Can anyone help me identify?
- Thread starter Wich121
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bwsmith2850
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Some neat old guns with family connections. Sorry for the loss that brought them to you.
Pics of or copy of the markings, patent dates calibers, if marked, & barrel length will help a great deal. Pix of the other side might help too.
The top one could be a .38 Single action 1st model AKA 'baby russian' or 2nd model. (or copy) That second sideplate screw looks 2nd model to me. Everything else in my book either doesn't have that 'hump' at the back of the frame or has a trigger guard. Someone with much more knowledge should come along soon. A nice piece of history.
The other looks like one of the many brands made by either H&R or Iver Johnson that have the moniker 'suicide specials.' At first glance it looks like a Iver model 1900 under one of their other brands. (No owls on the grips)
Further information may confirm this or may make me look silly.
Pics of or copy of the markings, patent dates calibers, if marked, & barrel length will help a great deal. Pix of the other side might help too.
The top one could be a .38 Single action 1st model AKA 'baby russian' or 2nd model. (or copy) That second sideplate screw looks 2nd model to me. Everything else in my book either doesn't have that 'hump' at the back of the frame or has a trigger guard. Someone with much more knowledge should come along soon. A nice piece of history.
The other looks like one of the many brands made by either H&R or Iver Johnson that have the moniker 'suicide specials.' At first glance it looks like a Iver model 1900 under one of their other brands. (No owls on the grips)
Further information may confirm this or may make me look silly.
The first gun is an S&W .38 Single Action First Model or Model No. 2, First Model. It is commonly called the "Baby Russian" though it bears little resemblance to the .44 caliber Russian Model. The First Model was made in only two years, 1876 and 1877, for a total of 25,548, numbered in its own series. In that condition, it would probably retail around $350-400.
The second gun is a Harrington and Richardson product called "The American Double Action" one of the most common revolvers of the c. 1900 era. They were reasonably well made and a cut above the so-called "suicide special" though most seen today are in worse shape than that one. There is a mild collector market developing but that gun would probably still bring less than $100 if fully functional.
For more info on H&R and Iver Johnson revolvers, I strongly recommend going to www.thefirearmsforum.com where a fellow named Bill Goforth hangs out. He literally wrote the book on Iver Johnsons and has one underway on H&R's. I recommend the former and am sure the latter will be as good.
Jim
The second gun is a Harrington and Richardson product called "The American Double Action" one of the most common revolvers of the c. 1900 era. They were reasonably well made and a cut above the so-called "suicide special" though most seen today are in worse shape than that one. There is a mild collector market developing but that gun would probably still bring less than $100 if fully functional.
For more info on H&R and Iver Johnson revolvers, I strongly recommend going to www.thefirearmsforum.com where a fellow named Bill Goforth hangs out. He literally wrote the book on Iver Johnsons and has one underway on H&R's. I recommend the former and am sure the latter will be as good.
Jim
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