Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

Woodsoup a picture from each side may help. The cylinder latch was not on the model 1896, it was introduced on the model 1903. I'm pretty sure that you have a model 1903 with some 1896 parts.
 
Woodsoup: Yep, it's a .32 Hand Ejector Model of 1903. You won't get to retire on it's sale, it's probably worth around $250-$300 in that condition, but it is yours. How many other people can say they have a 105 year old handgun?

Through various changes the I frame hand ejector became the modern Chief Special and all the variants of it that S&W now sell.

The new 632 carry Comp in .327 Federal on the J frame is pretty much the identical gun - small frame, 6 shot, .32 caliber, 3 inch barrel. The wheel has turned full circle.
 
Thanx and a little history.

Radagast:
I thank you for you time and expertise.

I bought it from a down on his luck fella hawking all he owned outside the local gun shop. Asked about him inside the store and got the full story. The GS owner was doing his transfers for $5.00. I spotted this old rust bucket and asked him how much he wanted and he said $30. for the gun and 3/4 box of ammo. So i gave him the $40 I had in my wallet, and paid his transfer fee. He fought me tooth and nail trying to give me that extra fiver back. but I outran him. Poor guy died of his illness about 10 days later. the gs owner said the guy knew he was on short time and was trying to get his affairs in order before he went so his wife didn't have to worry about it. His guns were the last things he got rid of. Sure hope he went peacefully.

Thanx again, Pete C.
 
Woodsoup, I'm not an expert, just a guy with a reference book. :)
That's a sad but cool story. I hope you enjoy shooting your .32 anyway.
 
Can you guys help me out?

Is there anyway I can get a price for a few Smith revolvers? A guy is selling them and I need an aproximate value...

696, 44 special, 3 in barrel

Model 29, 44 mag, guide gun, 4 in barrel

Let me know what you think?

Thanks,
Roger
 
JCisHe - you would get a better response posting this as a topic in the main revolver forum. Some description of condition (cosmetic and mechanical) and also lock/pre-lock /pre MIM is necessary to get within even a $100 estimate, though.
 
I bought this S&W revolver

a) caliber is .357 Magnum
b) bbl length is 4 inch
c) grips shape is round
d) number of shots/cylinder bores is 6
e) type of sights = adjustable
f) serial number is CDW395X
g) Model number is 586-5

And if pictures are worth a 1000 words, here are the same photos I just posted over on the Revovler Picture Thread.

IMG_1634.JPG


IMG_1632.JPG
 
JCisHe: The 696 was manufactured between 1996 & 2002.
The no dash variant had a hammer mounted firing pin, the 696-2 had a frame mounted firing pin and the 696-2 with the internal lock was introduced in 2001. There was also a special run with a ported barrel.

Each variant will have a different value, this blog post:
http://cosmolineandrust.blogspot.com/2008/03/sunday-smith-37-model-696-1-2000.html may give you an idea.

I'm not aware of any model 29 guide gun, the closest in the book is the model 29-5 Mountain Gun which was manufactured in 2003 with a four inch tapered barrel, internal lock, blued finish and a round butt frame. I was shipped with wooden finger groove grips and as Hogue rubber monogrip. In 2006 the SCSW listed the as new in box value as $700.
 
Mine is a: .38 S&W
4" BBL
Round (corners)
5 shot
Fixed
4567XX

Break top, auto eject, replacement grips. Cylinder doesn't lock up and timing is off. Looking for a 'smith who does repair and restoration.
 
twodawgs: Your gun is a .38 Double Action 4th Model, made between 1895 & 1909 in the serial number range 322701 to 539000. The cut off for it be classified as an antique be BAFT is serial number 382022 which was made in 1898. Serial number 535553 was shipped to Peru in 1908, so a ten year range is as close as I can give you.

Value in poor condition is given as $60 by the Standard Catalog of S&W, in excellent condition $350, so repairs may not be viable unless it has sentimental or historical value to you. Ask in the gunsmithing or firearms research sub forums for advice abotu where to send it.
 
I'm looking at buying a 642, and am curious about its DOB:

a) caliber: .38 (+P rated)
b) bbl length: 1 7/8 inch
c) grips shape: checkered rubber
d) number of shots/cylinder bores: 5
e) type of sights: fixed
f) serial number is BMA645x
g) Model number is 642 (May be a 642-1, as it is a no-lock version)

Found online, so I don't have a full serial #.

Thanks
 
a) .38 spl
b) 4"
c) square
d) 6
e) fixed
f) AFW1660
g) 10-7


Thanks for the help! :D
 
UpTheIrons: Between September 1992 & February 1993. Introduced in 1990, discontinued 1993, reintroduced on the J-Magnum frame in 1996 as the 642-1.

It should have the skinny barrel without the ejector shroud.
 
Thanks Radagast, but I thought the Airweights were +P rated only recently. Or am I being sold a bill of goods?

Here's a couple of pictures - do they help at all?
 

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Quote Radagast "Woodsoup, I'm not an expert, just a guy with a reference book".

Perhaps, but you're turning this thread into a reference itself! Many thanks for all your work........;)
 
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