Oddball Top Break

**Tom Servo** · December 5, 2009, 06:47 PM

A student brought in a stumper of a revolver. It's a top-break, very similar to a S&W Model 3. The top of the barrel is marked "The Old Firearms Manufacture," and there's a logo on the right side that looks like a S&W trademark, except with different script.

The grips appear to be old S&W hard rubber, and it has a strain screw. Caliber looks to be .44 or .45. Cylinder is too short for .44-40 cartridges, though a .44 Special casing fits tight.

We're guessing .44 Russian or .45 Schofield, but we're not taking any chances until we know for sure.

RJay · December 5, 2009, 07:42 PM

Both the Belgians and the Spanish made copies of the S&W 44. There should be proof marks somewhere on the firearm.

James K · December 12, 2009, 01:28 PM

Given the marking on the barrel, I think it might be a "non-gun" dummy, made for collectors in countries where real guns, even antiques, are illegal. It could also be a movie dummy, made to fire blanks.

FWIW, I have never seen a Spanish S&W copy with such a marking.

Does it have rifling in the barrel? Does it attract a magnet? (Most dummies are cast of a zinc alloy.) Does the firing pin appear functional or is it missing/blunted?

In any case, no one should attempt to fire it until its nature can be determined.

Jim

December 5, 2009, 06:47 PM	#1
Tom Servo Staff Join Date: September 27, 2008 Location: Foothills of the Appalachians Posts: 13,059	Oddball Top Break A student brought in a stumper of a revolver. It's a top-break, very similar to a S&W Model 3. The top of the barrel is marked "The Old Firearms Manufacture," and there's a logo on the right side that looks like a S&W trademark, except with different script. The grips appear to be old S&W hard rubber, and it has a strain screw. Caliber looks to be .44 or .45. Cylinder is too short for .44-40 cartridges, though a .44 Special casing fits tight. We're guessing .44 Russian or .45 Schofield, but we're not taking any chances until we know for sure. __________________ Sometimes it’s nice not to destroy the world for a change. --Randall Munroe

December 5, 2009, 07:42 PM	#2
RJay Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,936	Both the Belgians and the Spanish made copies of the S&W 44. There should be proof marks somewhere on the firearm.

December 12, 2009, 01:28 PM	#3
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Given the marking on the barrel, I think it might be a "non-gun" dummy, made for collectors in countries where real guns, even antiques, are illegal. It could also be a movie dummy, made to fire blanks. FWIW, I have never seen a Spanish S&W copy with such a marking. Does it have rifling in the barrel? Does it attract a magnet? (Most dummies are cast of a zinc alloy.) Does the firing pin appear functional or is it missing/blunted? In any case, no one should attempt to fire it until its nature can be determined. Jim