Inherited Grandfathers Revolver, Seeking help in what I have...

859 Views 25 Replies 11 Participants Last post by guntha45, 9 d ago

MattLatham

Discussion Starter · 13 d ago

7

My Aunt just gave me my Grandfather's old revolver. He passed back in the 1990's. I have no idea what I have, or when he acquired it. I am seeking help in figuring out what it is. Appreciate any help. I think it might be a Smith and Wesson Top break revolver, but no idea what caliber it is. The Serial Number on the bottom of the grip and on the cylinder is 264961. I could not find any stamps for the caliber. The top of the barrel is stamped with:
SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD MASS USA PAT'D JAN 24 65,
JULY 11, 65. AUG. 24 69 REISSUE JULY 25 71 MAY 11 80 JAN 3 82

Any idea what is might be? How old? Caliber? The barrel has severe rust with pitting inside so shooting it is not an option in my opinion. Just curious what I have. Photos attached.

P.S. Ignore the metal file in the photos. I was making some hand-laid turnouts for my model railroad and forgot to move it. ;-)

Thanks, Matt Latham

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Hair Trigger

· #2 · 13 d ago

I'm not real sure, don't know much about these really old revolvers, but from looking in SCSW, it looks to be a .38 Double-Action, 3rd Model, given the serial number range it fits in. They were made between 1884 and 1895. Someone more well versed can give you more and better info. The caliber would be .38 Smith and Wesson, a low-powered cartridge shorter than a .38 Spl.

You make your own railroad turnouts? Wow, you're really serious about your train modeling. Do you model HO, or are you really hard core and lay your own Z scale track?

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Wiregrassguy

· #3 · 13 d ago

Hi Matt! Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! You have a .38 Double Action, 3rd Model made in the early 1890's. Since it was made before 1899, it is considered an antique by BATFE. So, Federal laws concerning transfer of firearms don't apply. However, your state laws may be more restrictive. Your GF's top break is chambered for .38 S&W, not .38 Special. Cartridges are still made in .38 S&W but my be difficult to find except in big box sporting goods stores or on the Internet.

Ah, I see HT commented while I am typing. Anyway, these old top breaks are not very valuable and in the condition you describe, yours may be only worth around $100 as a parts gun. The pearl stocks may be worth that by themselves. Take them off...carefully...and soak the gun in a 50-50 mixture of acetone and auto transmission fluid in a sealed container. Leave it in the solution for at least a week, then run some patches through the barrel and spray the gun down with aerosol carb/parts/brake cleaner to remove excess solution. Wipe it down with an oily rag and put it in a shadow box so you can remember your grandfather.

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MattLatham

Discussion Starter · #4 · 13 d ago

Wiregrassguy said:
Hi Matt! Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! You have a .38 Double Action, 3rd Model made in the early 1890's. Since it was made before 1899, it is considered an antique by BATFE. So, Federal laws concerning transfer of firearms don't apply. However, your state laws may be more restrictive. Your GF's top break is chambered for .38 S&W, not .38 Special. Cartridges are still made in .38 S&W but my be difficult to find except in big box sporting goods stores or on the Internet.

Ah, I see HT commented while I am typing. Anyway, these old top breaks are not very valuable and in the condition you describe, yours may be only worth around $100 as a parts gun. The pearl stocks may be worth that by themselves. Take them off...carefully...and soak the gun in a 50-50 mixture of acetone and auto transmission fluid in a sealed container. Leave it in the solution for at least a week, then run some patches through the barrel and spray the gun down with aerosol carb/parts/brake cleaner to remove excess solution. Wipe it down with an oily rag and put it in a shadow box so you can remember your grandfather.

Wow! That old... Thanks for the information. I was wondering how to preserve it. Appreciate the help.

MattLatham

Discussion Starter · #5 · 13 d ago

Hair Trigger said:
I'm not real sure, don't know much about these really old revolvers, but from looking in SCSW, it looks to be a .38 Double-Action, 3rd Model, given the serial number range it fits in. They were made between 1884 and 1895. Someone more well versed can give you more and better info. The caliber would be .38 Smith and Wesson, a low-powered cartridge shorter than a .38 Spl.

