Old .32 Smith ...

Patch44 · August 16, 2009, 12:55 PM

Got this awhie back from FIL ... been sitting in my gun vault.

Serial Number 15284x

No markings at all, even under grips or on barrel. Not even sure it is a .32, but had a box of .32 Colt (edit: .32 SW) with it.

Anyone ident help would be nice, or redirect to someplace. Boy they made a lot of different pistols back when.

Thanks,

John

Edit: Found same serial number on cyl. Nothing in barrel that I can see yet.

PetahW · August 16, 2009, 07:17 PM

It looks like a .32 Double Action Second Model, made 1880-1882.
If it is, the serial number would fall in between #31 and #22,172.

.

James K · August 16, 2009, 08:31 PM

The position of the pins plus the serial number indicates that the gun is a .32 caliber, Double Action, Fourth Model, made from 1883 to 1909, serial numbers 43406 to 282999. (Serial numbers below approximately 209,300 are antiques under Federal law, made before 1 Jan 1899.)

The squareback guard could have been put on as a matter of using up old parts, but by that number it was probably either a special order or a replacement. (The Third, Fourth and Fifth Model trigger guards interchange, but most Third Model guards still had the square back.)

Jim

Patch44 · August 17, 2009, 07:38 AM

Thanks ...

Why no markings ???

I have looked this whole thing over with a glass (grips removed) and found only the serial numbers on the butt and cyl .. they match.

I looked above the grips where the SW stamp should be in the frame and see no evidence of markings. Could this be a knock off with Smith grips, or did they not do that back then ??

Also have a well worn holster that appears to be left handed, unless it's a cross draw.

Thanks for the info so far ...

John

PetahW · August 17, 2009, 07:54 AM

Yep - a Fourth Model [Serial Number 15284x] with an early TG.

You would have gotten a quicker, more accurate answer, had you included the SN in your OP - BEFORE our answers.

S&W didn't mark the sideplate until much later - did you check the barrel sides & rib top for stampings ?

.

Patch44 · August 17, 2009, 08:21 AM

Second line had serial number in OP ... edit added the fact that I found the same serial number on the cyl.

I figurred' that would be vital in identifying this gun.

Any value, or just a paper weight ??? No history from anyone on this gun, so I don't think its a family heirloom ...

Thanks ...

John

Tamara · August 21, 2009, 10:47 AM

The DA topbreaks don't seem to bring much dough unless they're in extremely primo condition. I paid less than $200 for my .32 DA back in '06.

Patch44 · September 7, 2009, 07:30 PM

Thanks for the info ...

Sorry for the delay ... I forgot all about this post.

Probably just pass it on to a relative ...

John

August 16, 2009, 12:55 PM	#1
Patch44 Member Join Date: February 22, 2009 Posts: 19	Old .32 Smith ... Got this awhie back from FIL ... been sitting in my gun vault. Serial Number 15284x No markings at all, even under grips or on barrel. Not even sure it is a .32, but had a box of .32 Colt (edit: .32 SW) with it. Anyone ident help would be nice, or redirect to someplace. Boy they made a lot of different pistols back when. Thanks, John Edit: Found same serial number on cyl. Nothing in barrel that I can see yet. Last edited by Patch44; August 16, 2009 at 02:15 PM.

August 17, 2009, 07:54 AM	#5
PetahW Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 4,678	Yep - a Fourth Model [Serial Number 15284x] with an early TG. You would have gotten a quicker, more accurate answer, had you included the SN in your OP - BEFORE our answers. S&W didn't mark the sideplate until much later - did you check the barrel sides & rib top for stampings ? . Last edited by PetahW; August 17, 2009 at 01:46 PM.

August 21, 2009, 10:47 AM	#7
Tamara Moderator Emeritus Join Date: March 11, 2000 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 16,002	The DA topbreaks don't seem to bring much dough unless they're in extremely primo condition. I paid less than $200 for my .32 DA back in '06. __________________ MOLON LABE! 2% Unobtainium, 98% Hypetanium. The Arms Room: An Online Museum.

August 16, 2009, 07:17 PM	#2
PetahW Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 4,678	It looks like a .32 Double Action Second Model, made 1880-1882. If it is, the serial number would fall in between #31 and #22,172. .

August 16, 2009, 08:31 PM	#3
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	The position of the pins plus the serial number indicates that the gun is a .32 caliber, Double Action, Fourth Model, made from 1883 to 1909, serial numbers 43406 to 282999. (Serial numbers below approximately 209,300 are antiques under Federal law, made before 1 Jan 1899.) The squareback guard could have been put on as a matter of using up old parts, but by that number it was probably either a special order or a replacement. (The Third, Fourth and Fifth Model trigger guards interchange, but most Third Model guards still had the square back.) Jim

August 17, 2009, 07:38 AM	#4
Patch44 Member Join Date: February 22, 2009 Posts: 19	Thanks ... Why no markings ??? I have looked this whole thing over with a glass (grips removed) and found only the serial numbers on the butt and cyl .. they match. I looked above the grips where the SW stamp should be in the frame and see no evidence of markings. Could this be a knock off with Smith grips, or did they not do that back then ?? Also have a well worn holster that appears to be left handed, unless it's a cross draw. Thanks for the info so far ... John

August 17, 2009, 08:21 AM	#6
Patch44 Member Join Date: February 22, 2009 Posts: 19	Second line had serial number in OP ... edit added the fact that I found the same serial number on the cyl. I figurred' that would be vital in identifying this gun. Any value, or just a paper weight ??? No history from anyone on this gun, so I don't think its a family heirloom ... Thanks ... John

September 7, 2009, 07:30 PM	#8
Patch44 Member Join Date: February 22, 2009 Posts: 19	Thanks for the info ... Sorry for the delay ... I forgot all about this post. Probably just pass it on to a relative ... John