F&W

Forehand & Wadsworth.

I'd use it as an opportunity to get the kids involved in a light chemistry experiment by setting up an electrolysis tank in a 5 gallon bucket.

Car battery charger
Bucket
Water
Washing Soda
some scrap wire and scrap iron.

Look up the vids on the internets. It's fun, interesting, practical and a fine chance at learning.

Todd.

ApacheCoTodd said:

Forehand & Wadsworth.

I'd use it as an opportunity to get the kids involved in a light chemistry experiment by setting up an electrolysis tank in a 5 gallon bucket.

Car battery charger
Bucket
Water
Washing Soda
some scrap wire and scrap iron.

Look up the vids on the internets. It's fun, interesting, practical and a fine chance at learning.

Todd.

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In all my years following these forums, this ranks right up there at the top, in goodness. The kids would learn some real, practical stuff.

beag_nut said:

In all my years following these forums, this ranks right up there at the top, in goodness. The kids would learn some real, practical stuff.

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Setting up an electrolysis tank and letting kids help build ultrasonic cleaners is a great way to tickle the tech-fancy of young'uns these days and thereby almost tricking them into an interest in the things that either device can be used for.

Todd.

jzzr83 said:

(oh, and if you can identify the exact model, let me know!)

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Likely it is a Hopkins and Allen Forehand Model of 1901. The H&A 1901 was what H&A produced after the factory fire in 1899 (or maybe it was 1900) when they bought out Forehand and Wadsworth (actually named Forehand at the time of the purchase). H&A used up parts already in inventory including grips. The H&A 1901 was what Forehand was producing at the time of the sale and H&A just continued the model line with changes to the markings. I have an H&A 1901 with the F&W Grips. The only way to tell for sure is to read the text on the top of the barrel or find some other identifying marking. Something you will likely not be able to do.

The reason I suggest it is the H&A version is that I have seen a lot of the H&A (well, relatively a lot) and have never seen the corresponding Forehand or Forehand & Wadsworth model. There just seems to be more of the H&A's around.

That is just a cool find. Can you tell if it is loaded?

Bill Goforth, the expert on H&A and other minor brands, had this to say about the H&A 1901

Hopkins & Allen Forehand Model 1901 .32 S&W | The Firearms Forum

the "forehand model of 1901" was introduced by hopkins & allen in 1901 after it accuired the forehand arms co. factory about 1899/1900. it is generally accepted this model was discontinued about 1910 when the hopkins & allen 'safety police" model was introduced. there has been two books written on H&A by charles carder (both in reprint by fairway press), however both of these books present little information as to when H&A models were actually manufactured and give no serial number information.

Hopkins & Allen revolver | The Firearms Forum

I believe the revolver H&A marked "FOREHAND MODEL 1901" is a top break revolver with automatic ejection. it is my belief these were manufactured for only a few years until the supply of parts (left over from Forehand Arms Co.) were used up. Hopkins & Allen purchased Forehand Arms Co. for thier factory not thier products. H&A factory burned to the ground about 1900 or a little earlier but it was close to the time Sullivan Forehand either retired or passed away and the Forehand Arms co. was put up for sale.

Here is the identifying feature that makes me believe it was either an H&A or Forehand. Notice the latch release button in front of the cylinder on the left side. This was pushed to release the cylinder from the center pin with the action open for disassembly/cleaning. I'm still trying to find a photo of the corresponding Forehand model.

Here is a photograph of the Forehand revolver. It could be had in either 32 or 38 S&W.

Forehand Arms, 32 S&W Long 6 Shot, Double Action, Top Break, No Ffl, Antique For Sale at GunAuction.com - 9064128

Although you are unlikely to be able to read the barrel markings, you may be able to pick out specific letters or possibly be able to figure out the general arrangement of the barrel markings.

Here are the barrel markings if it is the Forehand model:



And here are the barrel markings if it is a H&A 1901:

Electrolysis is a great thing. I have seen some cast iron come back to usable condition from what I would have thought was totally trashed.

I completely cleaned a 1858 Remington Army in much that same condition with Evaporust. Completely non toxic and safe for even young hands.
It took several weeks of complete submersion with an occasional light scrubbing with a brass wire brush b but in the end I was able to remove even the screws and rotate the cylinder.

Submerse it in white vinegar from the grocery store.

One has to wonder on the events leading to the gun ending-up in what is now your yard.

Two litres of Coke in a bucket.

What a great find and an exciting moment for the kids. Now the detective work begins.

John M

Great job with the background info on the Forehand/Hopkins & Allen connection! Photos are nice too!

jzzr83 said:

Not sure what all to say here but looky what my kids found in the back yard! We only have 1/2 an acre in the suburbs of the Twin Cities and half of it is wooded. At first I figured it was a toy as they have dug up all sorts of trash and old toys from generations past. Then I picked it up and it felt more like a real gun. Scrubbed off some of the dirt and saw F&W on the grips.

I understand even if this was in excellent condition it would not be over $100 but it is a cool story that my children found it. But I would like to clean it up and get off as much rust as possible. What would be a good solvent to use (metal restore?).

The rust and pitting is is enough where I doubt I'll ever be able to get any serial numbers or other markings.

Let me know what you all would do to restore this to make it a cool wall hanging or conversation piece. (oh, and if you can identify the exact model, let me know!)View attachment 995822 View attachment 995823

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Goodness what an incredible find.

There is a whole section of Youtube that is nothing but restoring rusty things that you fish out of creeks.

Maybe check out those vids

DocRock said:

Two litres of Coke in a bucket.

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He didn’t say he was attending the Science Fair!

.455_Hunter said:

One has to wonder on the events leading to the gun ending-up in what is now your yard.

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I want to be the guy who walks that revolver into the police station with a concerned look on his face and asks to meet with the homicide guys

“Officer, I believe a crime may have been committed...”

Johnm1 said:

Here is a photograph of the Forehand revolver. It could be had in either 32 or 38 S&W.

Forehand Arms, 32 S&W Long 6 Shot, Double Action, Top Break, No Ffl, Antique For Sale at GunAuction.com - 9064128

View attachment 995837

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Are you that one guy on here who CCWs a snub nose top break with all the nickel flaked off?

That guy is my hero

pairof44sp said:

Are you that one guy on here who CCWs a snub nose top break with all the nickel flaked off?

That guy is my hero

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Tough to admit in public, but I have carried a S&W Lemmon Squeezer in .32 S&W. Mostly to say I did it. It has 'most' of the nickel finish. But I did do it. Normal carry is a S&W 638 though.