You make your own railroad turnouts? Wow, you're really serious about your train modeling. Do you model HO, or are you really hard core and lay your own Z scale track?

LOL. HO Scale. My eyes are too old for anything smaller...

Curt360

· #6 · 13 d ago

Hi and welcome to the forum!

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MattLatham

Discussion Starter · #7 · 13 d ago

Curt360 said:
Hi and welcome to the forum!

Thank you. Since I do not have a working Smith and Wesson revolver, I should buy one. Right?

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Wiregrassguy

· #8 · 13 d ago

MattLatham said:
Thank you. Since I do not have a working Smith and Wesson revolver, I should buy one. Right?

We are enablers. Do you expect us to dissuade you? Of course you should buy a S&W revolver every month until your money runs out. Then post pictures of them here for us to covet. That's what we do.

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Curt360

· #9 · 13 d ago

2

Hmmm considering, when I joined, I only had one S&W and that is my model 360.

Since joining, and with the help of the enablers here, I managed to add a few more.....

So to answer your question about purchasing a S&W revolver I say.....HELL YES!!!! Get something YOU have wanted and enjoy it!

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WendyZXZ

· #10 · 13 d ago

Welcome to the forum!

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Hair Trigger

· #11 · 13 d ago

MattLatham said:
Thank you. Since I do not have a working Smith and Wesson revolver, I should buy one. Right?

Most definitely. Pick your era and caliber, and start looking. My own favorites are from the 1950's to about 1980, my collection runs from 1967-1985.

You should buy a copy of The Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson. It's the toy book for big boys, has all of the guns S&W makes today and all the way back to their first gun. A real treasure trove of information, lots of pictures to drool over. Who knows, you might start selling your train sets to buy guns

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guntha45

· #12 · 12 d ago

Wiregrassguy said:
We are enablers. Do you expect us to dissuade you? Of course you should buy a S&W revolver every month until your money runs out. Then post pictures of them here for us to covet. That's what we do.

Only one a month?

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guntha45

· #13 · 12 d ago

Hair Trigger said:
Most definitely. Pick your era and caliber, and start looking. My own favorites are from the 1950's to about 1980, my collection runs from 1967-1985.
View attachment 607500

You should buy a copy of The Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson. It's the toy book for big boys, has all of the guns S&W makes today and all the way back to their first gun. A real treasure trove of information, lots of pictures to drool over. Who knows, you might start selling your train sets to buy guns

That's the same period of S&W's that I focus on. I have only one Hillary hole S&W (60-15) and it was left to me from my dad.

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StrawHat

· #14 · 12 d ago

A hearty Buckeye welcome from Ashtabula County, Ohio!

Some focus on an era. Some prefer to focus on a model. (A collection of M&P models would be quite large.) Some like customized revolvers.

I prefer to focus on a cartridge, the 45 ACP. I have them from 1918 to 2004. I prefer the non lugged barrels but may get those just to complete the idea.

The choices are endless.

Kevin

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Wiregrassguy

· #15 · 12 d ago

guntha45 said:
Only one a month?

Well, that's to just get started...

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41magfarmer

· #16 · 12 d ago

@MattLatham hope you keep your family revolver. I have my Gramps' "stuff".

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MattLatham

Discussion Starter · #17 · 12 d ago

41magfarmer said:
@MattLatham hope you keep your family revolver. I have my Gramps' "stuff".

Definitely keeping it. Starting a Smith and Wesson Revolver collection with it...

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41magfarmer

· #18 · 12 d ago

MattLatham said:
Definitely keeping it. Starting a Smith and Wesson Revolver collection with it...

That is a great start then - family history right there.

I am not brand specific with wheelies - Taurus, Ruger, S&W, I like 'em all. Lol

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Oriade

· #19 · 10 d ago

MattLatham said:
Thank you. Since I do not have a working Smith and Wesson revolver, I should buy one. Right?

You should buy one

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cloan11

· #20 · 10 d ago

MattLatham said:
Thank you. Since I do not have a working Smith and Wesson revolver, I should buy one. Right?

No, you should buy at least 4. A 38 Spc, .357 mag, 44 mag and buyers choice .22, .22 mag, 9mm, 45 ACP or LC, 41mag, etc... And that's just in the revolvers.

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