Need some help/info antique S&W

[brokeasajoke]

A friend has offered this up for sale but I may pass as it is in such poor condition. His FIL passed and he is selling off his collection. I did get a Rossi Squire double 410 in excellent condition. Apart from that I am trying to find anything at all about this pistol. He told me it was 38 S&W. There are no caliber markings on it at all but a sized 44 special will almost slide in. I'm pretty sure it's not a Russian because the brass doesn't reach the cylinder throat by probably 3/16" or so. The frame and cylinder has matching 4 digit numbers. As you can see in the pics that just above my thumb it looks as though The barrel is bent/collapsed inward as though some one fell and muzzle struck some thing hard at one time. I'm beginning to think it is a 44-40. I drove a powder coated .430 bullet through the barrell and it came out .425-.427 depending on where I measured. Cool piece of history just not sure it's $200 worth. The barrel rib says SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD MASS U.S.A. PAT'D JAN. 17 & 24 65
JULY 11 65 AUG 24 69 JULY 25 71 DEC 2 79 MAY 11 & 25 1880.

[Wayne Smith]

I'm far from an expert, but is that trigger guard from Smith and Wesson??

[hoodat]

I believe that would be the 44 S&W American cartridge.

I believe that is the correct trigger guard. Poor old thing needs some love. It would be worth 200 bucks to me. If the mechanics work properly, even more. jd

[Tatume]

This is a S&W 44 Double Action. There are a couple of variations. The First Model has serial numbers in the range of 1 - 54668, and 53,590 were made between 1881 and 1913. Examples in poor condition were valued by Supica & Nahas at $200 in in 1996. The cartridge is 44 S&W Russian. The topstrap marking matches the Supica & Nahas description exactly.

[brokeasajoke]

It functions well and locks up on all cylinder notches before hammer comes to full cock in dbl and single action

[cwtebay]

I'm guessing it's a 44 Russian. A 44 American should be well over 0.430" as it is the heeled member of the family.

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[brokeasajoke]

I'm thinking the chamber is way too long for Russian. It will have to travel in the chamber before it reaches throat.

[Tall]

I don't think the double action S&W revolver was offered in 44 American. More likely it is 44 Russian. With the bad barrel it is not worth a whole lot.

[rintinglen]

That appears to be a New Model #3, which should be chambered for 44 Russian. I'm with Hoodat on this one, if the innards function as they should, I'd buy it for 200-300 bucks.. The dented barrel could be repaired, and I suspect the bore is not quite as bad as it looks, but a thorough cleaning would be in order before I could make the final determination.

[Tatume]

Check the serial number and see if I'm right.

[cwtebay]

Check the serial number and see if I'm right.

I believe that the OP said it has a 4 number serial.

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[brokeasajoke]

That appears to be a New Model #3, which should be chambered for 44 Russian. I'm with Hoodat on this one, if the innards function as they should, I'd buy it for 200-300 bucks.. The dented barrel could be repaired, and I suspect the bore is not quite as bad as it looks, but a thorough cleaning would be in order before I could make the final determination.

44 Russian would put the case mouth a good 1/4" or more away from the throat.

[brokeasajoke]

Check the serial number and see if I'm right.

It has a 4 digit serial 7xxx. Don't remember what it was exactly.

[brokeasajoke]

That appears to be a New Model #3, which should be chambered for 44 Russian. I'm with Hoodat on this one, if the innards function as they should, I'd buy it for 200-300 bucks.. The dented barrel could be repaired, and I suspect the bore is not quite as bad as it looks, but a thorough cleaning would be in order before I could make the final determination.

How would one repair that?

[Tatume]

Does a four-digit serial number not fall in the range of 1 - 54668? John Wesley Hardin carried one with three digit serial number 352.

The dent can be repaired by simply boring a rebate, sacrificing maybe one-half inch of rifling. The dent would still show on the outside, but who cares?

[cwtebay]

Does a four-digit serial number not fall in the range of 1 - 54668? John Wesley Hardin carried one with three digit serial number 352.

The dent can be repaired by simply boring a rebate, sacrificing maybe one-half inch of rifling. The dent would still show on the outside, but who cares?

Apologies - I missed your 1-xxxxxxxx.

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[dtknowles]

Certainly, worth a lot more than $200. I would give $400 without batting an eyelash. If you put it here on S&S I would back up my $400 with cash and I bet I would be outbid. You can ship it without an FFL or C&R. All large frame top break S&W revolvers are considered antiques. I have two that I paid more for. One single action (38-44 target) and one double action (44-40). That piece of history belongs with someone who appreciates it.

Tim

[Kai]

Your gun is most certainly not a New Model Number Three. The frame is not correct for this model. Your gun is most definitely a .44 Double Action first model chambered in 44 S&W Russian unless

[cwtebay]

This is a three digit #3. Obviously a 44 Russian cartridge. Chambered in 44 American.


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[brokeasajoke]

This is a three digit #3. Obviously a 44 Russian cartridge. Chambered in 44 American.


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So this is a #3? The trigger on my friends is way different. Ist the case mouth far away from the throat in the Russian?