38 s&w ctg
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The only way to be able to give you valid answers is pictures. Pictures will determine that it is in fact a S&W revolver ( 38 S&W CTG is simply the cartridge designation, not any type of model name) and the condition of which you gave no indication. Sorry about that.
Cosmoline
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Is it a Smith & Wesson? Other dates? That patent date sounds like it should be for a hand ejector type, not top break.
Detective Fuff here...
Not may clues to work with, but only one S&W revolver meets the description. Thus the leading suspect is a .38 Double Action Perfected Model.
It was the company's last attempt at a top-break design, and used a lot of the 1903 Hand Ejector's parts. It was unique in that to open the barrel you had to both push on a hand-ejector style thumbpiece while lifting a conventional barrel latch.
They were made between 1909 and 1920, within a serial number range running from 1 to 59,400.
The 5-shot cylinder was chambered in .38 S&W; barrel lengths of 3 1/4, 4, 5 and 6 inches were standard. Blue or nickel plate with color casehardened hammer and trigger. Stocks were black hard rubber, with checkered walnut or pearl being optional.
Late production patent dates ended with Sept. 14, 1909.
Can't offer an opinion on value without knowing if the revolver is still original, and in what condition. Pictures would be helpful.
Not may clues to work with, but only one S&W revolver meets the description. Thus the leading suspect is a .38 Double Action Perfected Model.
It was the company's last attempt at a top-break design, and used a lot of the 1903 Hand Ejector's parts. It was unique in that to open the barrel you had to both push on a hand-ejector style thumbpiece while lifting a conventional barrel latch.
They were made between 1909 and 1920, within a serial number range running from 1 to 59,400.
The 5-shot cylinder was chambered in .38 S&W; barrel lengths of 3 1/4, 4, 5 and 6 inches were standard. Blue or nickel plate with color casehardened hammer and trigger. Stocks were black hard rubber, with checkered walnut or pearl being optional.
Late production patent dates ended with Sept. 14, 1909.
Can't offer an opinion on value without knowing if the revolver is still original, and in what condition. Pictures would be helpful.
Sunray
Member
"...leading suspect..." Not enough info to suspect it being anything. Break action .38 S&W revolvers aren't exactly rare.
Seems that you might lack my sense of humor...
Seriously, by 1909 only three break-top revolvers were still in production at Smith & Wesson. They were the .32 and .38 Safety Hammerless models and the .38 Perfected. Both of the inclosed hammer models were way over serial number 42,9xx by that time.
So not only did the serial number fall into the right range for a Perfected model, but the Sept. 14, 1909 patent date was what would be expected on that particular revolver.
Detective Fuff rests his case.
Thanks for the reply. This sounds exactly like what I have. It breaks the way you say. It is original working order and well used. It has a hammer. Double action, hard rubber grips, with no model number. The serial number is accurate. Attached are 3 pictures.
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Yup... your pictures confirm the identification. In the condition it appears to be in, the collector's value is about $275 - $325. You may or may not find a shooter who is interested.
It was designed by Joseph Wesson, D.B. Wesson's son. The only thing about it that was new was the frame and a few other small parts in the cylinder assembly. Everything else was something used in other older models, so tooling and inventory costs were very low.
It was designed by Joseph Wesson, D.B. Wesson's son. The only thing about it that was new was the frame and a few other small parts in the cylinder assembly. Everything else was something used in other older models, so tooling and inventory costs were very low.
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