. I know they aren't matching and don't have a great finish(yet) but I like the set and before I take them to the range I'm wanting to put them in an old wood felt lined box.

looking good amazing what parts and patience can do to an old paper weight
Vidd

 

[BMur]

Project update

I dug out one of my antique wood boxes. It's an old instrument field survey box from the 1930's. Routed out the Utility tools section and made a custom punch for the frame pin removal to change barrels at the range. Then made a precision fit screw driver to remove the pin screw. Added a bore brush and cleaning rod. Then sectioned the right side of the case to fit the 6 inch barrel Smith and the 3 1/2 inch barrel spare set. So far it's looking pretty good. I prefer a felt lining for nicer guns but this is a Utility set that's going to the range a lot so I've decided to just varnish the interior for a more durable finish. This will be a black powder shooter only as well so a felt lined case would get dirty in a hurry. So I'll finish sanding it up good, varnish it, let it dry for a couple days and post a final photo. These kind of projects are a lot of fun and in my opinion very satisfying.

 

[Vidd]

Antique shooter

I dug out one of my antique wood boxes. It's an old instrument field survey box from the 1930's. Routed out the Utility tools section and made a custom punch for the frame pin removal to change barrels at the range. Then made a precision fit screw driver to remove the pin screw. Added a bore brush and cleaning rod. Then sectioned the right side of the case to fit the 6 inch barrel Smith and the 3 1/2 inch barrel spare set. So far it's looking pretty good. I prefer a felt lining for nicer guns but this is a Utility set that's going to the range a lot so I've decided to just varnish the interior for a more durable finish. This will be a black powder shooter only as well so a felt lined case would get dirty in a hurry. So I'll finish sanding it up good, varnish it, let it dry for a couple days and post a final photo. These kind of projects are a lot of fun and in my opinion very satisfying.

all most as satisfying as shooting it at the range ? Will give you a like as soon as I can figure how seem to have lost that button vidd

 

[loiner1965]

like seeing old revolvers brought back to life even though they are not worth a great deal.....its not all about money

 

[BMur]

Project completed

It's done for now. The nickel finish I will work on after I take it to the range" Tomorrow". Loaded up some compressed black power original balloon cases! Can't wait to see how accurate that 6 inch barrel is? I've never actually shot one of these 1 1/2's with a black powder load in a 6" barrel. I'm expecting good results?

 

[Vidd]

Looking good can't wait for the results. ( hay like button is back) be safe vidd

 

[Vidd]

Looking good have fun be safe vidd

 

[BMur]

Range Results

Ok so;
I first slugged both bores. Both the 3 1/2 inch barrel and the 6 inch barrel slugged at .3085 Land diameter( rifling). However the Groove diameter for the 6 inch barrel mic'd at .3165. Where as the short barrel mic'd at .3150. So the long barrel actually has a larger bore by almost .002. Both are too large for the 32 S&W bullet measuring .313.
This is why if you want to shoot accurately with the Antiques you have to mic the bores of each individual barrel! Then dial in a bullet by sizing it to the bore +.002 over groove diameter.
I decided to just standard load this first round at the range just to see how the gun would perform but as you can see by the photo of the standard S&W bullet? The original bullet is too small for both bores! This procedure " ONLY" applies to black powder loading! And only with PURE lead bullets!!!

 

[BMur]

15 yard target

So with the undersized bullets and full load of black powder the results were actually pretty good at 15 yards.
My next move is to use the bullet shown in photo and size it down to .318. Which basically matches both bores in groove diameter. Then try it in both barrels. It's a little oversized for the short barrel but by only .001 so the safety margin is still met since I am not using a compressed load. You can also see if you look closely at the slugged bullets? The bullet on the right shows no contact with the groove of the 6 inch barrel bore. When bullets fail to contact the grooves of the bore the seal is incomplete upon discharge, bullet stability leaving the muzzle is poor, and accuracy is negatively impacted.
With proper sized bullets and matching load the six inch barrel should be able to hit the black at 50 yards! Not just 15.