Smith & Wesson 1880?

Swissfondue · May 29, 2011, 11:50 AM

My father bought this Smith & Wesson in Yemen over 30 years ago. That is why the handle is plastic and has an arab inscription. It is a single-action, cartridge-firing, 5 shot top-break revolver with automatic cartridge ejection. Serial number 24015, the cylinder has number 04921. The last date on the barrel is difficult to read: probably May 11th 1880, as the prior date reads July 25th 1871.

Can you help identify the model?

SDC · May 29, 2011, 12:23 PM

This will be a S&W 38 Single Action 2nd Model, built in 1876 or 1877. HTH.

RJay · May 29, 2011, 12:56 PM

???? The grip ( handle ) looks to be a standard S&W grip with a standard S&W logo, am I missing something???

James K · May 29, 2011, 07:18 PM

New one on me! I have never heard the intertwined S&W logo described as being an "arab" marking.

Actually, those were pretty good guns and most I see around are in working condition, unlike other guns of that era.

Jim

**Mike Irwin** · May 30, 2011, 08:11 AM

The grips aren't plastic, they're hard rubber. If you decide to take them off the gun, be VERY careful as they get VERY brittle with age.

And definitely standard S&W logo grips, not Arabic.

Swissfondue · May 30, 2011, 03:32 PM

Thank you for your help in identifying my gun. As you noticed, I'm very much new to this. Sorry about the "arab" reference.

It still works fine, but I haven't fired it yet. Unsure if I should dare do so.

RJay · May 30, 2011, 07:00 PM

Don't worry about it, you just messed up my fuzzy little head with the grip comment

welcome aboard.

James K · May 30, 2011, 09:29 PM

Those guns are fine with modern .38 S&W ammo, if you can find any. Some folks will say to use only black powder, but I fired almost a box of new ammo out of one of those and out of a Baby Russian a month or so ago. Horrible sights, but otherwise no problems.

Jim

**Mike Irwin** · May 30, 2011, 10:27 PM

The big problem with blackpowder frame S&W guns and modern smokeless ammo isn't a catastrophic failure of the gun.

It's the fact that smokeless powder can stretch the ductile iron that was used in the frames of a lot of the black powder era guns.

Smokeless powder has a significantly different pressure curve, one that's just not compatible with the ductile iron frames.

May 29, 2011, 12:23 PM	#2
SDC Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2001 Location: People's Republic of Kanada Posts: 1,652	This will be a S&W 38 Single Action 2nd Model, built in 1876 or 1877. HTH. __________________ Gun control in Canada: making the streets safer for rapists, muggers, and other violent criminals since 1936.

May 30, 2011, 08:11 AM	#5
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 14, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,642	The grips aren't plastic, they're hard rubber. If you decide to take them off the gun, be VERY careful as they get VERY brittle with age. And definitely standard S&W logo grips, not Arabic. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

May 30, 2011, 03:32 PM	#6
Swissfondue Junior Member Join Date: May 29, 2011 Posts: 2	Thanks and sorry Thank you for your help in identifying my gun. As you noticed, I'm very much new to this. Sorry about the "arab" reference. It still works fine, but I haven't fired it yet. Unsure if I should dare do so.

May 30, 2011, 10:27 PM	#9
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 14, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,642	The big problem with blackpowder frame S&W guns and modern smokeless ammo isn't a catastrophic failure of the gun. It's the fact that smokeless powder can stretch the ductile iron that was used in the frames of a lot of the black powder era guns. Smokeless powder has a significantly different pressure curve, one that's just not compatible with the ductile iron frames. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

May 29, 2011, 12:56 PM	#3
RJay Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,936	???? The grip ( handle ) looks to be a standard S&W grip with a standard S&W logo, am I missing something???

May 29, 2011, 07:18 PM	#4
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	New one on me! I have never heard the intertwined S&W logo described as being an "arab" marking. Actually, those were pretty good guns and most I see around are in working condition, unlike other guns of that era. Jim

May 30, 2011, 07:00 PM	#7
RJay Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,936	Don't worry about it, you just messed up my fuzzy little head with the grip comment welcome aboard.

May 30, 2011, 09:29 PM	#8
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Those guns are fine with modern .38 S&W ammo, if you can find any. Some folks will say to use only black powder, but I fired almost a box of new ammo out of one of those and out of a Baby Russian a month or so ago. Horrible sights, but otherwise no problems. Jim