just bought a S&W topbreak 5 shot,.38 Single Action

[da gimp]

4" barrel or so, (slightly shorter than a pack of 100 cigs.), nickel finish,with no half cock notch on the hammer. All matching serial #'s.Spur trigger. What is it? Got it, a Remington Elliot deringer, & an old S&W mod 3, Russian .44SA at my brother's estate auction.


thanks in advance

da gimp

Information

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[da gimp]

serial # range 500XX,

TIA

da gimp

OFC, Mo Chapter

[JWB217]

With that serial no.range it's most likely S&W 38 Single Action Second Model.Made 1877-1891 in a total run of 108,255.

[Jim K]

Got one on Saturday, #6082x. Your gun should have a half cock; if not, the notch is probably broken out from the gun being dropped.

The First Model .38 Single Action is sometimes called the "Baby Russian", and the name is often extended to the second model as well. (It is difficult to see why, since the .44 Russian has a conventional trigger and guard, but the name has stuck.) At that serial number, the stocks should have the letters "S&W" on them, as the familiar logo was not yet in use.

That is a nice list. The .38 S&W is the least valuable if the others are in anything like decent condition. The Remington-Eliot can run two grand or more and the Russian in can run up to $4-5000 depending on model and condition.

Jim

[da gimp]

How do you tell if the little S&W is the "Mexican" model?We got into the 3 pistols, a German .22LR training rifle , a Damascus bladed custom boot knife & a WWI sterling watch fob "To Hell With Der Kaiser" that belonged to my neighbor's dad for $1250 total. the large mod 3 Russian is 40% nickel, the Elliot needs a part, & the small 5 shot S&W is above 90% nickel.

Wife was watching me closely when I bid on 2 WWII GI 1911A1's, didn't end up with them, but can't get everything @ an auction.

[JWB217]

The Mexican Model was within the serial no.range of the Third Model Single Action,1-28,107.There are also some other features that distinguish a Mexican Model as to the hammer and trigger,etc.

[n64atlas]

do you have pics of the German rifle? Is there any markings on the stock? Which manufacturer is the rifle and markings as to model?

[da gimp]

TY guys, turns out to be a Baby Russian, between the advice we got here, on the S&W Forum & Supica's Armchair Gunshow(pix of a Baby Rus), it is 1.

The grips are of a mottled streaked reddish brown plastic/celluoid(?) with the S&W logo.


Will hafta dig out the little German .22 rifle to look @ it.


The S&W mod 3, 3rd Russian is in decent shape, barrel was cut, 40% nickel or better, lanyard ring still there, spur uncut, bore is decent, so all in all we are pleased with them. Hoping our nephew wants them back @ some point.


Will try to post pix if I can get wife to take them


da gimp

OFC Mo Chapter

[Jim K]

The Mexican model used the frame of the Third Model Single Action, which has a conventional trigger guard inserted into the bottom of the frame. Whether the forging dies for the spur trigger were not around any more, or it was too much trouble to retro work production, S&W made the Mexican spur trigger by simply making a spur trigger inset that took the place of the Third Model trigger guard. The sides of the spur trigger on the Mexican model are part of that piece, not part of the frame.

Jim

[da gimp]

The .22 German rifle was made by Deutsch(? on spelling) Werke. There is a wooden/synthetic disc on the left side of the buttstock, that is unreadable to these old eyes., it is in rough shape, appears to have been an emblem of some sort.I can't read the proofs on the barrel. Just a neat old single shot .22, I got 4 kids & grandkids, 1 of them will want it.

ty guys for the help on the topbreak S&W.


da gimp

OFC Mo. Chapter